Lehigh University is a private nonprofit research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, founded in 1865 by industrialist and philanthropist Asa Packer. Packer envisioned an institution that would connect scientific and engineering education with a strong foundation in the liberal arts, preparing graduates for leadership in a rapidly industrializing nation. The first classes were held in 1866, and the university developed on South Mountain overlooking Bethlehem. Lehigh has retained its historic strength in engineering while building major programs in arts and sciences, business, education and health. The result is a research university that is relatively compact in enrollment but broad in academic scope and strongly oriented toward interdisciplinary study. Undergraduate students can pursue majors in engineering, computer science, business, economics, the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, health and interdisciplinary fields. Lehigh is especially known for programs that bridge colleges, including Computer Science and Business, Integrated Business and Engineering, Arts and Engineering, and the Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences. Its colleges include Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Health and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Graduate education includes research-based PhD programs, professional and research master’s degrees, certificates and accelerated 4+1 pathways. Students can move across traditional academic boundaries rather than being confined to a single disciplinary track. Research at Lehigh spans materials, energy, data and computing, health, infrastructure, business, environmental systems, social science and the humanities. The university’s scale creates opportunities for close faculty interaction, mentored research and project-based learning. Students also participate in global experiences, entrepreneurship, internships and the Iacocca International Internship Program. Bethlehem and the larger Lehigh Valley provide access to employers in health care, manufacturing, technology, finance and logistics, while New York City and Philadelphia are reachable for additional professional opportunities. First-year admission is selective and holistic. Lehigh uses the Common Application and Coalition Application and offers two binding Early Decision rounds plus Regular Decision. The university has extended its test-optional policy indefinitely, allowing applicants to decide whether SAT or ACT results should be included. Academic rigor, grades, recommendations, writing and activities are central to the review. For 2026-27, undergraduate tuition is $69,420, and typical direct first-year costs including housing, meal plan and standard fees total $89,820. Need-based aid is an important part of Lehigh’s affordability model; under the Lehigh Commitment, eligible students from families with total income below $75,000 can receive a full tuition grant. Merit scholarships are also available and can be substantial. Career outcomes are a prominent part of Lehigh’s student value proposition. For the Class of 2025, the university reported a 92% successful-outcomes rate within six months, with 64% employed and 24% continuing education. The reported average starting salary was about $77,000, 577 unique employers hired graduates, and 88% of graduates completed at least one internship or experiential-learning opportunity. These results reflect Lehigh’s long-standing emphasis on practical education, close employer relationships and interdisciplinary problem solving.