Lehigh: the complete school report for parents

What does Lehigh actually weigh in admissions?

Lehigh rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 1 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Lehigh's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What is the Lehigh waitlist really like?

Lehigh offered a place on its waiting list to 4,083 applicants and 1,988 accepted one. 80 were ultimately admitted. That is 4.0% of those who waited.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Lehigh admitted 24.3% of 804 transfer applicants, against 29.0% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 3.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 47.4% of ED applicants were admitted against 29.0% overall, a gap of 18 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Lehigh requires 16 academic units and recommends 18. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.

What will Lehigh actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $36,931 a year at Lehigh after grants and scholarships. The published price is not what most families pay.

, which the federal data puts at about $233 a month in repayment Lehigh’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Lehigh pay off?

Graduates earn a median $105,584 ten years after entering, and $88,810 at six years. 95% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 88% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$134,072 to $62,083, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Lehigh:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

94% of first-years return for a second year. 85% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 83.3% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 85.6% of everyone else, a gap of 2.3 points.

How big are the classes?

42% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 3% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 85% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Lehigh like?

5,986 undergraduates, 75.82% of first-years from out of state. 97.26% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 60.29% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 17.83% of men join a fraternity and 24.74% of women a sorority. 17% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $88,627.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Lehigh recommends 18 academic units.
• Early Decision is worth 18 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
• The waitlist is live but thin: 80 of 1,988 who waited were admitted, about 4%.
• Its highest-earning major returns $134,072 five years out against $62,083 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Lehigh

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