The New School vs. Lehigh

Comparable Facts

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

The New School is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (9,068 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The New School is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
• The New School is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The New School 9:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

The New School vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The New School 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 The New School ($34,154 vs. $67,224).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 32% lower than at The New School ($17,220 vs. $25,337).
• Lehigh University is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than The New School (about $6,286 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Lehigh than at The New School (about $6,286 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $58,694.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New School than at Lehigh University (94% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 110.7% larger than aid received by The New School students ($46,731 vs. $22,174).

The New School vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The New School 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 The New School.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 190 points higher than at The New School (1250).
• Incoming Lehigh students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at The New School).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The New School 1140/1360; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The New School 26/30; Lehigh University 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The New School - Test-free; Lehigh - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at The New School (3.59).
• The New School has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at The New School vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

The New School vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The New School 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 The New School's (61%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $36,500 more per year than The New School graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $52,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The New School graduates have a $384 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($23,872 vs. $24,256).
• Among borrowers, The New School graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($246 vs. $250).
• More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New School 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.