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#5 Best Private Colleges in Pennsylvania

Lehigh Admission Requirements

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

 6 Reviews

Your chances of getting into Lehigh University

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Percent Admitted 

37%
Admission Difficulty for Lehigh University
Measure Difficulty
Admission Standards Exceptional 
Applicant Competition High 

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Lehigh is 37%.  Its admission rate is the 12th lowest in Pennsylvania and the 147th lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Lehigh and can you get accepted?

Lehigh is a highly competitive school to get into. You have a moderate chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 5,607 out of the 15,163 who applied were admitted.

Lehigh University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.81. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 27% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Lehigh?

37% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

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Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Lehigh University you should:

  • Have a high school GPA of 3.81 or better
  • Earn A- grades in high school
  • Score 1420 on the SAT
  • Score 31 on the ACT
  • Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

Lehigh GPA

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. High School GPA 

3.81*

Typical High School Grades 

A-

What GPA do you need to get into Lehigh University?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Lehigh are to have around a 3.81 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Even with a competitive GPA, admission to Lehigh will be challenging as the school denies more applicants than it admits.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Lehigh is 3.81 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #9 in Pennsylvania for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Lehigh is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.81 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

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Lehigh SAT Scores

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to Lehigh University. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 37% of students submitted SAT scores and 13% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Range 

1340-1490

Applicants Submitting SAT 

37%
SAT Scores for Lehigh University
SAT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 660
Math 25th Percentile 680
Composite 25th Percentile 1340
SAT Scores for Lehigh University
SAT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 720
Math 75th Percentile 770
Composite 75th Percentile 1490
Average SAT Score 1420

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Lehigh University?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Lehigh is 1420 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1340-1490. Students who get into Lehigh University score in the top 9 percent of all SAT test takers..  Lehigh ranks #6 in the state of Pennsylvania and #85 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1420 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Lehigh regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1340 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1340, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1260, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Lehigh University is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1420 SAT score range.

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1415, you have around a 37% chance of being admitted. A 1490 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 53% chance of getting in.

Lehigh University admission chances by SAT score
SAT Score (1600 scale) Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
1490 and Above Good >53%
1415 to 1490 Avg + 37%-53%
1340 to 1415 Avg - 24%-37%
1265 to 1340 Reach 14%-24%
Less than 1265 Low <14%
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Lehigh ACT Scores

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Range 

30-33 

Applicants Submitting ACT 

13%
ACT Scores for Lehigh University
ACT Test 25th Percentile Score
Reading 25th Percentile 30
Math 25th Percentile 28
Composite 25th Percentile 30
ACT Scores for Lehigh University
ACT Test 75th Percentile Score
Reading 75th Percentile 35
Math 75th Percentile 33
Composite 75th Percentile 33
Average ACT Score 31

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Lehigh?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Lehigh is 31, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 30 and 33.  The school ranks #10 in Pennsylvania and #106 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 31. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 30 and score in the score in the top 7 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 28.

13 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Lehigh University.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Lehigh University is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Lehigh for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 31 score has around 37% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 58% with a 33 ACT score.

Lehigh University admission chances by ACT score
ACT Score Competitiveness  Admission Chances 
33 and Above Good >58%
31 to 33 Avg + 37%-58%
30 to 31 Avg - 28%-37%
29 to 30 Reach 20%-28%
Less than 29 Low <20%
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High School Class Rank

66% of Lehigh University freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Lehigh University students
High School Class Rank Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class 66%
Top 25% of class 89%
Top 50% of class 98%
Data Source, Peterson's Data

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Lehigh University admission statistics
Women Men Total
Applied 7,419 7,744 15,163
Accepted 2,894 2,713 5,607
Acceptance Rate 39% 35% 37%
Enrolled 707 804 1,511
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 24% 30% 27%
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2022 starting class

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications Due

Jan 1, 2025

Days left to Apply

41

Applicants have 41 days left until the Fall 2024 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2025.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Lehigh University is $70.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Lehigh University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Lehigh University Application Requirements
Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Recommendations Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Credits Accepted

High School Credits Accepted at Lehigh University
AP Credit Yes
Dual Credit Yes
Credit for Life Experiences No

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Lehigh is highly competitive, you have a moderate chance of acceptance depending on your GPA and test scores. If you earn at least a 3.81 GPA, you will have a fair shot at getting in. Additionally, you should score a 1420 on the SAT or 31 on the ACT to be competitive. If you can score a 1490 SAT you will be a very strong applicant.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to Lehigh University often consider these colleges

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=213543 IPEDS survey data for Lehigh University.

Last updated February 24, 2024