Students walking into an academic building on campus.

Undergraduate Student Financial Aid

Welcome from the Director

Whether you are a prospective, admitted or current student, we understand that the process of applying for financial aid may be confusing or stressful, and we are here to help you in any way we can. I encourage you to review the information on our website to get a better understanding of how aid works at Lehigh. All students have an assigned financial aid counselor and we have a friendly and knowledgeable staff available to assist you.

Our office determines your financial aid offer based on your family’s demonstrated financial need, which is calculated taking many factors into consideration, such as your family’s income, assets, and household size. A student’s need-based eligibility is calculated each academic year and is determined using the following formula: Cost of attendance - calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = financial need. We strive to offer financial aid packages that draw from multiple resources including Lehigh scholarships and grants, Federal and State scholarships and grants (including Work Study), loans and other outside sources.

We are proud to offer the Lehigh Commitment, a pledge to make a Lehigh education even more accessible. For undergraduate students from families with a family income of less than $75,000 (with typical assets), Lehigh will provide a full tuition grant (the family will pay no tuition), reinforcing our commitment to enrolling talented students regardless of family income.

Lehigh also offers many programs designed to provide funds for unique learning experiences and help students throughout their time here:

We sincerely want to help you achieve your educational goals and know that financing an education is a significant factor in this process.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Mertz
Assistant Vice Provost of Financial Services and Director of Financial Aid

Factors that Impact Need-Based Aid Eligibility

Need-based financial aid eligibility is assessed each academic year. If the factors that impact financial aid remain relatively consistent from academic year to academic year, and you apply for financial aid by the deadline and make satisfactory academic progress, then your need-based financial aid eligibility should remain relatively the same each year.

Some factors that may result in a decrease or increase to need-based financial aid from one year to the next include, but are not limited to:

  • Changes in family income
  • Changes in family assets
  • Changes to the number of supported family members in the household
  • Changes in college enrollment for siblings (For Lehigh financial aid eligibility purposes, sibling college enrollment is only a factor for siblings enrolled as full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students, where there is an expectation of parent financial contribution. Siblings enrolled in graduate programs, service academies or undergraduate programs where aid resources, including merit or athletic scholarship, cover the costs are not generally considered.)
  • Missing deadlines when reapplying for financial aid for a new academic year
  • Failure to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Less than full-time enrollment
  • Receipt of an outside resource

Types of Aid

Financial aid can consist of grants, scholarships, loans and student employment. Typical financial aid packages consist of a combination of these types of aid, and are determined after evaluating a family’s ability to contribute in an equitable and consistent manner.

What is Gift Aid?

Grants and scholarships are resources also known collectively as “gift aid” – they do not need to be repaid or earned by working. Most grants are considered need-based awards, while scholarships typically are merit-based.

Grants

Grants are gift aid awarded to students. Funds are awarded based on a student's calculated need as determined by the university’s financial aid staff.

Federal Grants (Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant [FSEOG])

Federal grants are need-based gift aid that does not have to be repaid. These types of grants are federally funded and are for students with exceptional need. The value is determined annually and is based on information your family provides. If you are awarded a federal grant, it may reduce your institutional grant.

Lehigh Grants (Endowed & Sponsored Scholarships)

Lehigh Grants are need-based awards funded through university funds and endowments established by generous alumni and friends of the university.  The Lehigh Grant is originally awarded to act as a "placeholder" until we are notified of the amounts we are able to award for each of the named scholarship funds. The Lehigh Grant may be swapped with a scholarship established by a donor. Student recipients must be enrolled full-time.

State Grants

Many states offer grant assistance based on financial need. State grants are awarded to students by the scholarship office of the state in which the student resides. If you are a recipient of a state grant, any need-based institutional grant that you receive will be reduced by the amount of the state grant. Be sure to check with your State Higher Education Agency to find out if there are any additional forms required for state grants.

Scholarships/Merit-Based Awards

Scholarships and merit-based awards are gift aid awarded to undergraduate students solely on a merit basis. When awarding merit aid, we take a holistic approach, looking beyond the numbers related to academic talent alone and reviewing what a student contributes outside the classroom. We also consider recommendations and personal essays. Learn more about Lehigh's scholarships and merit-based awards >

Loans are funds that are borrowed and must be repaid over time, usually with interest. Loans can be made available through the federal government, lending institutions such as banks and credit unions, and Lehigh. Some loan types are based on financial need, while other loan options are available to all students regardless of their need levels. Loan repayment periods and terms vary by loan type and lender and it is important to understand this information when deciding to take out a loan.

The following are educational loan opportunities for students and/or parents/guardians:

Federal Loans (Direct and Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students [PLUS])

Federal Direct loans are funds that a student is required to repay after graduating from college (or once no longer enrolled at least half time). Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are funds that a credit-worthy parent may borrow. PLUS loans begin repayment while the student is in school. Learn more about federal loan programs >

Lehigh University Tuition Loans

Lehigh University Tuition Loans are funds that are awarded based on financial need and are required to be repaid.

Private/Alternative Loans

A Private/Alternative Loan is a loan that a student can borrow to help finance the family's expected contribution. These loans are based on one's credit history. A student who has not established credit can apply with a co-borrower and can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any aid received. A wide variety of private loan providers are available. We strongly recommend that you carefully review all the terms of each individual loan, as they can vary greatly. Individual loan providers have their own applications and timelines. Plan to apply at least 30 days prior to the date the bill is due. 

Federal Work-Study or Institutionally Funded Work Opportunity

Through Lehigh work-study awards, students can earn money to help meet expenses that are not billed by the institution, such as books and personal expenses. There are usually plenty of employment opportunities available, so students have ample opportunity to earn their full awards.

There are many private scholarships you may apply for that may or may not be need-based. These awards are based on various factors, such as academics, career goals, etc.

You can access free scholarship information online at www.collegeboard.com or www.gocollege.com and search for a scholarship that matches your interests and qualifications. In most instances there is no charge to apply for scholarships and no guarantee that you will receive a scholarship. The Office of Financial Aid maintains a list of current external scholarships. We strongly recommend that you avoid scholarships that require payment to apply.  Be sure to carefully research the organization and be wary of scholarship scams. Each private scholarship has its own criteria and application process. Please review Lehigh University's Outside Scholarship Adjustment Policy to find out how these awards may affect your need-based financial aid package.

Need-Based Aid Parent Virtual Information Session

Topics Discussed: The Lehigh Commitment, Deadlines, FAFSA Simplification, Financial Aid Policies (including Satisfactory Academic Progress), Off Campus Housing

Watch video >

2024-2025 Tuition & Costs

The typical costs of attendance for the '24-'25 academic year* include the following:

Item Cost
Tuition $63,930
Typical first-year housing $10,120
Full meal plan $7,100
Technology fee $560
Activity fee $270
Wellness fee $220
Total Cost** $82,200

* In addition to these direct costs, you should also consider indirect costs of college, including books and supplies. For the purpose of awarding need-based financial aid, Lehigh includes $1,000 estimated costs for books and $1,500 estimated costs for personal expenses in the total cost of attendance. Costs in excess of these amounts (for example, health insurance, fraternity/sorority fees, higher-cost residential halls/rooms, excursions and special programs, travel and transportation) will not be considered for gift aid resources but may be considered for additional loan eligibility.

** Students in certain programs and majors are assessed an additional $830 fee (Engineering and Science fee or Arts and Sciences fee).

Important Financial Aid Deadlines

The details below will help you understand your responsibilities and provide a timeline to ensure you have the best possible financial aid package in place for the upcoming academic year.

Student TypeApplication DeadlineOffer Notification
Early Decision INovember 1Mid-December
Early Decision IIJanuary 1Mid-February
Regular DecisionJanuary 15
(Non-U.S. citizens: January 1)		Late March
Current StudentsMarch 15Late June
Fall TransferApril 1Late May
Spring TransferNovember 1Late December