Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA · Small city
Admissions
- Acceptance rate (most recent year)
- 25.9%
- Applicants (fall 2023)
- 18,415
- Admitted (fall 2023)
- 5,389
- Enrolled freshmen (fall 2023)
- 1,531
- Yield (admitted who enroll)
- 28%
- Acceptance rate – women (fall 2023)
- 31%
- Acceptance rate – men (fall 2023)
- 28%
- SAT reading, middle 50%
- 680–730
- SAT math, middle 50%
- 690–770
- ACT composite, middle 50%
- 31–34
- Enrollees who sent SAT / ACT
- 33% / 10%
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey, fall 2023 entering class; test ranges and rate from U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
What they look at
- High school GPA
- required
- High school class rank
- not considered
- High school record (transcript)
- required
- College-prep program completed
- considered
- Recommendations
- required
- Demonstration of competencies
- not considered
- SAT/ACT scores
- considered
- English proficiency test (TOEFL etc.)
- required
- Other test
- not considered
- Work experience
- considered
- Personal statement or essay
- required
- Legacy status
- considered
“Considered” means the college uses it if you submit it, but it isn’t required.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price (after grants and scholarships) for first-time, full-time students who got aid, by family income.
- Full sticker price (per year)
- $80,856
- Tuition & fees – in-state
- $64,980
- Tuition & fees – out-of-state
- $64,980
- Median debt at graduation
- $21,960
- Students with federal loans
- 37%
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Outcomes
- Graduate within 6 years
- 88%
- Freshmen who return for year 2
- 94%
- Median earnings, 1 year after graduating
- $71,597
- Median earnings, 10 years after starting
- $105,584
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Students & campus
- Undergraduates
- 5,898
- Graduate students
- 1,781
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 10 : 1
- Women
- 48%
- Students receiving Pell grants
- 18%
- Full-time faculty
- 85%
Undergraduate diversity
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release)
Most popular majors
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (June 2026 release) (share of bachelor’s degrees awarded)
Contacts & links
- President
- Joseph J. Helble
- Main phone
- (610) 758-3000
- Address
- 27 Memorial Drive West, Bethlehem, PA 18015
How to apply (2026–27)
| Plan | Apply by | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | November 1 | mid-December |
| Early Decision II (binding) | January 1 | mid-February |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | late March |
- Apply with
- Common App, Coalition/Scoir
- Application fee
- $75
- SAT/ACT
- Optional
- Essays
- Lehigh Questions and Writing Supplement in the application
- Recommendations
- 1 counselor + 1 teacher
- Interview
- evaluative optional
Testing: Test-optional policy extended indefinitely
Financial aid policies
- Meets 100% of demonstrated need
- CSS Profile required (plus FAFSA)
- Merit scholarships: Merit aid for entering first-years, awarded by Admissions
- Lehigh Commitment: full tuition grant for family income under $75,000
Early rounds & waitlist (2025-2026)
- Early Decision admit rate
- 47.4% (966 of 2,040)
- Waitlist: offered / accepted / admitted
- 4,083 / 1,988 / 80
Source: the college’s official website and Common Data Set 2025-2026: www2.lehigh.edu, www2.lehigh.edu, www2.lehigh.edu, www2.lehigh.edu. Dates can change, so always confirm on the college’s site.