SelectiveReviewed for the 2025-2026 cycle

Lehigh University acceptance rate and admissions profile

Lehigh University, a private college in Pennsylvania, reports a 26% acceptance rate and sits in the selective band. In practice that means it admits a minority of applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what Lehigh University weighs, where it ranks among Pennsylvania schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1430, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
26%
Selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1430
of admitted students
Type
Private
Pennsylvania
Selectivity in state
#5
of 62 in PA
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Will I get into Lehigh University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Lehigh University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Lehigh University?

Your odds at Lehigh University are not the same as its 26% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Lehigh University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Lehigh University hard to get into?

Lehigh University is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 26% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.

What GPA do you need to get into Lehigh University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Lehigh University, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Lehigh University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Lehigh University?

Lehigh University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1430. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Lehigh University.

Calculate your chances at Lehigh University

What Lehigh University looks for

What Lehigh University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Lehigh University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Lehigh University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at Lehigh University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Lehigh University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400In the competitive admitted range
1300Well below the admitted range
1200Well below the admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1450 SAT →Colleges for a 32 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Lehigh University compares in Pennsylvania

Lehigh University ranks #5 most selective of 62 schools in Pennsylvania in our database.

Among the 62 Pennsylvania schools we track, Lehigh University ranks #5 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Pennsylvania (5%) and Swarthmore College (7%) sit nearby, which makes Pennsylvania a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Pennsylvania
5%acceptance · PA
Swarthmore College
7%acceptance · PA
Carnegie Mellon University
12%acceptance · PA
Haverford College
12%acceptance · PA
Villanova University
27%acceptance · PA
Franklin & Marshall College
28%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
Bryn Mawr College
29%acceptance · PA
See all Pennsylvania schools →

Similar to Lehigh University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Lehigh University often weigh Trinity University (TX), Villanova University, and Franklin & Marshall College, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Trinity University (TX)
26%acceptance · TX
Villanova University
27%acceptance · PA
Franklin & Marshall College
28%acceptance · PA
Bucknell University
29%acceptance · PA
Bryn Mawr College
29%acceptance · PA
Macalester College
29%acceptance · MN

Frequently asked questions

What does Lehigh University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Lehigh University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Lehigh University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. Lehigh University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at Lehigh University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Lehigh University specifically.

Is Lehigh University a target or a reach for an average applicant?

For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Lehigh University's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.