Lehigh University

Lehigh University is a private research university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1865, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Engineering and Applied Science. The university is classified as a doctoral institution with very high research activity. Lehigh is known for its strong programs in engineering, business, and the sciences, as well as its emphasis on experiential learning and undergraduate research. Its campus sits in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Students are often drawn to Lehigh University for its combination of rigorous academics, Division I athletics, and a residential campus environment.

Lehigh University was founded in 1865 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by industrialist Asa Packer to provide technical and classical education during America’s industrial expansion. Established on July 27, 1865, the university initially focused on engineering, mining, and scientific studies to support the nation’s growing industries. Henry Coppée was appointed as Lehigh University’s first president in 1866 and helped shape its early academic structure. Tuition was waived from 1871 to 1891 through Packer’s endowment. In the early twentieth century, Lehigh expanded its academic offerings and began admitting women to graduate programs around 1916, becoming fully coeducational for undergraduates in 1971. Over time, Lehigh University developed into a comprehensive research institution. Today, it is recognized as a doctoral university with very high research activity, reflecting its evolution from a small engineering school into a broad-based research university.