Yale vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

Yale vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than Lehigh ($22,408 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 13.5% lower than at Yale University ($17,220 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 3.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehigh (about $2,270 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.5% higher at Yale than at Lehigh University (about $2,270 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $64,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Yale University (65% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 41% larger than aid received by Lehigh University students ($65,892 vs. $46,731).

Yale vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 80 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Yale students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Lehigh).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

Yale vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Lehigh University's (87%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $29,200 more per year than Lehigh graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $89,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $10,756 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($13,500 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $111 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($139 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.