Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $50,810 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $26.5K more than the national median. The 65% who received grants paid $34,154 on average; the other 35% paid the full sticker price of $81,150.
- Full price
- $81,150 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
- Merit aid
- 14% · avg $21K
- of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $60K · proxy: 14% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $17K a year |
| $30–48K | $17K a year |
| $48–75K | $19K a year |
| $75–110K | $22K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$50,810
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
65% got grants averaging $46,731; 35% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$82,200 before aid
Tuition, fees, and on-campus food and housing · up 5% from 2023–24.
Show the full next-year estimate
- Tuition, fees, food & housing$82,200
- Books and supplies$1,000
- Transportationnot reported
- Other expenses$1,500
- Total for a student living on campuspartial: not every part is a number
$22K
≈ $233/month for 10 years
1.9 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 3 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full36%
- Paying it down38%
- Payments paused16%
- Not paying it down9%
- Behind or in default2–3%
- Forgiven or discharged0–1%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
ModerateGrants cover 37% of the $81,150 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 43% of colleges.
$30,340 in grants per first-year ÷ $81,150 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (1,531), 2023–24
About 1 in 3 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $81,150.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (1,531)
- Federal aid + grants778avg grant $53.8K
- Grants, no federal aid216avg grant $21.2K
- No grants537pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (953 of 1,531), because income is only reported for them.
From Lehigh University's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2023–24 (estimated).
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 48%730 students | 44%2,528 students |
| Need met, on average | 98% | 98% |
| Need fully met | 77% | 75% |
| Average aid package | $59,866 | $59,606 |
| Average need-based grant | $53,704 | $53,115 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,724 | $4,301 |
| Merit aid without need | – | 8%average $20,933 |
| Athletic scholarships | – | 255average $49,067 |
8% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2024 entrants.
Deadline: February 1 · Aid offers: about March 30 · Reply by: May 1
Dates for fall 2024 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
International students
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2024–25;Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24 (estimated);Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)