Lehigh University

What is the accreditation of Lehigh University?

Lehigh University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, or MSCHE. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree program.

Lehigh also has programs for which specialized accreditation matters, including engineering and business programs. Applicants should verify the status of their specific degree with the relevant program and accreditor, particularly if they plan to pursue professional licensure. Institutional accreditation is important for eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs, but it does not by itself ensure that another college will accept transfer credits or that a degree satisfies a licensing board's rules.

What are the admission requirements at Lehigh University?

First-year admission to Lehigh is selective and requires a completed application, secondary-school academic records, and recommendations. Applicants also submit the writing and other materials specified for their application round. Lehigh offers Early Decision and Regular Decision options; Early Decision is a binding commitment if the student is admitted under its terms.

Applicants should document completion of high school or an accepted equivalent. Academic performance and the courses taken are important, but a reported GPA requirement does not establish a single university-wide minimum GPA for admission. Class rank is not generally required. In the reported admissions cycle, Lehigh admitted 5,289 of 20,396 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 26%; admission remains an individual decision, not a threshold determined by one statistic.

Testing rules require attention to the application year. SAT and ACT scores were considered but not required in the reported data; among enrolled first-time students, roughly one-third submitted SAT scores. A median score among those who submitted tests describes that group, not all admitted students and not a minimum for admission. Applicants whose first language or schooling triggers an English-proficiency requirement should review the university's accepted exams and waiver rules rather than assume every international applicant must take the TOEFL. Program-specific instructions and current deadlines should be checked for the intended entry term.

What are the application fees and waivers at Lehigh University?

Lehigh's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $75. Eligible applicants may request a fee waiver, generally through the application's fee-waiver process; financial need should not be confused with automatic approval of a waiver.

An applicant who needs a waiver should make the request while preparing the application, before paying and submitting it, and follow any instructions for supporting documentation. Transfer and graduate applicants should check the instructions for their own application rather than assume every category uses the same fee or waiver procedure. An application fee is separate from any deposit requested after an admission offer.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Lehigh University?

Army ROTC is available through a unit at Lehigh. The program combines military instruction and leadership training with a student's regular degree requirements.

Participation in an introductory ROTC course is not the same as receiving a scholarship or contracting to serve. Scholarship selection, medical and citizenship requirements, and eventual military obligations depend on the student's status and the applicable Army ROTC rules. Students interested in another service branch should confirm whether an approved cross-enrollment arrangement is currently available; the presence of Army ROTC does not establish an on-campus Air Force or Navy unit.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Lehigh University?

Lehigh accepts transfer applications for fall and spring entry and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of individual courses toward a Lehigh degree are separate decisions.

Transfer applicants should expect to provide college transcripts and the other academic records and application materials specified for their entry term. The university reviews prior coursework for comparability and applicability to the intended program; even an accepted course may count as an elective rather than fulfill a particular major requirement. Before making an enrollment decision, applicants with substantial prior credit should seek an official evaluation and ask their intended college about remaining degree and residency requirements.

Lehigh enrolled 50 transfer-in degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates in the reported period. That figure describes the size of the entering transfer group, not a transfer acceptance rate. Applicants should confirm current deadlines and any college-specific restrictions rather than rely on first-year admissions dates.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Lehigh University?

Lehigh supports international study through education-abroad advising and a range of program formats, including longer-term study and shorter faculty-led opportunities. The location, duration, academic calendar, and provider vary by program.

Students should obtain academic approval before committing to a program, especially when a course must satisfy a major, laboratory, or graduation requirement. A university-sponsored experience, an exchange, and an approved outside-provider program can have different billing and credit arrangements. Financial-aid eligibility and additional expenses, such as travel and visas, also depend on the program; the education-abroad and financial-aid offices can clarify how a specific option fits a student's degree plan and award.