The average acceptance rate at Lehigh over the past 10 years is 32.38%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 25.93%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to Lehigh in 2025.
The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 4 years, indicating increasing selectivity.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 29.70%, and the 2025 yield is 28.38%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 12.12% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Lehigh applicants increased by 10.76% (1,981 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 58.81% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 25.93%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Lehigh has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 28.38%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Lehigh. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Lehigh received approximately 20,396 applications, admitted 5,289 students, and enrolled 1,501 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Lehigh is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Lehigh 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Lehigh over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 4 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 32.38%, while the most recent rate stands at 25.93%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 25.93%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 29.64% and for women is 35.60%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Lehigh have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 30.41% | 27.66% | 34.02% |
| 2016-17 | 26.11% -4.30% |
23.54% -4.12% |
29.41% -4.61% |
| 2017-18 | 25.15% -0.95% |
22.40% -1.14% |
28.47% -0.94% |
| 2018-19 | 22.33% -2.83% |
19.79% -2.61% |
25.45% -3.02% |
| 2019-20 | 32.10% 9.77% |
29.22% 9.42% |
35.92% 10.47% |
| 2020-21 | 49.54% 17.45% |
46.01% 16.79% |
53.97% 18.05% |
| 2021-22 | 46.00% -3.55% |
41.00% -5.00% |
51.00% -2.97% |
| 2022-23 | 36.98% -9.02% |
35.03% -5.97% |
39.01% -11.99% |
| 2023-24 | 29.26% -7.71% |
27.59% -7.45% |
30.94% -8.07% |
| 2024-25 | 25.93% -3.33% |
24.17% -3.42% |
27.82% -3.12% |
| Average | 32.38% | 29.64% | 35.60% |
Lehigh has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 32.29% in 2015 to 28.38% in 2025, representing a 12.12% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 29.70%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Lehigh from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 12.12% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 32.29% | 35.07% | 29.32% |
| 2016-17 | 35.70% 3.40% |
38.83% 3.76% |
32.46% 3.14% |
| 2017-18 | 35.37% -0.33% |
37.41% -1.42% |
33.43% 0.96% |
| 2018-19 | 36.55% 1.19% |
38.88% 1.46% |
34.33% 0.90% |
| 2019-20 | 27.99% -8.56% |
29.75% -9.12% |
26.09% -8.24% |
| 2020-21 | 22.32% -5.67% |
23.65% -6.10% |
20.90% -5.18% |
| 2021-22 | 23.01% 0.69% |
26.00% 2.35% |
20.99% 0.09% |
| 2022-23 | 26.95% 3.94% |
29.64% 3.64% |
24.43% 3.44% |
| 2023-24 | 28.41% 1.46% |
30.09% 0.45% |
26.92% 2.49% |
| 2024-25 | 28.38% -0.03% |
31.16% 1.08% |
25.80% -1.11% |
| Average | 29.70% | 32.05% | 27.47% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 15,186, the average number of admitted is 4,832, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,383.
The number of Lehigh applicants increased by 10.76% (1,981 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 58.81% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Lehigh University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 12,843 | 3,905 | 1,261 |
| 2016-17 | 13,403 4.36% |
3,499 -10.40% |
1,249 -0.95% |
| 2017-18 | 13,871 3.49% |
3,489 -0.29% |
1,234 -1.20% |
| 2018-19 | 15,622 12.62% |
3,488 -0.03% |
1,275 3.32% |
| 2019-20 | 15,649 0.17% |
5,023 44.01% |
1,406 10.27% |
| 2020-21 | 12,389 -20.83% |
6,138 22.20% |
1,370 -2.56% |
| 2021-22 | 14,107 13.87% |
6,489 5.72% |
1,493 8.98% |
| 2022-23 | 15,163 7.49% |
5,607 -13.59% |
1,511 1.21% |
| 2023-24 | 18,415 21.45% |
5,389 -3.89% |
1,531 1.32% |
| 2024-25 | 20,396 10.76% |
5,289 -1.86% |
1,501 -1.96% |
| Average | 15,186 | 4,832 | 1,383 |
The following table compares Lehigh University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh University | 29.26% | 25.93% | -11.38% |
| Lafayette College | 31.45% | 31.47% | -0.06% |
| Bucknell University | 28.93% | 32.01% | -9.62% |
| College of the Holy Cross | 17.61% | 21.10% | -16.54% |
| Boston University | 11.11% | 10.85% | 2.40% |
| Loyola University Maryland | 75.49% | 76.33% | -1.10% |
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