For more than 150 years, Lehigh’s interdisciplinary nature and focus on the work of today has prepared students to take on the challenges of tomorrow. Located in Bethlehem, part of Pennsylvania's beautiful Lehigh Valley, Lehigh is one of the nation's most distinguished private research universities. Our ideal size of around 5,000 undergraduates and 2,000 grad students is large enough to offer world-class faculty and rigorous academics, but small enough to allow for close mentorship and hands-on research. Through creative problem solving, a collaborative culture and a focus on impacting humanity, Lehigh students are built for future success.
Lehigh University is a private, nonprofit school in a suburban setting in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lehigh was founded in 1865 and the school enrolls around 7,067 students a year, which includes 5,203 undergraduates. Lehigh ensures housing for up to 3,466 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 99% of students spend their weekends on campus.
📆 Mark your calendar! The final application deadline for Fall 2023 is January 1. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should hear from Lehigh by March 27.
Student Involvement at Lehigh
Interested in music or performing? At Lehigh you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.
Are you interested in journalism and communications? Lehigh students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Excited for Greek life? Lehigh has both fraternities and sororities.
Planning to play sports? Lehigh has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Lehigh on the Student Life page.
2022 Lehigh Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 50% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | 73% |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA not offered |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 70% |
Tuition | $58,970 |
Percent of Need Met | 97% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $55,204 |
There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how competitive an institution is.
Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a better view of what Lehigh offers and if the school could be the right college for you.
It is extremely difficult to get into Lehigh. Around 50% of applicants get into Lehigh each year. Out of 12,389 applications received in 2022, 6,138 students were offered admission.
Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Approximately 91% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at Lehighcome back the next year. 88% of Lehigh undergrads graduate within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 66% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.
Recent Lehigh grads have an average starting salary of $66,794 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students.
As of 2022, the total market value of Lehigh University's endowment was $1.37 billion. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021.
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.
Lehigh meets 97% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $55,204 a year.
In 2020, students graduated with an average of $20,076 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022
Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Lehigh.
Based on this information, is Lehigh the school for you? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Lehigh a good school for you?
If Lehigh University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
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Lehigh is located in the suburban setting of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
If you want to see Lehigh for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 78 to Bethlehem, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Lehigh Valley International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Lehigh and Bethlehem are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Pennsylvania and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Lehigh is Jan 1.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Lehigh is Apr 1.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
More than an application, the Coalition provides free tools and resources to help students through the college admissions process, beginning as early as 9th grade.
ACT Range
ACT Score
Estimated Chance
33 and Above
29 to 33
29 and Less
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
Tuition & Fees
$76,820
In State$76,820
Out-of-StateWondering what life at Lehigh is like? There are approximately 7,067 students enrolled at Lehigh, including 5,203 undergraduate students and 1,864 graduate students. 97% percent of students attend school full-time, 28% percent are from PA and 72% percent of students are from other states.
97%
Full Time3%
Part Time28%
In State72%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Tuition and Fees
In State
Out-of-State
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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