What a friend would tell you
What Lehigh is looking for
Lehigh explicitly tracks demonstrated interest: campus visits, info sessions, interviewer interactions, and email opens all count. Apply ED if Lehigh is your top choice; the ED admit rate runs significantly higher than RD. Be specific about which college (Rossin Engineering, Business, Arts & Sciences) and name faculty or programs. Generic interest won't cut it here.
What students wish they'd known
Greek life dominates the social scene at 45%, and opting out narrows your social options significantly. The hillside campus means constant stair-climbing in all weather, and Bethlehem, while improving, is not a college town with walkable nightlife. Engineering course loads are heavy and grading is tough. The student body skews preppy and economically homogeneous.
Lehigh might be a fit if...
- You want rigorous engineering or business at a mid-size school where professors know your name and Greek life anchors the social scene
- You're drawn to the Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program or Lehigh's strong Wall Street pipeline
- You prefer a residential, tight-knit campus over a big-city university and don't mind a smaller town
Lehigh Admissions Strategy
1.8x
Early Decision Advantage
Early Decision admits at 1.8x the RD rate. The trade: ED is binding. Apply only if you'd say yes on the spot.
Early Decision: the numbers
Lehigh's Early Decision acceptance rate is 47.4% vs 26.0% overall. ED is binding. If you are admitted, you are committing to enroll. This signals strong commitment and gives a meaningful admissions advantage.
Deadlines: ED November 15 · RD January 1
Deadlines: ED November 15 · RD January 1
Test Policy
Test-optional
You choose whether to send scores. A strong score helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Yes, Tracked
Tracked. Campus visits, info sessions, and opened emails all register. Show up where you can.
Interview
Recommended
Yield Rate
27%
Only 27% of admits choose to enroll. The waitlist moves more than you'd think; if you land on it, make your interest loud.
Want to boost your odds at Lehigh and every reach on your list, so admissions stops feeling like a coin flip?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at Lehigh
$63,000
Sticker Price
Need-blind admissions. Meets 100% of demonstrated need. 71% receive financial aid.
What you get for it: Lehigh spends about $30,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, roughly 2x the $15K national average. You see it in class sizes, faculty access, and research budgets.
What Lehigh Graduates Get
$71,000
Avg Starting Salary
95%
Employed or in Grad School
80%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (88%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
Lehigh Campus & Culture
The Campus
Lehigh's campus climbs South Mountain in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with stone and brick Gothic buildings terracing up a steep hillside. University Center sits at the base; Packer Memorial Church and Linderman Library (both 1870s stone) anchor the upper campus. The Asa Packer campus and Mountaintop campus are connected by stairs and a shuttle. The Lehigh River runs along the edge, and the old Bethlehem Steel plant is visible from campus.
The Social Scene
Greek life significant; engineering-dominated social scene; Bethlehem location small-city feel
Lehigh Traditions & Trivia
Founder's Day
Every October since 1879, students and faculty gather to mark the anniversary of founder Asa Packer's death with ceremonies, concerts, and a BBQ on the lawn, with honorees receiving a walking stick, Packer's signature accessory.
Brown and White Friday
Every single Friday of the academic year, students, faculty, and staff wear the school's brown and white colors as a campus-wide spirit tradition.
Academics at Lehigh
What Lehigh is known for
Engineering excellence, business school, demonstrated interest tracking, Greek life
Most popular majors at Lehigh
Standout programs
Engineering (strong), finance, computer science, pre-med, business
How the curriculum works
School-based (Engineering, Business, Arts/Sciences); strong core curriculum
Recommended high school courses
4 English, 4 Math, 3+ Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language
Notable Lehigh Alumni
Lee Iacocca
Rescued Chrysler from bankruptcy, Lehigh engineering class of 1945
Roger Penske
Built one of the largest auto dealership and racing empires in the world, Lehigh class of 1959
Jesse Arnelle
All-American basketball player at a predominantly white institution, Lehigh 1955
Terry Hart
NASA Space Shuttle astronaut, Lehigh class of 1968
If you like Lehigh, also consider
Lafayette College
Cross-town Patriot League rival with similar engineering-in-liberal-arts model
Bucknell University
Comparable Greek culture and engineering strength in rural Pennsylvania
Villanova University
Same region, stronger Catholic identity, bigger basketball culture
Cornell University
Much larger Ivy with top engineering, if you want more scale and prestige
Stevens Institute of Technology
Engineering-focused in Hoboken with NYC access