Leeds' emphatic 6-0 win over Stoke earlier in the day meant they had to wait and watch on to see if Burnley could create an unassailable gap for the top two sides in the Championship.
Daniel Farke's men knew they would return to the top division if Sheffield United simply failed to win at second-placed Burnley in the evening kick-off.
Two goals from club captain and top scorer Josh Brownhill were enough to seal the win for Burnley, who have only conceded a mere 15 goals throughout the entire league campaign with just two more games remaining.
Both Leeds and Burnley are deadlocked at the top of the table on 94 points, with Leeds boasting a far superior goal difference despite Scott Parker's side's excellent defensive record.
Leeds, who last played in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season, suffered the agony of defeat to Southampton in last season's Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Sheffield United themselves were right in the mix until a recent loss of form, including three consecutive losses, ultimately forcing Chris Wilder's side to settle for a place in the play-offs after suffering defeat.
Along with the Blades, the remaining play-off places are currently being filled by Sunderland, Bristol City and Coventry, although Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn still remain in with an outside chance of scraping in.
"We've been written off so many times, people calling us boring. We've bored our way to the Premier League," said Brownhill.
Parker has now taken three clubs up to the Premier League - previously managing the feat with Fulham and Bournemouth.
"It means everything," he said. "Set on a mission at the start of this year to get promoted.
"Early on in the season, there were a lot of ups and downs and the journey we've been on is nothing short of incredible."
Leeds hit Stoke for six
Farke and his players celebrated in front of their passionate fans at the final whistle but the champagne was still on ice.
Dutch forward Piroe, who had not scored since late February, returned to form with a vengeance, celebrating a hat-trick in the 20th minute.
Junior Firpo made it four and Piroe, the club's leading scorer this season, netted his fourth goal shortly before half-time.
The game was already long over as a contest but Wilfried Gnonto nodded a sixth goal in the 59th minute.
The German, who has previously managed in the Premier League with Norwich, praised the way his team had coped with the pressure.
"To deliver such an emphatic performance is really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled the situation and the spirit they have shown in recent weeks," he told the BBC.
"It's the fate of a striker that sometimes you have a dry period or a dip in form. Joel had this but he has worked so hard and got himself out of it.
"In the last few weeks his performances were better but the ball didn't want to go in the net. It's a bit like shaking a bottle of ketchup - all of a sudden everything comes out and that was a bit the case today."
Leeds wobbled from the start of March, winning just one in six games, raising fears that they would again have to settle for a place in the play-offs.
But they have now won their past four league games.
At the other end of the table, Mustapha Bundu scored twice to keep alive bottom side Plymouth's survival hopes in a 3-1 win against sixth-placed Coventry.
There were also 3-1 victories for relegation-threatened Derby and Luton while Portsmouth sealed their safety with a 1-0 win against 10-man Watford.
Middlesbrough's play-off hopes were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.