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Lafayette College Villanova Bucknell Colgate University of Richmond BU Washington and Lee Case Western BC RPI Penn State Stevens| SUNY at Purchase College | Lehigh University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
| Location | Purchase, NY | Bethlehem, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,229 | 7,590 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #297 | #58 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | purchase.edu | lehigh.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,070 | $61,180 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,980 | $61,180 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,400 | $16,470 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,651 | $33,289 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,627 | $43,644 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 72% | 59% |
Admission |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,221 | 18,415 | ||
| Admitted | 5,259 | 5,389 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 72.8% | 29.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 14.8% | 28.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.81 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 31/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1178/1363 | 1350/1490 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2025 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
| Graduation Rate | 56% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,200 | $89,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $24,256 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $250 |
Diversity |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 1% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 1% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 10% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 18% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 3% |
Students |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 23% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 69% | ||
Campus |
Purchase College | Lehigh | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Lehigh University is larger than than Purchase College based on total student enrollment (7,590 students vs. 3,229 students)
Purchase College vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Purchase College or Lehigh?
- Lehigh University is 765.3% more expensive to attend than Purchase College for in-state tuition ($61,180.00 vs. $7,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 260.3% higher at Lehigh than SUNY at Purchase College ($61,180.00 vs. $16,980.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY at Purchase College than Lehigh ($18,651 vs. $33,289)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY at Purchase College are 6.9% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($15,400 vs. $16,470)
- More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Purchase College than Lehigh University (72% vs. 59%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 353.3% larger than aid received SUNY at Purchase College ($43,644 vs. $9,627)
Purchase College vs. Lehigh Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Purchase College or Lehigh? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Lehigh or Purchase College .
- The average SAT score at Lehigh University (1338) is 256 points higher than at Purchase College (1082)
- Incoming Lehigh students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Purchase College (25)
- Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Purchase College (3.37)
- Purchase College has a higher acceptance rate (72.8%) than Lehigh (29.3%)
Purchase College vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Purchase College or Lehigh? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Lehigh and Purchase College.
- The graduation rate at Lehigh is higher than SUNY at Purchase College (87% vs. 56%)
- Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $49,000 more per year than Purchase College graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $40,200)
- SUNY at Purchase College students graduate with a $1,756 lower median federal student loan debt than Lehigh graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,256)
- Purchase College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Lehigh graduates. ($232 vs. $250)
- More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Purchase College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/