Rutgers vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Rutgers vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Lehigh ($20,522 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 8.7% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,714 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 262.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $47,051 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.6% higher at Lehigh than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $27,539 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (65% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 179.1% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($46,731 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 30 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Rutgers vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $2,041 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($22,215 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($229 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.