MIT vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Lehigh University? 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lehigh University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

MIT vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT or Lehigh? 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Lehigh ($20,996 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 15.1% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($17,220 vs. $20,280).
  • Lehigh University is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $2,584 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Lehigh than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $2,584 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (65% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($61,734 vs. $46,731).

MIT vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh and MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 110 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

MIT vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT and Lehigh? 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $52,900 more per year than Lehigh graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $89,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $6,940 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($17,316 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($179 vs. $250).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lehigh students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.