Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Lehigh admits about 1 in 3 applicants (29%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 93% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$75 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 24%, women at 28%.
Where applicants live
Pennsylvania applicants were admitted at 31%, applicants from other states at 35%, and international applicants at 8.6%.
All applicants in the same class: 29%
Of those admitted, 38% from Pennsylvania enrolled, against 26% from other states and 33% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
27% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 4,456 offered a place, 2,098 accepted, 144 admitted (6.9% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early decision: 53% admitted
863 of 1,637 early applicants
Apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 15
Second round: apply by Jan 1; decisions by Feb 15
Early decision is binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll. Recruited athletes and other applicants with an edge often apply early, so the early rate overstates the gain for a typical applicant.
No early action plan.
Where you stand
How Lehigh reads a record
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both important. Scores are optional. 30% of first-years sent an SAT and 9% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 30% whose high school reported a rank, 57% were in the top tenth. Recommends 4 years of math and science (3 of each required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Required
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
30% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 29% of first-year applicants
644 applied · 190 admitted · 47 enrolled
Minimum college GPA: 3.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date October 1, apply by November 11, decisions by December 15, reply by January 1
- Spring entry: priority date March 1, apply by April 1, decisions by May 1, reply by June 10
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2024.
- Priority date: January 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent by March 25.
- $500 housing deposit, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Requires a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 2 / 3) | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | 2 | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 | 2 |
| History | 2 | 2 |
| Academic electives | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 23 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2023 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
57% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 84% in the top quarter, of the 30% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1435 on the SAT, 265 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Lehigh University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;Lehigh University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)