Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0Bethlehem is home to two colleges, with 9,483 students on campus
Lehigh University (7,156 students on campus) and Moravian University (2,327) are inside the city, and Northampton County Area Community College (7,042) is 3.9 miles from the center, just over the line in Bethlehem Township. About 14% of Bethlehem’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Bethlehem. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Bethlehem
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Bethlehem
Eight private colleges within 10.8 miles, one public college within 5 miles, and two community colleges.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Bethlehem’s median household income ($68,879) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Bethlehem: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute-Allentown (22); Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley (22); Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown (8).
What students study in Bethlehem
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Bethlehem’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Biggest programs
College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Questions about college in Bethlehem
Is Bethlehem a college town?
No. About 14 of every 100 Bethlehem residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Lehigh University, has 7,156 students on campus.
What colleges are in Bethlehem?
Lehigh University and Moravian University are inside the city. Northampton County Area Community College is 3.9 miles from the center, in Bethlehem Township.
What is the closest community college to Bethlehem, and what does it cost?
Northampton County Area Community College in Bethlehem, 3.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,550 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $12,119, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley cost if we live in Pennsylvania?
Tuition and fees are $15,208 a year in-state and $25,392 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,422 (under $30,000 income) to $24,539 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bethlehem. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →