Head-to-head comparison
Lehigh University vs. Wake Forest University
Real published data on acceptance rates, cost, and outcomes. Side by side.
Calculate your odds at bothIs Lehigh or Wake Forest harder to get into?
Wake Forest is harder to get into than Lehigh. Wake Forest's 21.7% acceptance rate is lower than Lehigh's 25.9%.
Which is cheaper, Lehigh or Wake Forest?
Wake Forest costs less on average. After grants and scholarships, Wake Forest's average net price is $28,719 vs $36,931 at Lehigh.
Which has higher post-graduation earnings?
Lehigh graduates earn more on average. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $105,584 at Lehigh and $78,158 at Wake Forest.
Full Comparison
| Metric | Lehigh | Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 25.9% | 21.7% |
| SAT mid-50% | 1370–1500 | 1410–1520 |
| ACT mid-50% | 31–34 | 32–34 |
| Cost of attendance | $80,856 | $87,499 |
| Avg net price (after aid) | $36,931 | $28,719 |
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,898 | 5,485 |
| 6-yr graduation rate | 87.9% | 89.1% |
| Median earnings (10yr) | $105,584 | $78,158 |
| Setting | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS) and school-published admit cycle data. Last verified May 2026.
The Real Differences
Wake Forest is meaningfully harder to get into. A 4.3-percentage-point gap between 25.9% (Lehigh) and 21.7% (Wake Forest) reflects real selectivity differences. Lehigh is the more realistic target for a balanced college list.
Wake Forest is significantly cheaper after aid. The average net price gap is $8,212 per year, $32,848 over four years. For most families that difference is the deciding factor when both schools admit you.
Lehigh graduates earn $27,426 more on average at the 10-year mark. This usually reflects major distribution more than school quality — schools that concentrate in CS, engineering, and finance pull higher medians than schools with more humanities and social science graduates. Wake Forest grads' earnings within the same major category are typically comparable.
Geographic difference matters more than the campus tour suggests. Lehigh is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Wake Forest is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Climate, cost-of-living, and proximity to job markets in your target field shape the four-year experience and post-grad pipeline more than most prospective students realize.
Student Body Composition
The two schools have different student body compositions. Lehigh is 48.0% women, 6.5% international, and 10.8% Asian-American. Wake Forest is 55.1% women, 5.8% international, and 5.3% Asian-American.
| Demographic | Lehigh | Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 48.0% | 55.1% |
| International | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| White | 59.7% | 65.1% |
| Asian | 10.8% | 5.3% |
| Hispanic | 11.1% | 9.7% |
| Black | 5.0% | 6.4% |
Personalized estimate
What are your odds at Lehigh vs. Wake Forest?
Get a probability for both schools calibrated to your full profile, not the headline rate.
Run the calculatorThe Verdict
Pick Lehigh if
- Your odds are realistic at Lehigh (slightly easier admit)
- Higher median post-grad earnings ($105,584 vs $78,158)
- integrated business and engineering programs
Pick Wake Forest if
- Net price matters: Wake Forest costs $8,212 less per year on average
- Higher 6-year graduation rate
- small class sizes
Headline numbers favor one school or the other on each axis, but neither is unambiguously “better.” The right answer depends on your major fit, geographic preference, financial need, and personal odds at each. Most applicants who get into one of these schools also get into the other.
Full School Pages
For complete admissions data, supplemental essay strategy, and class profile breakdowns:
Full profile
Lehigh University
25.9% accept · Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Full profile
Wake Forest University
21.7% accept · Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard for acceptance rates, test ranges, financial aid, demographics, completion, and earnings.
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) for the underlying federal data.
- Each school's most recent published Common Data Set for cycle-specific admissions stats.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect each school's most recent publicly published admit cycle.