Lehigh University Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Lehigh University’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 stands at 28.94%, with 5,601 students admitted out of 19,354 applicants. 

For the Class of 2030, Lehigh received a record-breaking 20,441 applications. However, the admitted count, acceptance rate, and Early Decision (ED) figures have not yet been publicly released.

In this blog, we walk through Lehigh’s latest overall, Early Decision, Regular Decision (RD), waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and how each has changed over time.

• Lehigh Acceptance Rates
• Lehigh Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Lehigh Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Lehigh Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Lehigh Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Lehigh Acceptance Rates

Lehigh University’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 stands at 28.94%, with 5,601 students admitted out of 19,354 applicants. This marks a modest increase from the Class of 2028’s 25.93% rate.

However, Lehigh’s acceptance rate has dropped significantly over the past decade, falling from nearly 50% to below 30% in recent years. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from Lehigh University’s Common Data Set.

Applications grew from 13,871 for the Class of 2021 to a record 20,441 for the Class of 2030, driven in part by Lehigh’s rising national profile and its elevation to R1 research status. 

Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has fluctuated, peaking at 6,485 for the Class of 2025 before pulling back to 5,601 for the Class of 2029. That combination of surging applications and tightening admissions pushed the acceptance rate from 25.15% for the Class of 2021 down to a recent low of 22.33% for the Class of 2022, with the rate hovering in the mid-to-high 20s in the years since.

Lehigh Early Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent Early Decision figures we have are from the Class of 2029, when Lehigh received 2,040 ED applications and admitted 966 students for an acceptance rate of 47.35%, up from 45.32% for the Class of 2028. Early Decision data for the Class of 2030 has not yet been released.

Lehigh Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Lehigh’s ED acceptance rates have declined sharply over the past decade, falling from above 70% to below 50%. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been compiled from Lehigh University’s Common Data Set.

ED applications grew from 1,116 for the Class of 2021 to 2,171 for the Class of 2028, before pulling back slightly to 2,040 for the Class of 2029. Over that same period, the ED acceptance rate dropped from 59.95% to 47.35%, reflecting both the growth in applicant interest and Lehigh’s tightening admissions standards. Despite the decline, ED still offers a meaningfully higher chance of admission compared to Regular Decision, making it a strategic option for students with Lehigh as their top choice.

Lehigh Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The most recent Regular Decision figures we have are from the Class of 2029, when Lehigh received 17,314 RD applications and admitted 4,635 students for an acceptance rate of 26.77%, up from 23.62% for the Class of 2028. Regular Decision data for the Class of 2030 has not yet been released.

Lehigh Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Lehigh’s RD acceptance rates have fallen considerably over the past decade, dropping from above 40% to the mid-20s. Here’s how the numbers have evolved:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Lehigh’s Common Data Set.

RD applications grew from 12,755 for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 18,225 for the Class of 2028, before easing slightly to 17,314 for the Class of 2029. The number of admitted students, meanwhile, peaked at 5,722 for the Class of 2025 and has since declined. That combination pushed the RD acceptance rate from a high of 47.24% for the Class of 2024 down to a low of 19.23% for the Class of 2022, with the rate settling in the mid-20s in recent years.

Lehigh Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Lehigh transfer data comes from Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate of 24.25%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Lehigh University’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Lehigh’s transfer process is considerably more selective than its first-year admissions. The 24.25% transfer acceptance rate sits below the 28.94% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, making transfer admission a competitive path for students looking to join Lehigh after starting elsewhere.

Lehigh Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data comes from the Class of 2029, when Lehigh admitted 80 students off the waitlist. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is from Lehigh University’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

Lehigh’s waitlist outcomes vary dramatically from year to year, depending almost entirely on how many admitted students choose to enroll. When yield runs high, Lehigh may admit very few from the waitlist. For the Class of 2022, for example, the waitlist acceptance rate was just 2.05%. When yield falls short, the waitlist can become a much larger pipeline, as it did for the Class of 2024, when 89.8% of confirmed waitlisted students were ultimately admitted. 

That unpredictability makes it difficult for waitlisted applicants to gauge their chances with any precision. If you find yourself on Lehigh’s waitlist, it is best to secure other options while you wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Lehigh’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 28.94% for the Class of 2029. Lehigh received 19,354 applications and admitted 5,601 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Lehigh through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, ED applicants have fared significantly better than RD applicants. For the Class of 2029, the ED rate was 47.35% compared to 26.77% for RD. That said, ED applicants also tend to be among the most committed and competitive in the pool.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Lehigh?

Transfer admission to Lehigh is more selective than first-year admission. For Fall 2025, only 195 out of 804 applicants were admitted, a 24.25% transfer acceptance rate.

4. What are my chances of getting off Lehigh’s waitlist?

Your chances depend entirely on the year and Lehigh’s enrollment needs. The waitlist acceptance rate has ranged from around 2% to nearly 90% in recent cycles. For the Class of 2029, Lehigh admitted 80 students off the waitlist for a 4.02% waitlist acceptance rate.

5. Why is Lehigh’s acceptance rate so low?

Lehigh’s acceptance rate reflects the gap between a rapidly growing applicant pool and a relatively fixed class size. Applications have grown 65% since 2020, while the number of admitted students has not kept pace, pushing the acceptance rate steadily downward.

Takeaways

• Lehigh’s acceptance rate has fluctuated over the past decade, hitting a low of 22.33% for the Class of 2022 before settling at 28.94% for the Class of 2029, the most recent year with complete data.
• Early Decision offers a meaningful statistical advantage. For the Class of 2029, the ED rate was 47.35% compared to 26.77% for RD, though ED applicants also tend to be among the most competitive in the pool.
• Transfer admission to Lehigh is more selective than first-year admission, with only 195 out of 804 applicants admitted in Fall 2025 for a 24.25% acceptance rate.
• Waitlist outcomes at Lehigh are highly unpredictable, ranging from as low as 2% to nearly 90% depending on the year’s enrollment needs. For the Class of 2029, the waitlist acceptance rate stood at 4.02%.
• The numbers make it clear that getting into Lehigh is no easy feat. Working with a college admissions expert gives you a structured approach to the process, helping you present the strongest possible version of yourself to the admissions committee.