NYU vs. Lehigh

Deciding between New York University 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.

New York University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New York University in New York, NY with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New York University 8:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

NYU vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 New York University than Lehigh ($30,325 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 26.8% lower than at New York University ($17,220 vs. $23,530).
  • Lehigh University is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $2,184 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Lehigh than at New York University (about $2,184 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at New York University (65% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 15.3% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($53,901 vs. $46,731).

NYU vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 80 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

NYU vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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).

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $1,006 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($240 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.