Lehigh University Courses and Fees 2026

Lehigh University fees for Indian students total USD 89,820 (INR 85.71 Lakhs) per year for undergraduate degrees and roughly USD 1,735 (INR 1.66 Lakhs) per credit for a Masters, with the most popular Indian-applied graduate programmes being MS Computer Science, MS Mechanical Engineering, and MS Business Analytics.

Fall 2027 is the main graduate intake, with January 15, 2027 as the priority deadline for assistantship consideration. A limited Spring 2027 start remains open for select Arts & Sciences and Engineering programmes with a December 1, 2026 cutoff, but most Indian applicants target Fall 2027 for full aid access.

• Undergraduate tuition 2026/27: USD 69,420 (INR 66.24 Lakhs) per year
• Graduate tuition (Engineering, Arts & Sciences, MBA Special): USD 1,735 (INR 1.66 Lakhs) per credit
• Graduate tuition (College of Business standard): USD 1,440 (INR 1.37 Lakhs) per credit
• Graduate application fee: USD 50 (INR 4,771), waived at Virtual Open House
• Enrollment deposit (secures I-20 for F-1 visa): USD 500 (INR 47,711), non-refundable
• Mandatory Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 2026/27: USD 2,860 (INR 2.73 Lakhs) per year

A 30-credit MS at Lehigh comes to roughly INR 1.05 Crore all-in across two years of tuition, living, insurance, and visa costs, while a four-year undergraduate degree crosses INR 3.60 Crore. Exchange rate: 1 USD = INR 95.42 (xe.com, 12 August 2026 IST).

► Also Check: Lehigh University Admissions 2027: Deadlines, SAT, TOEFL, and GRE Requirements for Indian Students

Lehigh University Tuition Fees by Programme

Lehigh charges a single flat tuition for all undergraduate colleges and a per-credit rate for graduate programmes, with the credit rate varying by school. Every figure below is drawn from the Lehigh Bursar’s published 2026/27 fee schedule.

Undergraduate Fees: Fall 2027 (2026/27 Rate)

All four undergraduate colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Health) charge the same annual tuition. Housing, meals, and health insurance are billed separately.

Source: Lehigh University Cost of Attendance catalog, catalog.lehigh.edu/informationofgeneralinterest/costofattendance and news.lehigh.edu/lehigh-announces-tuition-for-2026-27-academic-year. Mandatory fees comprise Technology Fee USD 630 (INR 60,115), Student Activity Fee USD 290 (INR 27,672), and Wellness Fee USD 250 (INR 23,855) charged annually across all four colleges.

Graduate Fees: Fall 2027 (Per Credit Basis)

A standard Lehigh Masters is 30 credits, typically completed in three semesters. Full-time international students on F-1 status register for at least 9 credits per semester.

Source: Lehigh University Tuition and Fees, catalog.lehigh.edu/graduatestudyandresearch/tuitionandfees. STEM-designated MS programmes (Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics) unlock the 24-month OPT STEM extension after the base 12-month OPT.

Lehigh University Fee Trend by Year

Undergraduate tuition at Lehigh has risen between 3.75% and 4.5% every year since 2022, an average of roughly USD 2,600 (INR 2.48 Lakhs) added to the annual bill for each new intake.

Source: news.lehigh.edu annual tuition announcements (2022-23 through 2026-27).

Cost of Living in Bethlehem, PA for Indian Students

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a mid-cost college town: monthly living expenses for a single graduate student run USD 1,530 to USD 1,800 (INR 1.46 to INR 1.72 Lakhs) off-campus, while on-campus room and board is fixed at USD 19,230 (INR 18.35 Lakhs) for the 10-month academic year.

Source: Lehigh University Cost of Attendance catalog for on-campus figures (catalog.lehigh.edu); off-campus estimates from Wise Cost of Living Bethlehem, PA 2026 (wise.com/us/cost-of-living/united-states/bethlehem-pa).

Bethlehem’s cost index sits at 99 versus the US national average of 100, meaning your monthly outgo will be roughly a third of what a student pays in New York City or the Bay Area for equivalent housing. That gap is the single biggest reason Lehigh appears on Indian shortlists as a value alternative to coastal-metro STEM schools with comparable placements.

Total Cost of Studying at Lehigh University

Year 1 all-in cost sits at USD 90,000 to USD 95,000 (INR 85.87 to 90.65 Lakhs) for undergraduates and USD 55,000 to USD 60,000 (INR 52.48 to 57.25 Lakhs) for a typical MS student living off-campus and taking 18 credits in the year.

Source: Compiled from Lehigh Bursar tuition schedule, catalog.lehigh.edu cost of attendance, and studentaffairs.lehigh.edu insurance information. Mandatory fees include Technology + Student Activity + Wellness at USD 1,170 (INR 1.12 Lakhs), SHIP at USD 2,860 (INR 2.73 Lakhs), F-1 visa MRV + SEVIS at USD 535 (INR 51,050), plus USD 600 (INR 57,253) contingency for one-time flight and setup.

Across the full programme, a Lehigh undergraduate degree runs approximately INR 3.60 Crore over four years accounting for 4% annual tuition escalation, and a two-year MS Engineering totals close to INR 1.05 Crore. A student borrowing INR 50 Lakhs for the MS at 10.5% over 10 years pays roughly INR 67,000 per month EMI after graduation.

Lehigh University Scholarships for Indian Students

Aid at Lehigh splits into three tracks for Indian applicants: automatic UG merit scholarships worth USD 5,000 to full tuition, departmental graduate assistantships that fully or partially waive tuition, and external India-based scholarships that can add INR 15 to 45 Lakhs on top.

Lehigh University Institutional Scholarships (No Separate Application)

Source: www2.lehigh.edu/financial-aid, catalog.lehigh.edu/graduatestudyandresearch/financialaid, global.lehigh.edu/oiss/international-student-assistance-fund.

External Indian Scholarships (Currently Open for Fall 2027)

These five awards fund Indian students heading to Lehigh for the Fall 2027 intake. Application windows generally open between January and April 2027.

Source: Official scholarship websites (inlaksfoundation.org, dorabjitatatrust.org, kcmet.org, nsfoundation.co.in, akdn.org).

► Also Check: Lehigh University Scholarships 2027: Full List for Indian Students

Lehigh University Tuition Deposit and Payment Options

A non-refundable enrollment deposit of USD 500 (INR 47,711) secures your seat and triggers I-20 issuance, the document you need for the F-1 visa interview. The deposit is applied against your first-semester tuition bill, so you are not losing money by paying early.

Methods of Payment for International Students

• Bank wire transfer (SWIFT): Standard route through your Indian bank to Lehigh’s US account. Expect INR 1,500 to 2,500 in bank charges plus a 2% to 3% forex spread.
• Lehigh’s designated international payment platform: Accessed from the Bursar portal after admission. Locks the exchange rate for 72 hours and typically saves 2% to 3% over a direct SWIFT wire.
• Forex card (Multi-currency prepaid): Loaded in USD at your home bank, useful for the deposit and small on-campus charges but not for six-figure tuition bills.
• Education loan disbursement: Indian lenders (SBI, HDFC Credila, Avanse, Axis) can wire directly to Lehigh’s bank on the university’s letterhead. Requires the tuition invoice from your Bursar portal and an I-20.

Steps to Pay the Tuition Fee for International Students

1. Accept your admission offer through the Lehigh application portal within the response window.
2. Pay the USD 500 (INR 47,711) enrollment deposit online (credit card or e-check) or by wire.
3. Receive your I-20 by DHL or FedEx from the Office of International Students and Scholars.
4. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 33,397) at fmjfee.com before your F-1 visa interview.
5. After arrival, pay the semester tuition balance via wire or the university’s payment platform by the Bursar’s due date.
6. Retain every receipt (deposit, SEVIS, MRV, wire confirmation) in a single visa file for the interview and for future OPT applications.

Instalment and Payment Plan Options

Lehigh bills tuition per semester (Fall and Spring), so a full-year MS at 18 credits splits into two invoices of roughly USD 15,615 (INR 14.90 Lakhs) each for College of Engineering programmes. A monthly instalment plan is available through the Bursar for an enrollment fee, spreading each semester across five monthly payments with no interest charge.

Source: Lehigh Finance and Administration Bursar page (financeadmin.lehigh.edu) and Office of International Students and Scholars, global.lehigh.edu/oiss.

Hidden Costs of Studying at Lehigh University

For Fall 2027 arrivals, the single biggest surprise cost is the mandatory USD 2,860 (INR 2.73 Lakhs) SHIP health insurance premium, which international students on F-1 cannot waive unless covered by a parent’s or spouse’s US plan.

• SHIP health insurance (mandatory, non-waivable for F-1): USD 2,860 (INR 2.73 Lakhs) per year, auto-charged to your Bursar account.
• F-1 visa fees: SEVIS I-901 fee USD 350 (INR 33,397) plus MRV visa application fee USD 185 (INR 17,653), total USD 535 (INR 51,050) before you even step on the plane.
• Winter clothing kit: Bethlehem winters drop below freezing from December through February. Plan USD 400 to 600 (INR 38,168 to 57,253) for a down jacket, boots, gloves, and thermals in your first month.
• Initial setup (bedding, kitchen, backpack, desk lamp): USD 500 to 800 (INR 47,711 to 76,337) if living off-campus.
• Books, printing, software: USD 600 to 900 (INR 57,253 to 85,879) per year, though STEM courses often specify open-source tools that cut this in half.
• Flights (Delhi/Mumbai/Bengaluru to Newark or Philadelphia, one-way for arrival): INR 60,000 to INR 1.10 Lakhs depending on booking window and airline.
• SPT / re-issued document fees: USD 30 to 100 for I-20 travel signatures, transcript requests, and other one-off document charges through the semester.

Budget approximately INR 5.50 to 7.00 Lakhs for first-year hidden costs above the tuition and living headline.

Fee Saving Strategies for Indian Students at Lehigh University

The most urgent lever for the Fall 2027 intake is the January 15, 2027 assistantship deadline: securing a TA or RA drops your two-year MS out-of-pocket cost from roughly INR 1.05 Crore to under INR 30 Lakhs.

• Apply early for departmental Assistantships: Email your target programme by January 15, 2027 for Fall 2027 consideration. Even a partial 50% tuition waiver saves INR 25 Lakhs across a 30-credit MS.
• Take on-campus work at 20 hours per week: F-1 status allows up to 20 hours during term. Library, lab, and dining jobs pay USD 12 to 16 (INR 1,145 to 1,527) per hour, adding USD 4,500 to 6,000 (INR 4.29 to 5.73 Lakhs) per year toward living expenses.
• Claim Section 80E interest deduction: On your Indian income tax return after graduation, the full education loan interest paid each year is deductible for up to 8 years, cutting effective loan cost by INR 2 to 3 Lakhs over the repayment period at typical income slabs.
• Use OPT and the STEM extension aggressively: STEM-designated Lehigh MS programmes (Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics) unlock 12 months of standard OPT plus a 24-month STEM extension, giving you three full years of US work eligibility post-degree to repay the loan while earning in USD.
• Live off-campus from Year 2 in a shared apartment: Moving off-campus in Southside Bethlehem saves INR 3 to 5 Lakhs per year versus the on-campus meal-plan + room bundle. Splitting a 2BR with one roommate is the standard MS student setup.

Is Lehigh University Worth the Cost for Indian Students

At INR 1.05 Crore all-in for a two-year MS, Lehigh sits in the mid-tier US STEM cost band, roughly 30% cheaper than NYU or USC for the same MS and comparable to Purdue or Northeastern on total outlay. The financial case rests on two anchors: STEM OPT eligibility and India’s third-largest alumni base among Lehigh’s international cohort.

Lehigh’s STEM-designated Masters (Engineering, Computer Science, Business Analytics) qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the base 12-month OPT, giving Indian graduates three consecutive years of US work authorisation after the degree. That window is long enough to service and largely retire a INR 50 Lakh education loan while earning a typical entry-level US engineering salary in the USD 75,000 to USD 95,000 (INR 71.57 to 90.65 Lakhs) range.

The India cohort is unusually large for a school of Lehigh’s size: India is the third-largest source of undergraduate international students and the second-largest for graduate international students at Lehigh. That translates into a functioning ISA, senior mentors in most STEM programmes, and a warm alumni network in the Northeast tech corridor.

On EMI math: a INR 50 Lakh loan at 10.5% over 10 years costs roughly INR 67,000 per month. Against an entry US salary of INR 6.5 to 7.5 Lakhs per month during OPT, the ratio is workable, though only if you convert to H-1B or return to India in a role that pays at least INR 40 Lakhs per year after year three.