Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Lehigh University offers the kind of campus experience many students picture when they imagine a traditional college setting: historic buildings, a strong academic reputation, Division I athletics, spirited traditions, and access to hands-on learning across several fields of study.
Lehigh is especially well known for programs in engineering, business, health, and the arts and sciences. Students have opportunities to work with faculty, participate in research, explore entrepreneurial ideas, and become part of a campus community that feels both academically serious and deeply connected.
Walking onto Lehigh’s campus felt like stepping into another era. The historic stone buildings and quiet pathways create a setting that feels far removed from the pace of modern life. One of my students remarked during a visit that the buildings felt like castles. Despite the cold weather, the ivy-covered Gothic architecture stood out beautifully against the snow-covered landscape.
A Campus With History, Hills & A Strong Sense Of Place
Lehigh is spread across three main campuses: Asa Packer, Mountaintop, and Murray H. Goodman. Each one serves a different purpose, which helps students experience the university in more than one way.
The Asa Packer Campus, which I visited, is the main academic campus. This is where many students live, attend classes, use the libraries, and spend much of their day-to-day college life. It is also the campus most people picture when they think of Lehigh’s historic architecture.
The Mountaintop Campus houses the College of Education, Iacocca Hall, academic departments, and research facilities. It also gives students space to collaborate on larger, multidisciplinary projects.
The Murray H. Goodman Campus is home to Lehigh’s athletic complex, including many of the university’s Division I athletic facilities.
What stood out to me most was how distinct the campus feels. Lehigh is not a flat, contained campus where everything looks the same. It has hills, history, and personality. For some students, that energy will feel exciting and inspiring. For others, it may be something to consider when thinking about day-to-day life on campus.
How Students Choose Their Academic Path
Students applying to Lehigh select one of the university’s undergraduate colleges on their application. However, students do not necessarily have to know their exact major before they arrive.
Engineering students begin their first year in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science without formally declaring a major. This gives them time to explore the different areas of engineering before making a final decision. Engineering students typically declare their major near the end of the first year.
Students in other colleges generally have more time to decide, often declaring by the end of their sophomore year. Students may also be able to transfer between colleges, although engineering students should be especially thoughtful about making a change because it may affect their timeline for graduation.
For a student who has strong academic interests but is not yet ready to commit to a specific major, this structure can be helpful. It allows for some exploration while still giving students a home base within one of Lehigh’s colleges.
Support For Students Who Are Still Exploring
Lehigh continues to develop programs for students who want academic challenge but may not yet know exactly where they are headed.
One example is Explore Lehigh, a newer program designed for students who are interested in Lehigh but still undecided about their academic direction. Students in the program take courses that are part of a typical first-semester experience, such as math and writing, along with an integrative course that introduces them to fields across Lehigh’s four undergraduate colleges.
This can be especially appealing for students who are intellectually curious but worried about choosing “the wrong major” too early. Instead of forcing a decision before they have had the chance to experience college-level work, the program gives them room to explore with support.
Lehigh also offers opportunities for students who are interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. The Hatchery, for example, is a student idea accelerator that helps students develop entrepreneurial thinking, work on real-world ideas, and receive coaching as they move projects forward.
Another interesting program is Compelling Perspectives, which invites students into conversations about major issues of societal importance. The program encourages thoughtful discussion and respectful discourse around challenging topics. In a time when students need to learn how to listen, think critically, and speak across differences, this kind of programming matters.
Admissions Notes For Families
Lehigh offers two rounds of binding Early Decision, along with Regular Decision and transfer application opportunities. For students who are confident Lehigh is their first-choice school, Early Decision may be worth discussing as part of an overall application strategy.
Lehigh also continues to be test optional, allowing first-year and transfer applicants to choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. This gives students some flexibility in deciding how best to represent their academic strengths.
As always, families should review the most current admissions requirements directly on Lehigh’s website before applying, since policies and deadlines can change.
Lehigh Traditions & Campus Spirit
One of the biggest traditions at Lehigh is Rivalry Week, which begins the third Monday in November and culminates with the Lehigh-Lafayette football game on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
This rivalry is a major part of Lehigh’s campus culture. During the week, students take part in long-standing traditions, including bed racing. Students design and build beds sturdy enough to handle Bethlehem’s hills, then race them through the streets.
The Marching 97 also adds to the excitement by showing up in classrooms, labs, dining halls, and libraries to play fight songs. Traditions like these give students a shared sense of history and belonging, which can be an important part of the college experience.
Financial Aid & Merit Scholarships
Lehigh is also working to make its education more accessible. Through the Lehigh Commitment, eligible undergraduate students from families with a total income below $75,000, with typical assets, may receive a full tuition grant so the family pays no tuition.
Families applying for need-based financial aid should expect to complete the CSS Profile, along with any other required financial aid documents. Lehigh also offers merit-based scholarships, which are awarded separately from need-based aid and are reviewed through a holistic process.
For families comparing private universities, this is an important area to research carefully. The published cost of attendance may feel intimidating, but institutional grants, merit scholarships, and need-based aid can make a significant difference.
My Takeaway From Visiting Lehigh
I was very impressed by the programs, opportunities, and sense of community Lehigh offers. The campus is beautiful, but it is not only the architecture that stands out. Lehigh seems to offer a combination of academic strength, school spirit, tradition, and practical support for students who are still figuring out who they are and what they want to study.
For the right student, Lehigh can offer a well-rounded education with room to grow, explore, and build confidence.
If your student is considering Lehigh, I encourage you to visit and experience the campus for yourself. A college may look wonderful on paper, but sometimes the visit is what helps a student know whether the environment feels right.
If you or your student is feeling overwhelmed by the college process and unsure what steps to take next, I can help. Reach out to me for a free consultation at 240-285-1920 or dianne@launchingcollegesuccess.com.
