How to Apply to Lehigh University

Both are binding agreements where you commit to enrolling if accepted. Early Decision I has a Nov. 1 deadline, while Early Decision II has a Jan. 1 deadline, offering a second chance to apply early. Regardless of students applying Early Decision I or Early Decision II, they will be considered for admissions and merit scholarships in the same holistic manner.

No, we do not have an Early Action application option. However, if Lehigh is at the top of your list, we would encourage you to apply Early Decision I or Early Decision II. Applying Early Decision demonstrates a strong commitment to Lehigh.

Our Office of the Registrar will review all college-level course credits and help you with this process once you have been admitted to Lehigh.

Lehigh University has adopted a test-optional policy regarding submission of SAT or ACT scores indefinitely. First-year and transfer applicants can choose whether or not to submit SAT/ACT test scores for consideration.

Students who feel that test scores may accurately demonstrate their college readiness and as a result choose to report scores can request the College Board or ACT send the scores to Lehigh or self-report them via the Common Application, Coalition Application with Scoir or email. However, official SAT or ACT scores ultimately must be submitted directly from the College Board or ACT prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which the student will enroll. Any discrepancy of any size may be cause to reverse admission.

The highest section scores across test dates, whether a superscored SAT or superscored ACT, submitted to Lehigh will be considered. We do not prefer one exam over the other. Results from the current redesigned SAT and/or the old SAT will be accepted; we will consider only the highest testing results reported from one version of the test, not by combining sections across both versions.

We recommend that students send in whichever scores they believe best represent their abilities. Students are welcome to submit multiple scores from multiple test dates. In the evaluation process, the highest score in each category for the SAT and/or ACT will be used regardless of the test date or method of testing.

If you choose to take the ACT with science, that score must be reported along with English, math and reading. However, the science section is not required to submit your ACT scores, or to be considered for admission to Lehigh.

We require the equivalent of a standard four-year high school curriculum. While we have minimum requirements, most students who are admitted to Lehigh actually exceed them.

MINIMUM SUBJECT MATTER REQUIREMENTS

English: 4

Foreign Language¹: 2

Social Science: 2

Laboratory Science: 2

College Preparatory Mathematics: 3

Elective Subjects: 3

Total Credits: 16

¹Only in exceptional cases, and for otherwise well-qualified candidates, will we waive the foreign language requirement for admission to any one of the four undergraduate colleges.

While there are many elements that go into Lehigh’s holistic application review, the Committee on Admissions will be aware of things such as (in no particular order):

• Rank or relative rank in class
• The student’s grades within the context of the school environment
• Evidence of improvement or deterioration in grades during the secondary school career with particular attention paid to performance in senior year courses
• The quality of performance in courses that relate to the student’s anticipated area of study
• The difficulty of courses taken with special attention given to courses recognized as accelerated by national academic organizations
• Comments and recommendations from the principal, headmaster, guidance counselor, teachers, or other professional educators within the school system
• Extra-curricular/work experience with particular emphasis placed on demonstrated leadership
• Demonstrated interest in Lehigh University

First, check your spam folder. If you applied after August 15 and still haven’t received an email, please contact us at admissions@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-3100. If you applied before August 15, you should receive an email by the beginning of September.

Your user ID is the email address you provided on your Common Application or Coalition Application with Scoir. If you cannot remember your password, please contact us at admissions@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-3100 and we will help you reset it.

Interviews are not required. They are designed for students who have specific questions about Lehigh that are best addressed in an individual setting, or for those who want to provide additional context for their application. While all interviews are evaluative and become part of your application, we do not require them for admission.