Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given Lehigh's 29% acceptance rate and exceptional graduate earnings, most applicants face meaningful admission uncertainty. Smart students should build balanced college lists that include institutions with comparable outcomes but different selectivity profiles.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar career outcomes with better admission odds, consider Stevens Institute of Technology (43% acceptance, $108,772 median earnings) located 72 miles away in New Jersey. Stevens delivers nearly identical graduate earnings with 14 percentage points higher acceptance rates, particularly strong for engineering and technology programs. Jewish Theological Seminary in New York admits 45% of applicants while producing graduates earning $92,751, though with more specialized program focus.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students wanting to stay in Pennsylvania should consider Villanova University (25% acceptance, $100,423 earnings) just 39 miles away, offering similar outcomes with comparable selectivity. University of Pennsylvania provides higher earnings ($111,371) but much lower acceptance rates (6%). Lafayette College, located just 11 miles from Lehigh, admits 31% of applicants with strong regional reputation and similar academic environment.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
Similar quality tier in Northeast (#106 ranked)