Lehigh vs. WCU

Deciding between Lehigh University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Lehigh University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • WCU 17,171
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • WCU #505
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • WCU $10,775
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • WCU $22,599
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • WCU $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • WCU $22,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • WCU $5,709
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • WCU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • WCU 17,193
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • WCU 13,479
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • WCU 78.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • WCU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • WCU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • WCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • WCU 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • WCU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • WCU 24/28
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • WCU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • WCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • WCU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • WCU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • WCU 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • WCU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • WCU $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • WCU 40%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • WCU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • WCU 78%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • WCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • WCU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • WCU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • WCU 3%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • WCU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • WCU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • WCU 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Lehigh Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Lehigh No
  • WCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Lehigh Yes
  • WCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Lehigh No
  • WCU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Lehigh Yes
  • WCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (17,171 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Lehigh vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or WCU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Lehigh ($22,546 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 13.9% lower than at Lehigh University ($14,828 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 503.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $54,205 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 187.5% higher at Lehigh than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $42,381 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at Lehigh University (73% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 718.5% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($46,731 vs. $5,709).

Lehigh vs. WCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or WCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WCU and Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 250 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 1370/1500; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Lehigh vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and WCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania's (68%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $40,200 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($23,500 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($242 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.