At $33,549/yr net price, Lehigh University graduates earn $105,584/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $71,584/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $33,549 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $134,196 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $105,584/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$71,584/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 89.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,960 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,440/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,398/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,495/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,179/yr |
| $110,001+ | $50,046/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $96,183 | |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Master | $86,867 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | Bachelor | $81,812 | |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master | $81,491 | |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $78,552 | $23,854 |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor | $75,623 | $23,834 |
| Materials Engineering | Bachelor | $74,200 | $26,324 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $74,200 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $74,142 | $23,250 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Bachelor | $73,446 | $23,240 |
The Risk Factor
89.2% of students at Lehigh University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Lehigh gives you one of the stronger financial returns among private universities. Median earnings ten years out clear six figures, while median debt sits below $22,000, so you leave with about a fifth of your annual pay in loans. An 89% graduation rate and 93% retention mean the money you spend is likely to end in a degree, which is where the payoff actually comes from.
The engineering and computer science programs carry this school. Bachelor's grads in computer and information sciences, computer science, industrial engineering, materials engineering, and chemical engineering all start in the $74,000 to $82,000 range. These are the degrees that justify Lehigh's price, and they feed directly into the region's manufacturing and tech-adjacent employers around Bethlehem and the broader mid-Atlantic corridor. If you enroll in one of these, the return is clear and fast.
The risk is what you don't see in this data. No bachelor-level salary figures exist here for humanities, social sciences, arts, or business, so you cannot assume those majors reach the six-figure median. That median is pulled up by engineers. Pick a lower-earning field and pay full sticker, and the math gets much harder to defend.
That sticker matters most if your family earns over $110k, where you pay roughly $50,000 a year with little discount. Under $30k, your net price drops to about $15,400, and the $30k-$75k range lands near $19,000 to $19,500. The steepest jump hits between $75-110k, where net price nearly doubles from the tier below.
Lehigh fits you if you're targeting engineering or computer science, or if your family income keeps you in the lower net-price tiers. If you plan a non-technical major and would pay near full price, look harder at the numbers first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lehigh University worth the cost compared to other schools?
Lehigh graduates earn $105,584 ten years after graduation, which is above average for private universities. With a net price of $33,549 per year and typical debt of $21,960, the return on investment is solid but not exceptional.
Which Lehigh University programs offer the best ROI?
Business programs at Lehigh lead with $96,183 average earnings, followed by electrical engineering at $86,867. Computer science graduates earn $78,552, which is lower than expected for the field at a school of this caliber.
How much debt do Lehigh University students typically graduate with?
The median debt for Lehigh graduates is $21,960, which is manageable given the school's strong earnings outcomes. Most graduates can expect to pay off loans within a reasonable timeframe based on starting salaries.
Does Lehigh University provide good financial aid to make it affordable?
With a sticker price around $70,000, Lehigh's average net price of $33,549 shows meaningful financial aid for many students. However, middle-income families often struggle with costs that remain high even after aid.