Lehigh vs. Penn State Berks

Lehigh University and Penn State Berks side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Lehigh University
Penn State Berks

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Lehigh (25.9% admitted vs 98.7%). Typical SAT 1440 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Berks. Average net price is $23,721 vs $34,154 at Lehigh.
  • Graduation: Lehigh 87% vs Penn State Berks 55%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Lehigh $89,200 vs Penn State Berks $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Lehigh University Penn State Berks
Acceptance rate
Lehigh more selective
Lehigh25.9%
Penn State Berks98.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Lehigh higher
Lehigh1370-1500
Penn State Berks1090-1275
Average net price
Penn State Berks $10,433 less
Lehigh$34,154
Penn State Berks$23,721
In-state tuition
Penn State Berks $49,008 less
Lehigh$64,980
Penn State Berks$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Berks $38,022 less
Lehigh$64,980
Penn State Berks$26,958
Graduation rate
Lehigh +32 pts
Lehigh87%
Penn State Berks55%
Median earnings (10 years)
Lehigh +$33,900
Lehigh$89,200
Penn State Berks$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Penn State Berks 6,030
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Penn State Berks 5,950
  • Acceptance rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Penn State Berks 98.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Penn State Berks 9.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Penn State Berks 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • Penn State Berks 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Penn State Berks 3.39
  • Typical high school grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • Penn State Berks B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Penn State Berks Average
  • Applicant competition
  • Lehigh High
  • Penn State Berks
  • SAT range
  • Lehigh 1370-1500
  • Penn State Berks 1090-1275
  • ACT range
  • Lehigh 31-34
  • Penn State Berks 18-27
  • Submit test scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Penn State Berks Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn State Berks
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Penn State Berks $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Penn State Berks $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Penn State Berks $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Penn State Berks $23,721
  • Average grant aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • Penn State Berks $9,405
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • Penn State Berks 69%
  • Graduation rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Penn State Berks 55%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Penn State Berks $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Penn State Berks 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Penn State Berks $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • Penn State Berks $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Penn State Berks 13:1
  • Popular majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • Penn State Berks
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Penn State Berks Reading, PA
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Penn State Berks Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Penn State Berks 1,884
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Berks Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • Penn State Berks #703

Comparable Facts

Compare Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA with Penn State Berks in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Lehigh University is larger than Penn State Berks based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 1,884 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Berks is in Reading, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Berks is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lehigh University 10:1; Penn State Berks 13:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Berks are 15.9% lower than at Lehigh University ($14,474 vs. $17,220).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 141% higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Berks (about $38,022 more per year; $64,980 vs. $26,958).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Berks than at Lehigh University (69% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 396.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Berks students ($46,731 vs. $9,405).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Berks (32 vs. 22, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Lehigh and Penn State Berks.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Lehigh average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.42 higher than at Penn State Berks (3.39).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,562 lower median loan debt than Penn State Berks graduates ($24,256 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Berks graduates ($250 vs. $277).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Berks students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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