Finance and Financial Management Services at Lehigh University

Lehigh finance graduates earn $107,260 within four years—nearly double the national median for finance programs and far above Pennsylvania's typical $57,855. With first-year earnings of $76,720, graduates start strong and see impressive 40% salary growth, suggesting they're landing positions with genuine career trajectories rather than dead-end analyst roles. Among Pennsylvania's 49 finance programs, Lehigh ranks in the 80th percentile, trailing only Penn and Villanova among traditional universities.

The $23,250 debt level produces a comfortable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than four months of their starting salary. This is slightly below the state median debt of $26,000, which is notable given Lehigh's selective admissions (29% acceptance rate, 1432 average SAT). The program's robust sample size of 100+ graduates confirms these outcomes aren't flukes—this is a consistent pattern of strong placement, likely into competitive financial services, consulting, or corporate finance roles that value Lehigh's rigorous curriculum and employer networks.

For families who can manage the upfront cost, this represents one of the strongest finance programs in Pennsylvania outside of Wharton. Graduates are entering careers with clear advancement potential, and the debt burden won't constrain their early financial decisions. The return on investment is evident in both immediate earnings and four-year growth.