Lehigh University is obviously beautiful, with a campus that has lots of either Gothic or super-modern buildings nestled into the side of a mountain. This 6,000 undergraduate institution is definitely one of the “haves” in the higher education scene. Every building and interior of the school is impeccably maintained and filled with the latest and greatest technology. Lehigh’s star is on the rise, and they have the sharp increase in submitted applications to prove it.

Students apply to one of Lehigh’s schools—Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Business, or Health. They also have a small “undecided” program in which students enter undecided but must choose a school by the second semester of their freshman year.

Lehigh University’s Engineering, Business, and Interdisciplinary Programs

What makes Lehigh distinctive is its emphasis on interdisciplinary programs—Computer Science and Business, Engineering and Business, Engineering and Arts and Sciences—giving technically-oriented students a broader foundation than they’d get at a pure engineering school. Lehigh has long been known for its engineering and health programs, but as of late, its business school has also become quite popular, meaning the school is increasingly selective.

Lehigh pulls predominantly from New York and New Jersey but is developing a more national reputation. They have a high study-abroad rate, even among engineering students, and offer all the research opportunities and mentoring a student could ever want.

For the rest of the country, Lehigh’s location in Bethlehem, about 90 minutes away from Philadelphia, could be a turn-off for some because it’s a bit hard to get to, despite Bethlehem’s improving financial situation and small-town charm. But the plentiful resources that Lehigh offers should be worth any travel inconvenience.

Student Life and Campus Culture at Lehigh University

Lehigh students seem high-energy and more than willing to take the opportunities the school provides. The message from students was consistent: Lehigh rewards those who lean in, and those who don’t tend to struggle. If you participate, Lehigh has great professional outcomes and an excellent regional reputation throughout the East Coast.

Lehigh University Admissions and Demonstrated Interest

Lehigh likes students to fully participate in the admissions process as well. Although demonstrated interest isn’t officially tracked, it is considered, and they like to see students who have visited, done an interview, attended a presentation at their school, or engaged virtually with the school.

Lehigh University Early Decision, Financial Aid, and Test Scores

Of course, applying Early Decision is the ultimate form of demonstrated interest, and Lehigh likes that a lot. Sixty percent of their freshman class is filled with admits from their ED rounds, with an admission rate of 45% versus the regular decision rate of 27%.

Lehigh also provides need-based financial aid, based on the FAFSA and the CSS profile. They also offer 27% of admitted students merit aid, including those in the early decision rounds.

Lehigh is test-optional, but those who do submit test scores tend to submit high scores, with a 50th percentile of 1420-1520 on the SAT and 32-35 on the ACT.

What Courses Lehigh University Expects Applicants to Take

They require that students take at least two years of the same foreign language. In addition, they want students to take calculus in their senior year, and “real” calculus, not a simplified course like “elements of calculus.” Although high schools may push students to take AP Stats if they are business students, Lehigh, like so many of its peer institutions, wants calculus, which is worth noting when students plan their courses.

Lehigh is a school on the rise, and it knows it. For the right student—one who is academically prepared, ready to engage, and willing to put in the work—the return on investment is hard to beat. Just make sure they’ve taken real calculus.

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