BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh University this fall welcomed the largest number of first-year students from the Lehigh Valley in nearly a decade, the school said.
That’s 101 first-year undergraduate students from high schools in Northampton and Lehigh counties, according to a university news release.
Those students make up 6.5% of the Class of 2029.
“If the Lehigh Valley were a state, it would be the fourth largest state in our incoming class, just ahead of California."Nathan Urban, Lehigh Provost
Current first-year students from the Lehigh Valley represent the largest contingent of local students enrolled at the university by both number and percentage since 2018.
This year Lehigh also received the largest number of local applicants since 2018, the release said.
“If the Lehigh Valley were a state, it would be the fourth-largest state in our incoming class, just ahead of California,” Lehigh Provost Nathan Urban said in a statement.
Last year, Lehigh enrolled 77 students from the Lehigh Valley. And in the past two years, the university enrolled at least one student from each of the region’s 26 high schools.
Focus on affordability
Alongside its efforts to boost the enrollment of local students, Lehigh has sought to make its education more affordable, too.
In the past three years, the university enrolled 29 Lehigh Valley students who received the support of scholarships that were equal to half the cost of tuition or greater.
As of the 2025-26 academic year, Lehigh’s annual tuition is $66,810. With fees, the annual cost rises to $86,100.
Urban said in a statement that Lehigh has tripled the number of at least half-tuition scholarships to local students since 2022 because the university believes “access to quality higher education is critical for Lehigh Valley residents and families.”
Lehigh awarded financial aid to 56% of this year’s first-year students from the Lehigh Valley’s two counties. That aid totals $2.7 million.
Additionally, the university introduced The Lehigh Commitment in 2023 to provide a full-tuition grant to undergraduate students whose families have a total annual income of less than $75,000.
This year 70 students from Lehigh and Northampton counties received such grants, which collectively have a total value of more than $4.6 million.
Encouraging contribution to local economy
Lehigh President Joseph Helble in a statement said the university strives to educate local students with the knowledge and skills they need to contribute to economic growth in the Lehigh Valley once they graduate.
He also highlighted the university’s R1 status, an honor held by a select number of higher education institutions across the country that conduct significant research.
"We would love for local students to see that they need look no further than their own backyard to get a world-class residential education..."Joseph Helble, Lehigh President
The R1 status, awarded in February, recognizes Lehigh’s volume of research and its large number of research doctoral graduates.
“We would love for local students to see that they need look no further than their own backyard to get a world-class residential education in a supportive community," Helble said, "and then be able to contribute to innovation and growth right here at home."
