State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Lehigh

Deciding between State University of New York at New Paltz 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.

State University of New York at New Paltz
Lehigh University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Town Fringe
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 7,898
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • State University of New York at New Paltz #288
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • State University of New York at New Paltz -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $8,572
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,822
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $16,684
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $18,051
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $10,087
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 71%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17,232
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10,616
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 61.6%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 10.7%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1260
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 27
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 3.6
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • State University of New York at New Paltz A-
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Difficult
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • State University of New York at New Paltz
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 69%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $47,400
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 72%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $19,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • State University of New York at New Paltz $196
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 36%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 64%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Medium
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 63%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 17%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 2%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 4%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 93%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • State University of New York at New Paltz 6%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Lehigh No
  • Meal Plan
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • State University of New York at New Paltz No
  • Lehigh No
  • Daycare Facility
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Yes
  • Lehigh Yes
  • Learn More
  • State University of New York at New Paltz Details
  • Lehigh Details

Comparable Facts

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

State University of New York at New Paltz is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (7,898 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at New Paltz is located in New Paltz, NY (Town Fringe setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • State University of New York at New Paltz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at New Paltz 16:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz than Lehigh ($18,051 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at New Paltz are 3.1% lower than at Lehigh University ($16,684 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 658% more expensive for in-state tuition than State University of New York at New Paltz (about $56,408 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $8,572.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 245.2% higher at Lehigh than at State University of New York at New Paltz (about $46,158 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $18,822.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at State University of New York at New Paltz than at Lehigh University (71% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 363.3% larger than aid received by State University of New York at New Paltz students ($46,731 vs. $10,087).

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 180 points higher than at State University of New York at New Paltz (1260).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at State University of New York at New Paltz).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at New Paltz 1170/1340; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at New Paltz 25/29; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: State University of New York at New Paltz - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: State University of New York at New Paltz Apr 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at State University of New York at New Paltz (3.6).
  • State University of New York at New Paltz has a higher acceptance rate (61.6%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at State University of New York at New Paltz vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

State University of New York at New Paltz vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for State University of New York at New Paltz 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 State University of New York at New Paltz's (69%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $41,800 more per year than State University of New York at New Paltz graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have a $5,256 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($19,000 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, State University of New York at New Paltz graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($196 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former State University of New York at New Paltz students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 72%)

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.