TCNJ vs. Lehigh

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of New Jersey is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (8,141 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
• The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

TCNJ vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 The College of New Jersey than Lehigh ($25,580 vs. $34,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 13% lower than at Lehigh University ($14,976 vs. $17,220).
• Lehigh University is 231% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCNJ (about $45,348 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $19,632.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.3% higher at Lehigh than at The College of New Jersey (about $39,228 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $25,752.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at The College of New Jersey (65% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 249.8% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($46,731 vs. $13,360).

TCNJ vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 200 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
• Incoming Lehigh students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at TCNJ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31; Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
• TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

TCNJ vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ 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).

• The graduation rate at TCNJ is the same as at Lehigh University (87% vs. 87%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $27,100 more per year than TCNJ graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $62,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $1,006 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,256).
• Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($240 vs. $250).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TCNJ students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)

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.