Lehigh Ed Acceptance Rate

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Students at Lehigh University can enjoy city life and amenities while still experiencing a small town atmosphere thanks to the university’s location in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Lehigh still pays homage to the past of the neighboring city; classes still begin ten minutes after the hour rather than on the hour, which in the past allowed students finishing a shift at the mill to arrive at class on time.

Today, the school has a reputation for preparing its students for professional success; the website Payscale ranks Lehigh 42 out of almost 2,000 colleges for return on investment. With all this university has to offer to students, you might be wondering what it takes to get in. Keep reading to find out!

How Hard Is It to Get Into Lehigh University?

Gaining admissions to Lehigh is hard. The university saw a 14% increase in applications for its Class of 2025 and accepted just 6,381 applicants from a pool of 14,106 candidates—a 45% acceptance rate.

For the Class of 2025, Lehigh has not yet released its early decision acceptance (ED) rate. However, 1,121 applicants applied to its class of 2024 ED, of which 815 were accepted%E2%80%94an early decision acceptance rate of 72%

Lehigh University has a low acceptance rate, but your personal chances of acceptance vary depending on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine’s free admissions calculator uses factors like your GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars to help you better understand your odds of acceptance and provide insight into how to improve your profile.

Average Academic Profile of Accepted Lehigh University Students

The average high school GPA of Lehigh’s incoming classes is not made public, but it is known that the higher your GPA, the better your chances of admission.

The middle 50% SAT score of Lehigh%E2%80%99s Class of 2024 is 1280-1420, and the middle 50% ACT score is 29-34

Due to the challenges COVID-19 has presented to standardized tests, Lehigh instituted a test-optional admissions policy for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and will continue it in both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 cycles. About 60% of those applying to the Class of 2025 through regular admissions submitted test scores.

66% of Lehigh%E2%80%99s Class of 2024 graduated high school in the top tenth of their class 89% graduated in the top quarter.

What is Lehigh University Looking for?

Lehigh University evaluates applicants holistically and makes admissions decisions based on a variety of criteria, including class rank, grades, curriculum rigor, recommendations, extracurricular activities, work experience, and demonstrated interest. Lehigh wants to enroll a special group of students who will thrive and contribute to its campus and come from a variety of diverse backgrounds and have a wide range of interests, experiences, and talents.

Lehigh places a lot of weight on academic excellence in all of its students and has created a supportive environment set up to ensure academically talented students succeed—such as free non-remedial tutoring. This is one reason why Lehigh’s freshman retention rate has hovered well above 90% for more than a decade.

How Lehigh University Evaluates Applications

The following elements, according to Lehigh University’s 2020-2021 Common Data Set, are “very important”:

• Course rigor
• Class rank
• GPA
• Recommendation letters
• Extracurriculars
• Character

These factors are “important”:

• Test scores
• Essay
• Talent
• First generation
• Racial/ethnic status
• Volunteer work
• Applicant interest

These are “considered”:

• Geographical location
• Interview
• Legacy
• Work experience

And these are “not considered”:

• Religious affiliation
• State residence

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How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Lehigh University

Lehigh places a high value on education and regards course rigor, class rank, and GPA as all being “very important” to admissions. 66% of Lehigh%E2%80%99s Class of 2024 graduated in the top tenth of their high school class and you%E2%80%99ll need a transcript with all, or mostly all, As in the most challenging coursework available for serious consideration Lehigh and other top 50 schools typically require applicants to have taken between five and eight AP classes, but more is not unheard of.

The Academic Index is a tool used by selective colleges like Lehigh to determine admissions. Your academic performance is combined into a single number by the Academic Index. You run the risk of being deemed academically unqualified and having your application not given a full review if that number doesn’t meet the requirements of a school.

You still have time to improve your GPA if it doesn’t appear that it will impress Lehigh’s admissions officers at this point in your high school career. Check out our tips for increasing your GPA. It’s harder to raise your GPA and simpler to raise your Academic Index by getting better test scores if you’re a junior or senior.

Cultivate one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”).

Extracurricular activities are a “very important” aspect of Lehigh admissions. Interdisciplinary programs are prioritized at Lehigh, and extracurricular activities give you a platform to show that you are well-rounded but focused. Candidates with strong extracurricular profiles will have one or two standout extracurricular activities in addition to a highly developed interest, or “spike.”

The four tiers of extracurriculars provide a framework for understanding how colleges view your extracurricular activities and help you determine just how impressive your extracurricular activities are.

• Tier 1 activities are the most impressive and influential extracurriculars. They’re rare and demonstrate exceptional achievement or leadership. Winning a prestigious national contest or enrolling in a renowned merit-based summer program are examples of Tier 1 activities.

• Tier 2 activities are more frequently observed by admissions officers but still show great achievement or leadership. These include being the school’s president or taking first place in a state competition.

• Activities in Tier 3 are more effective at showcasing your interests outside of the classroom than at impressing admissions officers, which is why they are less important in admissions than activities in the higher tiers. Activities in Tier 3 include being the team captain of a varsity sports team or serving in a minor leadership capacity in a well-known club.

• Activities in Tier 4 are most prevalent and have the least impact on admissions officers. Tier 4 activities include things like joining a club and playing an instrument or a sport.

Request strong letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation are “very important” to Lehigh’s admissions process. Lehigh University requires two letters of recommendation in order to admit a student: one from the guidance counselor, headmaster, or principal of your school, and another from a teacher. Character is viewed as “very important” by Lehigh as well, so your suggestion should take this into account. According to Lehigh:

In addition to a candidate’s academic credentials, recommendations should speak to their personal qualities, such as their character, intellectual drive, involvement in extracurricular activities, and established work ethics and dependability.

Keep in mind that in addition to their already hectic schedule, teachers are frequently asked to write multiple letters of recommendation. This makes knowing how to approach a teacher when asking for a letter of recommendation crucial; you must give them plenty of time, give them supporting materials, and be certain of the type of letter you will receive. The nine rules for asking teachers for letters of recommendation are a helpful guide for producing an intriguing recommendation.

Aim for a 1420 SAT and 33 ACT.

Test scores are “important” to Lehigh admissions. The middle 50% ranges of students accepted into Lehigh Class of 2024 are 1280-1420 SAT and 29-33 ACT Any score in the middle 50% range is good, but the higher in the range you score, the better your odds of admission

Lehigh accepts your highest SAT or ACT section scores across test dates, or “superscores.” In order to maximize their score, applicants should aim to take the SAT or ACT between two and three times. Check out these free CollegeVine resources to raise your SAT/ACT score:

Lehigh will simulate test-free admissions for the cycles 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. In spite of this, CollegeVine advises taking the SAT/ACT if you can do so without risk and submitting your score if it is at or above the 25th percentile (1280 SAT and 29 ACT) of students accepted to Lehigh. Test results are submitted by applicants, and those who do so are more likely to be accepted.

Write engaging essays.

At Lehigh, it can be difficult to stand out academically because the majority of applicants have excellent academic records. Lehigh admissions consider essays to be “important,” and they are a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Students must submit three short essays with their application to Lehigh.

According to Lehigh: Authenticity is the key to submitting an application that stands out. Focus less on fitting in a box and more on sharing who you are. With that in mind, a compelling essay is written in your voice and shows the unique benefits you offer the school and how it will profit from having you on campus.

Check out our article, “How to Write the Lehigh University Essays 2021-2022,” for essay writing tips specific to Lehigh. ”.

Apply Early Decision.

Early Decision I and Early Decision II are Lehigh’s two early decision admissions procedures. The acceptance rate of early decision applicants is higher than that of regular decision applicants. Lehigh’s Class of 2024 overall acceptance rate was 49. 5% and the early decision acceptance rate was 72%.

Early decision applications can significantly increase your chances of admission, but not everyone should do so. Early decision I and II at Lehigh are legally binding, and by applying ED you agree to attend the school if accepted. Students who are absolutely certain they want to attend Lehigh and can afford it should apply ED because they are unable to compare financial aid from other schools while committed to attending Lehigh.

How to Apply to Lehigh University

Application Deadline: November 1 Early Decision: January 1 Regular Decision: January 1 Early Decision: November 1

Lehigh accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Other requirements include:

• Lehigh writing supplement
• Counselor, principal, or headmaster recommendation
• Teacher recommendation
• School report
• High school transcript
• Mid-year report
• Final school report
• SAT/ACT (optional)

Learn more about Lehigh University

Check out this article for more details if you’re interested in learning more about Lehigh:

Want to know your chances at Lehigh? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want more advice on enhancing your academic record? We’ll send you helpful material to help you build your record and prepare for college admissions. [/vc_column][/vc_row].

Video: Is Early Decision Really an Advantage at Top Colleges?

FAQ

What is Lehigh ED acceptance rate?

Early Decision Acceptance Rate at Lehigh University The ED I and ED II deadlines are November 1 and January 1, respectively. Of the 1,084 applicants via binding ED, the university accepted 763 for the Class of 2025. This works out to a 70% ED acceptance rate.

Should I apply ED to Lehigh?

The acceptance rate of early decision applicants is higher than that of regular decision applicants. Lehigh’s Class of 2024 overall acceptance rate was 49. 5% and the early decision acceptance rate was 72%. Early decision applications can significantly increase your chances of admission, but not everyone should do so.

Which university has the highest ED acceptance rate?

1. Grinnell College. Grinnell Early Decision Acceptance Rate: 65% Regular Acceptance Rate: 19% ED Advantage: 40%
2. Bates College. …
3. Denison University. …
4. Washington and Lee University. …
5. Haverford College. …
6. Skidmore College. …
7. Hamilton College. …
8. Davidson College.

How hard is it to get into Lehigh engineering?

Lehigh University admissions is more selective with an acceptance rate of 46% Lehigh University accepts 50% of applicants with SAT scores between 1325 and 1490 or ACT scores between 30 and 34. However, 25% of accepted applicants received ratings that were above these ranges, and 25% received ratings that were below these ranges.