Lehigh University's published cost of attendance is $80,856, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $16,917 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $18,722, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,751.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $80,856 |
| Tuition and Fees | $64,980 |
| Room and Board | $17,220 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,000 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$43,925 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $36,931 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $16,917 |
| $30–48k | $17,140 |
| $48–75k | $18,722 |
| $75–110k | $22,184 |
| $110k+ | $48,751 |
Lehigh University's published cost of attendance is $80,856, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $16,917 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $18,722, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,751. Azimuth ranks Lehigh University #1304 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lehigh University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial for lower-income households, though the net price illusion is worth understanding before drawing conclusions from the published cost of attendance alone. Aid packages at private nonprofit institutions like Lehigh often include a mix of grants, work-study, and loans, and the net price figures above reflect the combined effect of all grant and scholarship aid applied. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,960, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,245; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $101,748, median federal debt of $21,960 projects to a monthly payment of about $248 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Lehigh University earn median earnings of $101,748 four years after enrollment, placing Lehigh University in the 94.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $19,963 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lehigh University in the 95.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lehigh University #20 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Lehigh University's concentration in Business, which accounts for 29% of degrees awarded — the largest program family — followed by Engineering at 22% and Social Sciences at 8%. Finance combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, anchoring the institution's aggregate return story. Azimuth ranks Finance #10 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions , with 197 graduates earning median earnings of $127,210. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #37 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions with 138 graduates earning median earnings of $141,691, and Mechanical Engineering ranks #74 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning median earnings of $96,618. Among popular fields, Psychology, General program graduates 63 students and The Accounting program graduates 58 students, both contributing meaningfully to the breadth of Lehigh University's degree output in Bethlehem, PA.
