Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit · Small city · Website

Admission rate: 26%; Selective
Average net price: $25,272; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 85%
Median earnings: $116,342; 10 years after enrolling

Lehigh University is a private nonprofit college in Bethlehem, PA with 5,898 undergraduates. It admits 26% of applicants, and admitted students average 1440 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $25,272 per year ($14,290 for families earning under $30,000). 85% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $116,342 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 26%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 18,415; Fall 2023
Admitted: 5,389; Fall 2023
Yield: 28%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing680–730

200800

SAT Math690–770

200800

ACT Composite31–34

136

What Lehigh University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankNot considered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $84,497; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $67,920

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$14,290
$30–48k$13,708
$48–75k$19,587
$75–110k$20,869
$110k+$36,233

Get a personal estimate with Lehigh University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 85%
Freshman retention: 94%
Median earnings: $116,342; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $21,371; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 5,898
Student–faculty ratio: 10:1
Receive Pell grants: 21%

White60%
Hispanic11%
Black5%
Asian11%

Lehigh University FAQ

What is Lehigh University's acceptance rate?+

Lehigh University admits 26% of applicants, which makes it selective.

What SAT score do you need for Lehigh University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 680–730 on SAT Reading and Writing and 690–770 on SAT Math; the average total is 1440.

What ACT score do you need for Lehigh University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 31–34.

Is Lehigh University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Lehigh University?+

In Fall 2023, 18,415 students applied to Lehigh University and 5,389 were admitted; 1,531 enrolled.

Does Lehigh University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Lehigh University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Lehigh University require an essay?+

Lehigh University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Lehigh University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $84,497 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,272.

What is Lehigh University's graduation rate?+

85% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 213543 · How we use this data