RPI vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lehigh University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

RPI vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI 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 RPI ($34,154 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 5% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,220 vs. $18,120).
  • Lehigh University is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $899 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Lehigh than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $899 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Lehigh University (95% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 7.4% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($46,731 vs. $43,517).

RPI vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI 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 RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is the same as at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming RPI students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Lehigh (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

RPI vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $3,244 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($250 vs. $284).
  • More RPI 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.