Industry
Lehigh alumni can most commonly be found in the aerospace and defense industry, the engineering services industry, and the consulting industry, though they are employed throughout a wide range of sectors. The most highly represented industry among alumni is the financial services industry. Students of Lehigh go on to make comfortable salaries after graduation, a trend consistent with the high graduation rates and above-average SAT scores reported by this group. Lehigh graduates see an average starting salary of $78K.
Gender
A gender wage gap becomes apparent after college, with female graduates earning only about $67K on average compared to around $82K for male graduates.
Jobs
Lehigh grads who become Software Engineers garner financial rewards beyond any other job type for this group — these alumni rake in an average $85K annually. However, Electrical Engineers and Mechanical Engineers also rank as top-earners (bringing in $80K and approximately $74K, respectively). Salaries are anything but generous for Structural Engineers, whose earnings rank lowest on the pay scale at $69K.
Locations
Many Lehigh grads flock to New York, N.Y. The top-paying city popular with Lehigh alumni is San Francisco, Calif., which offers a median salary of approximately $98K. Though median pay is subpar (about $70K) relative to popular cities, choosing to stay in Bethlehem after graduation is a common decision made by many alumni who have developed a love for the area. Neighboring Philadelphia, Pa. is another common pick among Lehigh grads, along with Allentown, Pa.
Degree Major
A graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (EE) from Lehigh can rake in a whopping average $123K per year, more than any other degree from this school. A B.A. in Psychology commands less pay, and these degree-holders face median pay of $45K.
Skills
Former Mountain Hawks with Product Development abilities can expect to make 16 percent more than their former classmates (around $91K). Lehigh grads are usually competent in Project Management, and close to one-fifth of alumni continue practicing this skill in their career. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Engineering Design, and Microsoft Office is highly valued as well.
Benefits and Perks
Just one in three grads enjoy paid vacation and merely one in five survey participants get paid sick time. A large number of alums participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan. For this school, most alums are the recipients of health benefits, and a strong majority of respondents pick up dental plans, too. Lehigh University grads also enjoy benefits like a casual working environment, a company-subsidized cell phone, life insurance, and tuition reimbursement.
Related Schools
Alumni of Southern Methodist University pick up average paychecks of $74K, which is closest to the amount made by Lehigh grads among similar schools. Teachers College at Columbia University, Fordham University, and Catholic University of America are also similar to Lehigh.
