The Lehigh Board of Trustees has approved undergraduate tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year of $69,420, an increase of 3.9% over last year. The total cost of attendance, including tuition, typical on-campus room and board, and fees, will increase by 4.3% to $89,820.
Lehigh remains committed to making its education financially accessible to all students and to ensuring that a Lehigh is a good long term investment. Through the Lehigh Commitment, students with family incomes of less than $75,000 pay no tuition. Additional merit-based aid, including the Lehigh Founder’s and Trustees’ Scholarships, further supports affordability. Families seeking financial assistance or whose circumstances have recently changed are encouraged to visit the Office of Financial Aid website. Lehigh consistently ranks highly on measures of placement rate as well as starting and mid-career salary.
“We recognize that pursuing a Lehigh education represents a significant investment for families,” said Nathan Urban, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “That is why we are focused on delivering an experience defined by academic excellence, opportunity and outstanding post-graduate success. The dedication of our faculty and the power of our alumni community ensure that a Lehigh degree remains one of the most meaningful and lasting investments a student and their family can make.”
Tuition and associated fees supported approximately 60% of Lehigh’s operating budget, allowing for many enhancements to the Lehigh experience. Education-focused enhancements included improvements of classrooms, technology upgrades and more. The student experience was enriched through more robust student services and program support, dedicated student resources and more. Grants and contracts, gifts and endowment distributions provided the majority of the remaining budget, including funds for scholarships and financial aid.
“Providing a transformative educational experience requires ongoing investment in our people, programs and facilities,” said Christine E. Cook, vice president for finance and administration. “We are committed to balancing fiscal responsibility with our mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to lead and innovate. This tuition adjustment supports that mission and ensures we can continue to deliver excellence.”
This year, Lehigh set a new record for total applications received, with more than 13 applications submitted for each available spot in the Class of 2030. With a total of 20,446 applications, this year’s pool has set a record as Lehigh’s largest in its history.
The university earns especially high marks for student outcomes and return on investment. Lehigh placed 17th nationally in LinkedIn’s inaugural college rankings, 50 Best Colleges for Long-Term Career Success in the U.S. The rankings measured U.S. colleges and universities on five pillars: job placements, internships and recruiter demand, career success, network strength and knowledge breadth. The university’s recognition as one of the nation’s top institutions for long-term career success reflects its commitment to student outcomes.
In the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, Lehigh is among just 13 institutions to place in the top 30 for three consecutive years, highlighting its continued dedication to student success and long-term value. The rankings, developed by the Wall Street Journal in collaboration with College Pulse and Statista, assess colleges based on how effectively they prepare students for life after graduation. Demonstrating the strong return on a Lehigh education, the university also ranked 13th on the publication’s Best Salaries list, which evaluates how much a university impacts graduates’ earnings relative to the cost of attendance.
Additionally, Lehigh is ranked in the top tier of national research universities annually, and in 2025 earned R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, denoting the highest level of research activity.
