At Lehigh University
Inspiring the Future Makers The Lehigh University Strategic Plan
Why Lehigh
Lehigh University International Experiences
International Students A Vital Part of the Lehigh Community
Lehigh University: Built for Tomorrow's Challenges
Lehigh University: Together We Are Genius
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
At Lehigh University
Established in 1865, Lehigh University is a private research institution located in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. With more than 150 years of educational heritage, the university is a hub of teaching, research, and innovation, and today offers an impressive portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. Its courses span hundreds of subject areas, five colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering and Health) and various academic faculties. Popular courses include finance/financial engineering, mechanical engineering, psychology, biological sciences, and computer science.
The university is distributed across four campuses in the Bethlehem area, totaling more than 2,300 acres. Lehigh's main campus encompasses around 360 acres of wooded land and houses the majority of academic and residential buildings, overlooking the nearby city where most students live and study. All first-year undergraduate students must reside on campus, while second year undergraduate students are also required to live on campus in either a residence hall or Greek housing. Graduate students can select from on-campus graduate apartments or off-campus apartments within walking distance.
The total student population numbers approximately 7,400, of which 5,600 are undergraduates. The student community is diverse and inclusive, with more than 100 countries represented from around the world.
The university has a large and well organized extra-curricular offering, with more than 150 student clubs, and over 40 intramural sports teams for students to participate in.
Lehigh is the perfect size to offer its students the very best in education and enrichment – large enough to provide superb facilities and comprehensive teaching, while small enough to generate a close-knit community feel and a personalised approach to mentorship.
Lehigh University is constantly innovating. Whether it’s new research in machine learning and robotics, or bacterial response to environment, studying ambivalence in team performance, or building a historic partnership with the Delaware Nation, Lehigh always has something exciting going on. The university has two brand new modern buildings; one (the Health Science and Technology building) that showcases interdisciplinary science by blending research groups across disciplines in a shared space, and the second (the Business Innovation Building) that showcases the College of Business and modernizes how businesses and students interact with each other.
New facilities such as these join other influential developments, such as a new College of Health, opened in 2020. Its innovative work has been ongoing since then, with a new Institute of Health Policy and Politics, and a new dean, all contributing to its building momentum and excellent learning opportunities for students.
Lehigh University is proud to report its progress across numerous national rankings, in addition to its impressive stats on graduate earnings and value for money:
US$59,387 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
US$26,486 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
US$16,470 Living costs
US$9,680 To live on campus
Lehigh University provides generous funding opportunities to support undergraduate and graduate students from all backgrounds, ensuring that the whole university community has the resources and support to pursue their education with confidence.
Graduate student funding comes in a variety of formats. Teaching assistantships, research assistantships, graduate assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships are academic awards made by individual academic departments. Several graduate assistantships unrelated to a particular area of study can be obtained by applying to administrative offices. International students are also encouraged to apply for funding to outside sponsoring agencies and/or home governments.
At the undergraduate level, the university awards funding for both merit-based and means-tested criteria. Awards are gifted to undergraduate students and do not require repayment.
The financial aid team looks beyond just grade scores and numbers, also considering extra-curricular achievements, personal essays, and recommendations when deciding on scholarship recipients. Some of the following awards require additional application, however there are several schemes to which students are automatically considered upon enrolment.
Entry requirements differ on a program-by-program basis. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the Lehigh University website to find subject-specific entry requirements as well as getting familiar with any important application deadlines.
In general, most domestic undergraduate applicants who successfully gain admission to the university submit SAT test scores between 1340 and 1490 or ACT scores of 30 and 33. The undergraduate acceptance rate is 37 percent, making Lehigh University a selective institution.
International undergraduate applicants are required to demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.86, and are typically required to submit several submission documents such as grades, teacher recommendation, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and in some cases, a small portfolio of work.
All international undergraduate applicants for whom English is not their first language must also demonstrate proficiency in English. TOEFL and IELTS scores are preferred, however the Duolingo English Test will also be considered if these exams are not available to the applicant. The more competitive candidates typically register a score above a 90 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS or 110 on Duolingo.
Applicants should consult their respective departments or their dean's office for specific application deadlines.
To be considered for admission as a regular graduate student, the applicant must satisfy at least one of the following conditions: have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 out of 4.00 (note: College of Education GPA minimum is 3.0); have an average of at least 3.00 for the last two semesters of undergraduate study; or have a graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 for a minimum of twelve credit hours of graduate work completed at other institutions. Further conditions may be applied on a course-by-course basis.
All graduate applicants are required to show English proficiency.
Students at Lehigh University benefit from more than 150 years of educational heritage, and it is the drive and dedication of its teaching faculty which underpins the institution’s impressive academic results and research output.
The university’s approach involves keeping class sizes small and encouraging practical hands-on learning, with plenty of options to participate in internships and experiential learning opportunities.
The student to faculty ratio is 10:1, which is significantly lower than most universities in the U.S. – meaning students get far more individual attention from their instructors and a much more personalized learning experience.
The average class size at Lehigh University is 28 students, and 45 percent of all classes have fewer than 20 students. Furthermore, 82 percent of the university’s teaching faculty hold the highest level of degrees in their field, and many are involved in cutting-edge research, so students are able to gain valuable professional insights from their mentors.
The university’s impressive 91 percent freshman retention rate is firm evidence of the success of their teaching quality. This dedication in the classroom spans all academic levels, from undergraduate programs through doctoral programs.
Lehigh University has invested time and resources into developing a high-quality and internationally renowned curriculum, delivered by a superb teaching faculty, and spanning an array of subject areas. Prospective undergraduate students have more than 110 degree programs and majors to choose from, while graduate students have more than 80 distinct programs to choose from. Programs are distributed across the following five academic colleges:
College of Arts and Sciences - The college provides a rich program of educational opportunities which encourages students to think creatively and critically, responding to a diversity of briefs to take on some society's greatest challenges.
College of Business - Students learn the fundamentals of business practice, learning to think outside the box, working with integrity, and developing leadership skills both inside and outside of the office.
College of Education - Courses are designed with progressive and practical teaching models, and students become capable of creating measurable positive changes within schools, clinics and national policy.
College of Health - Students learn through a mixture of course work, distance learning and experiential learning, becoming the next generation of innovators, scientists and leaders in public healthcare.
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science - The college produces problem solvers and technical designers, driven by the needs of humanity and the environment, who are able to work collaboratively to find innovative solutions.
Lehigh University has four campuses in the Bethlehem area, totaling over 2,300 acres of land, and providing a huge number of amenities and resources to ensure students are fully equipped and supported during their studies.
65 percent of undergraduate students live on campus and benefit from being only minutes away from their lecture halls, laboratories and classrooms, walking along the campus’ wide tree-lined avenues and open green spaces on their daily commute. The university has several residence halls – which are a social and cost-effective accommodation option – Greek houses, and 22 specialty housing options.
Housing options for graduate students typically fall into three categories: university-owned and operated housing, affiliated housing, and off-campus rental housing. Most graduate students choose to live off campus but want to remain close to campus for classes and conveniences.
The university has several libraries which together house hundreds of thousands of books, academic publications, and digital resources, as well as providing a range of individual and group study spaces for students to use. There is IT support, and a team of friendly and informative staff to help students stay connected and on track for success.
The campus is serviced by a host of food and drinks vendors, making sure that students can easily stay refueled and refreshed throughout the day.
As well as academic facilities, the university is well known for its sporting prowess, and competes in NCAA Division I for men and women, in 25 intercollegiate sports. The campus boasts a huge range of sports and training centers which students can use at many levels from elite to recreational.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA
