Lehigh University
Lehigh University
27 Memorial Dr. W, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Lehigh University is a private university in PA, founded in 1865 and offers Bachelor’s degrees for undergraduates and Master’s and Doctoral degrees for graduate students. The undergraduate enrollment is 5,203, and the graduate enrollment is 1,864. Lehigh University is a hyper-selective school, receiving 12,389 applications and accepting 49.5% of applicants. Lehigh University’s athletics teams compete at the club, intramural, and varsity levels. Additionally, Lehigh University employs 552 full-time instructional staff (94% of whom hold doctorate degrees) and has a 9:1 student to faculty ratio.
Empowerly Score®
74
University Score
- School Performance
- Extracurriculars
- Standardized Tests
- Essays
Empowerly Score®
At Empowerly, we prioritize data to customize our approach to student counseling. College admissions is becoming more selective by the year, so it’s never been more important than now to prepare in advance and give yourself the best chance for success.
Take the Empowerly QuizESSAYS
Applicants applying to Lehigh University will apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application. Applicants will be required to write one personal statement based on a set of prompts within the application and will also be required to submit additional responses to university-specific questions.
Deadlines For Submitting Applications
Early Decision Application Deadline
November 1st
Regular Application Deadline
January 1st
ATTENDANCE FACTORS
- Extracurricular Activities - Very Important
- Character/Personal Qualities - Very Important
- Academic GPA - Very Important
- Rigor of Secondary School Record - Very Important
- Recommendation(s) - Very Important
Average Acceptance Rate
49.50%
STUDENT LIFE
Lehigh University has a student populace of 6,953, with a graduate enrollment of 1,775 students and an undergraduate enrollment of 5,178 students (as of 2019). 94% of the school’s 540 full-time faculty members are holders of a doctorate or the highest equivalent degree in their field. With an acceptance rate of 49%, the school offers undergraduate enrollment in all colleges but the College of Education, allowing students to take courses in a subject outside their respective field. The school is rated most selective and runs a semester system with an average class size of 28 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1.
The school is ranked 49th among the National Universities by U.S. News and World Reports, 13th for Best Undergraduate Teaching, and 29th for Best-Valued schools. It also ranked 7th among National Universities based on The Economist and was a recipient of the Campus Sustainability Achievement Award from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The school is also the first to offer undergraduate, graduate, and executive degree programs in Population Health.
Housing
- 61% of students live on campus
- Guaranteed housing for freshmen
- Freshmen and sophomores required to live on campus
Lehigh University offers a variety of housing designs and systems to suit students’ different tastes and budgets throughout the Asa Packer Campus and mandates that all first-year and second-year students live in on-campus housing. First-year students have the privilege to choose the housing style that suits them as well as second-year students can also select their building or housing type. In contrast, the third, fourth, and fifth-year students participate in a lottery to determine their building or housing type. The school also offered fraternity and sorority housing and themed housing for all undergraduate students. The graduate students are not mandated to live on-campus but can request on-campus housing if there is any space, but there are also off-campus options available to all students.
Life as a Student
Lehigh University has different organizations, clubs, fraternities, and sororities to promote good interpersonal relationships amongst students while ensuring an excellent academic environment. There are 13 fraternities and Sororities in L.U., with about 34% of students members. The school has a tradition where first-year students are welcomed by alumni of fifty years before them. Additionally, L.U. ‘s athletic team, the Mountain Hawks, competes in the NCAA Division 1 sports as members of the Patriot League, competing in 25 different sports, sharing a famous rivalry with nearby neighbors Lafayette College.
TOP MAJORS
Finance
Mechanical Engineering
Computer Science
Accounting
Marketing
Industrial Engineering
SERVICES
Health and Safety
- 24-hour trained security on campus
- Student security patrol
- Late night ride/safe escort service available
- Self-defense training available
Student Services
- Health Center
- Psychological Counseling
- Women's Center
Athletics
Varsity
Varsity
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Rugby
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Crew
Equestrian Sports
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Rugby
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Water Polo
Cross-Country Running
Club
Club
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Golf
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Volleyball
Wrestling
Cross-Country Running
Basketball
Cheerleading
Field Hockey
Golf
Gymnastics
Lacrosse
Skiing (Downhill)
Soccer
Volleyball
Cross-Country Running
Intramural
Intramural
Football
Softball
Football
Softball
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
90% of Lehigh University undergraduate families with an income less than $75,000 received grants and scholarships in an amount greater than the full cost of tuition and more than 50% of current students receive some form of financial aid.
*All costs below are estimates and may differ based on your circumstances.
- Tuition - $58,970
- Typical First Year Housing - $9,350
- Full Meal Plan - $6,540
- Technology Fee - $510
- Activity Fee - $250
- Wellness Fee - $200
- Total Estimated Cost of Attendance - $75,820
HISTORY
Lehigh University (L.U.) is a private research university established on July 27th, 1865, by Asa Packer, a businessman from Pennsylvania. The school is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in a mixed urban and suburban setting spanning over 2,350 acres. The school’s motto is “man, the servant, and interpreter of nature,” and the idea of the school was born in the post- Civil War era. During this period, the country was experiencing a rebuilding phase following the destruction and turmoil of the war while enjoying its privileges as a new economic power. During this period, though, the country experienced immense growth driven by the increase in the use of iron and coal in industries, which helped improve waterways and railroad transportation. Asa Packer, a philanthropist, businessman, and founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, benefited from this improvement as he saw his fortune rise.
Asa Packer sought to give back to the region that contributed to his fortune. Hence, he envisioned an institution that provides top-notch education, and in 1865, he donated over $500,000 to facilitate the creation of a new university in the city. The university itself would aim to serve the intellectual and moral improvement of the young men in Lehigh Valley. So, on 27th July 1865, Lehigh University was established and commenced with 49 students. Some years later, the school has experienced massive growth, with 150 buildings comprising four million square feet of floor space. The school now has three contiguous campuses: the Mountaintop Campus, the Asa Packer Campus, and the Murray H. Goodman Campus.
Additionally, the school has five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Health, College of Business, and P.C. Tossing College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. L.U. is classified as a university with high research activity among R2 Doctoral Universities. The school’s alumni include a list of Pulitzer prize winners, members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Medal of Science winners, Ministers, Fulbright fellows, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. The school is also the birthplace of the engineering honor society by Tau Beta Pi and graduated the inventor of the escalator.