Big save - and we are talking about Lehigh here - no disrespect to Lake Superior State or Dakota State or W Alabama. But this isn’t an unknown commodity vs MIT. This is still one of the most respected universities in the country.
It sounds like these kids will form a special and well attended to cohort.
That made all the difference for my kid at her school - which isn’t nearly as reputed as Lehigh and yet she turned down programs that were.
If the student attends Lehigh and even if they make that determination on cost alone, life will likely still be fine. And likely better for the parent (bank account wise which is a concern).
Zillions graduate every year and got through four years even though they live life with no formal attachment or love for their alma mater.