SCU vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Santa Clara 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.

Santa Clara University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SCU 9,728
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SCU #61
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SCU
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SCU $61,293
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • SCU $19,893
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • SCU $53,883
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SCU $28,368
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SCU 71%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SCU 18,970
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • SCU 9,105
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SCU 48%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SCU 1420
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • SCU 32
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • SCU 3.67
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SCU A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SCU Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • SCU 31/33
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SCU Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SCU 11:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SCU 85%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SCU $81,900
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SCU 84%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SCU $21,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SCU $222
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SCU 49%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • SCU 51%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SCU High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • SCU No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • SCU 49%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • SCU 16%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • SCU 3%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SCU 17%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • SCU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SCU 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SCU 7%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • SCU 3%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SCU 4%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SCU 55%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SCU 36%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Santa Clara University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Santa Clara University 11:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

SCU vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCU 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 SCU ($34,154 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 13.4% lower than at Santa Clara University ($17,220 vs. $19,893).
  • Lehigh University is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $3,687 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Lehigh than at Santa Clara University (about $3,687 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Lehigh University (71% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 64.7% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($46,731 vs. $28,368).

SCU vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCU 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 SCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 20 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming SCU 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: Santa Clara University 1350/1490; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Santa Clara University 31/33; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCU - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SCU Jan 7, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.7% at SCU vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

SCU vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCU 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 Santa Clara University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $2,756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($222 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.