UD vs. Lehigh

Deciding between University of Delaware 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.

University of Delaware
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Delaware is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (24,412 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

UD vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than Lehigh ($19,139 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 10.7% lower than at Lehigh University ($15,386 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 286.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $48,170 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57% higher at Lehigh than at University of Delaware (about $23,580 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Lehigh University (91% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 251.3% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($46,731 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 160 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

UD vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 University of Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $27,900 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $53 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($24,203 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Lehigh University and UD graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($250 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.