Northeastern vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern University
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Northeastern vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Lehigh University than Northeastern ($34,154 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 12.1% lower than at Northeastern University ($17,220 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $1,182 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Northeastern than at Lehigh University (about $1,182 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Lehigh University (66% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($50,421 vs. $46,731).

Northeastern vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 50 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Northeastern vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $3,619 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($250 vs. $288).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 79%)

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.