Lehigh vs. Penn State Berks

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 table 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.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Berks Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or Penn State Berks? 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 Penn State Berks than Lehigh ($23,721 vs. $34,154).
• 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).
• Lehigh University is 306.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Berks (about $49,008 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $15,972.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141% higher at Lehigh than at Penn State Berks (about $38,022 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $26,958.00).
• 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).

Lehigh vs. Penn State Berks Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh or Penn State Berks? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Berks and Lehigh.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 260 points higher than at Penn State Berks (1180).
• Incoming Lehigh students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 22 at Penn State Berks).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Penn State Berks 1090/1275.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Lehigh University 31/34; Penn State Berks 18/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; Penn State Berks - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Lehigh students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Penn State Berks (3.39).
• Penn State Berks has a higher acceptance rate (98.7%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 9.4% at Penn State Berks.

Lehigh vs. Penn State Berks Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh and Penn State Berks? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Penn State Berks's (55%).
• Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $33,900 more per year than Penn State Berks graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.