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Summary
Lehigh University is a private institution that was founded in 1865. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,781, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Lehigh University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 38. Its tuition and fees are $40,960 (2011-12).
Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pa., 50 miles north of Philadelphia and 75 miles west of New York City. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks are members of the Patriot League, and compete in 25 NCAA Division I sports. Their biggest athletic rivalry is Lafayette College, located less than 20 miles away. A third of the student body is involved in fraternities and sororities. All freshmen are required to live on campus, and sophomores are also required to live on campus in a residence hall or Greek housing. Lehigh’s main campus is located on the wooded slope of South Mountain, and half of the campus is preserved as open space.
Lehigh University has four colleges, with numerous undergraduate and graduate majors. Its well-regarded graduate programs include the College of Education and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act originated at Lehigh, requiring colleges to reveal crimes on campus. Lehigh folklore says the school colors of brown and white originated when a woman wearing brown and white stockings passed by a group of men discussing school colors, and the rest is history. Notable alumni include Jesse W. Reno, the inventor of the escalator; and Howard McClintic and Charles Marshall, whose construction company helped build the Golden Gate Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Panama Canal, and New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
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Lehigh takes an innovative approach to learning, discovery, and teaching by fusing traditionally separate disciplines to create a richer, fuller, more meaningful experience for students. Learning is connected to real-world applications and reinforced with cutting-edge academic research and hands-on experiences. Students can customize their experiences by tailoring majors and academic programs across four colleges and dozens of fields of study. The arts are essential to learning and are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students have easy access to world-class faculty who offer their time and attention. A vibrant campus life offers many social activities from over 150 clubs and organizations, 25 intercollegiate sports, and intramural sports & club programs. Campus Square, a residential and retail complex integrates the campus with the surrounding community. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1865 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $940,430,000 |
Applying
When applying to Lehigh University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 31. The application fee at Lehigh University is $70. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 37.9 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 38% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | January 31 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Lehigh University is 10:1, and the school has 48.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Lehigh University include: Finance, General; Accounting; Mechanical Engineering; Civil Engineering, General; and Psychology, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93.5 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 10:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 77% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Lehigh University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,781, with a gender distribution of 58.5 percent male students and 41.5 percent female students. 69.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 31.0 percent of students live off campus. Lehigh University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Lehigh University.
| Total enrollment | 7,051 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Lehigh University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. Lehigh University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Lehigh University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Lehigh University, 45.1 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $29,498.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $40,960 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $10,840 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
