More selective than 95% of Pennsylvania colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
33% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 10% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose Lehigh University over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
What Lehigh University weighs when deciding
How much each part of an application counts for first-year applicants, as Lehigh University reports it. Programs with their own criteria (nursing, music, honors) can weigh things differently.
- Rigor of high school courses
- High school GPA
- Class rank
- SAT/ACT scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Your demonstrated interest
- Interview
- First-generation college student
- Alumni relation (legacy)
- Where you live
- State residency
- Work experience
- Religious affiliation
Item C7. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Early decision, early action and the waitlist
4,083 offered a spot, 1,988 took it, 80 admitted.
Items C2, C21-C22. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Lehigh University SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. If your score is above the 75th, Lehigh University is likely within reach on scores alone; below the 25th, it is a reach.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 680 | 730 |
| SAT math | 690 | 770 |
| ACT composite | 31 | 34 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1370 | 1500 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
Lehigh University admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 26% | 680–730 | 690–770 | 31–34 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 29% | 670–730 | 680–760 | 31–33 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is Lehigh University compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Lehigh University has the 6th-lowest acceptance rate of 111 Pennsylvania colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | 5% | 97% | $28,699 |
| 3 | Swarthmore College | 7% | 92% | $23,149 |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University | 12% | 94% | $31,944 |
| 5 | Haverford College | 12% | 90% | $25,314 |
| 6 | Lehigh University | 26% | 88% | $36,931 |
| 7 | Villanova University | 27% | 92% | $43,756 |
| 8 | Franklin and Marshall College | 28% | 84% | $36,425 |
| 9 | Bucknell University | 29% | 86% | $40,766 |
| 10 | Bryn Mawr College | 29% | 82% | $31,759 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Pennsylvania colleges →
Who enrolls at Lehigh University
College Scorecard; IPEDS
Lehigh University admissions questions
What is the Lehigh University acceptance rate?
Lehigh University accepts 26% of applicants, about 1 in 4. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 5,389 of 18,415 applicants were admitted.
Does Lehigh University require the SAT or ACT?
Lehigh University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 33% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 10% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for Lehigh University?
The middle 50% of Lehigh University enrolled first-year students scored 1370–1500 on the SAT and 31–34 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at Lehigh University?
28% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (1,531 of 5,389).
What does Lehigh University look for in applicants?
Lehigh University reports these as very important for first-year applicants: rigor of high school courses, high school GPA. Important: class rank, sAT/ACT scores, essay, recommendations, extracurricular activities, talent or ability, character and personal qualities, volunteer work, your demonstrated interest. Considered: interview, first-generation college student, alumni relation (legacy), where you live, state residency, work experience. (Common Data Set 2025-26).
Does Lehigh University have early decision?
Yes. Lehigh University offers binding early decision.
How many students get off the Lehigh University waitlist?
For fall 2025, 4,083 applicants were offered a waitlist spot, 1,988 accepted one and 80 were admitted (4% of those who stayed on the list).
Is Lehigh University getting harder to get into?
Lehigh University accepted 26% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 29% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; Lehigh University's Common Data Set 2025-26; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to Lehigh University overview