Understanding Lehigh University's Out-of-State Tuition and Fees

Lehigh University, consistently ranked among the top national research universities, attracts students from across the nation and around the globe. For prospective students considering Lehigh, understanding the costs associated with out-of-state tuition and fees is crucial. This article breaks down the components of these costs, explores financial aid options, and provides context for the overall value of a Lehigh education.

The Cost of Attendance: A Breakdown

Lehigh University's tuition is $67,920, which is more expensive compared with the national average cost of tuition of $46,950. These figures encompass both tuition and fees, often referred to as the "sticker price." Fees can vary by institution and may cover library services, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.

The total cost of attendance goes beyond just tuition and fees. It includes the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At Lehigh University, the total cost is $84,700. Lehigh’s Board of Trustees has approved undergraduate tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year of $66,810, an increase of 4.5% over last year. The total cost of attendance, including tuition, typical room and board charges and fees for one year of undergraduate education, will increase by 4.74% to $86,100.

To provide a clearer picture of these additional costs, Lehigh includes estimated costs for books and supplies ($1,000) and personal expenses ($1,500) in the total cost of attendance for the purpose of awarding need-based financial aid.

Financial Aid: Making Lehigh Accessible

Lehigh University has a long-standing commitment to need-based financial aid and seeks to make a world-renowned education accessible for all admitted students. Financial aid is not a one-size-fits-all solution and can consist of grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment.

Read also: Lehigh Grads and Employment

In fall 2023, 47% of first-year students received need-based financial aid. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at Lehigh University was $56,575. Need-based self-help aid, which includes federal loans and work-study, averaged $5,915 for first-year students. Lehigh University met 97% of its students’ financial aid need.

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships: Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation. Some students receive enough in scholarship money to cover their tuition and living expenses.
Grants: Scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back.
Loans: Loans must be paid back.
Work-Study: Working while in school can help lessen the burden of your student loans. Schools offer work-study programs to those who qualify and campus jobs to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job. Begin your job search by checking whether your college has in-person or online job boards.

Understanding Net Price

The average net price, which is a college’s cost of attendance minus the grants and scholarships you receive, is $33,289 per year at Lehigh. The net price you pay for a particular college is specific to you because it’s based on your personal circumstances and the college’s financial aid policies.

Important Financial Aid Dates

Application Due: February 1 is the last day to apply for financial aid or turn in related paperwork.
Notification Date: Students receive a letter with the amount and types of aid the college is offering around March 30.

Student Loan Debt: Planning for the Future

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At Lehigh University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $21,960. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $233. Additionally, 13% of graduating students at Lehigh University took out private loans. Students with private loans had an average of $39,884 in private loan debt at graduation. The average total indebtedness of the 2024 graduating class was $39,806, with 48% of graduating students having borrowed any loan type.

Lehigh's Commitment to Affordability

Lehigh seeks to make a Lehigh education accessible to all students, regardless of family income, through efforts such as the Lehigh Commitment (which ensures that students with family incomes of less than $75,000 pay no tuition) and through merit aid such as the Lehigh Founders’ and Trustees’ Scholarships.

The Value of a Lehigh Education

“In terms of both economic and non-economic returns, a Lehigh degree is one of the most valuable in the country,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Nathan Urban. “Here, we prepare students to thrive and lead in an increasingly complex world. We take great care to ensure that the academic and career outcomes of Lehigh students are truly outstanding, and that the opportunities afforded to Lehigh graduates are best in class. Moreover, Lehigh graduates join an alumni community that offers strong support and mentorship, furthering the success of each and every Lehigh graduate.”

Lehigh is ranked in the top tier of national research universities annually and earns especially high marks for student outcomes and return on investment. Student outcomes-graduation rates, graduates’ salaries, and how salaries offset the cost of attaining an undergraduate degree-accounted for 70% of the score. Learning environment-including students’ evaluations of their school’s learning facilities, opportunities, and how well it prepares them for a career, as well as how strongly they recommend the school-accounted for 20%. Diversity of a school’s students and faculty accounted for 10%.

Notably, within six months of graduation, 92% of the Class of 2024 were employed, continuing education, or pursuing military or volunteer service, with an average starting salary of $74,000.

Last year, tuition and associated fees supported approximately 61% of Lehigh’s operating budget, allowing for many enhancements to the educational and student experiences at Lehigh. This included improvements of classrooms and communal spaces, support of programs that augment the student experience, technology upgrades, student services, and resources within the colleges. Grants and contracts, gifts, and endowment distributions provided the majority of the remaining budget, including funds for scholarships and financial aid.

Learning Unlimited Program

Beginning fall 2023, Lehigh piloted a new course materials program, Learning Unlimited, that reduced the cost of course materials for undergraduate students and ensured they had all their materials across all courses prior to the first day of class. This is a three-year pilot program expected to reduce the cost of course materials by approximately 50%.

Estimating Your Costs

Estimate your level of need using the Net Price Calculator. This helpful tool gives you a starting estimate based on the information you provide. As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price.

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