Lehigh University

What is the history of Lehigh University?

Lehigh University is a private research university founded in 1865 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by industrialist Asa Packer. Its early emphasis on engineering and practical education reflected the region's industrial economy; today, its academic offerings extend across the humanities, sciences, business, education, engineering, and health.

Lehigh began admitting women as undergraduates in 1971, a significant change from its original all-male enrollment. More recently, the establishment of the College of Health in 2020 expanded the university's work in population health and related fields. These developments help explain why applicants encounter both long-established engineering programs and newer interdisciplinary options.

What are the faculties and departments at Lehigh University?

Lehigh organizes its academic programs into five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Education, and College of Health. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral study, though the available degree levels differ by program.

Undergraduates can explore fields such as biology, English, psychology, finance, computer science, mechanical engineering, and population health. Lehigh also offers interdisciplinary study that crosses college boundaries. Applicants interested in a particular combination of majors should check its course requirements and whether admission to, or movement between, colleges involves additional steps; a university-wide program list does not mean every course of study is equally accessible from every starting point.

The student-to-faculty ratio is reported as 11 to 1. That ratio describes staffing across the institution, not the size of every class or the amount of individual attention a student will receive.

What is the location of Lehigh University?

Lehigh University's principal campus is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley. Its hillside setting places academic and residential buildings within reach of a city that includes shops, restaurants, cultural venues, and other colleges.

The campus extends over varied terrain, so walking routes and travel times matter when comparing housing or planning a class schedule. Students commuting from elsewhere in the region should also account for parking rules rather than assume they can drive to every class. Lehigh Valley International Airport serves the area; larger airports and rail connections in other cities require additional ground transportation.

What is the mission and vision of Lehigh University?

Lehigh describes its mission in terms of advancing learning through teaching, research, and service. Its academic approach emphasizes applying knowledge across disciplines as well as studying within a major. These are the university's stated priorities, not guarantees about any individual student's experience.

The institution began with an engineering-oriented purpose but now supports a broader range of liberal arts, professional, and research programs. Prospective students can evaluate that approach by looking at the requirements of their intended college, opportunities for undergraduate research, and the flexibility available to change or combine fields.