Navigating Lehigh University Scholarships and Financial Aid: A Comprehensive Guide

For prospective, admitted, and current students, understanding the financial aid process can be crucial. Lehigh University is committed to making its education accessible and provides various resources to help students navigate the often-complex world of financial aid. Every student is assigned a financial aid counselor, ensuring personalized support throughout their academic journey.

Understanding Financial Need and Aid Packages

Lehigh University determines financial aid offers based on a family’s demonstrated financial need. This need is calculated considering various factors, including family income, assets, and household size. The university uses the following formula to determine a student’s need-based eligibility each academic year:

Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

Lehigh strives to create financial aid packages that combine multiple resources. These resources include Lehigh scholarships and grants, federal and state scholarships and grants (including work-study), loans, and other external sources.

The university is dedicated to maintaining consistent financial aid eligibility. The Lehigh Commitment ensures that if the factors influencing financial aid remain relatively stable from year to year, and if students apply for aid by the deadline and maintain satisfactory academic progress, their need-based financial aid eligibility should remain consistent.

However, several factors can lead to changes in need-based financial aid from one year to the next. These include:

Read also: Lehigh Grads and Employment

Changes in family income
Changes in family assets
Changes to the number of supported family members in the household
Changes in college enrollment for siblings (limited to full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students with an expectation of parental financial contribution)

Gift Aid: Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are collectively known as "gift aid" because they do not need to be repaid or earned through work. Grants are typically need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based.

Grants

Grants are gift aid awarded to students based on their calculated financial need, as determined by the university's financial aid staff.

Federal Grants

Federal grants, such as the Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), are need-based and do not require repayment. These grants are federally funded and intended for students with exceptional financial need. The value of these grants is determined annually based on the information provided by the family. Receiving a federal grant may reduce the amount of institutional grant aid offered by Lehigh.

Lehigh Grants

Lehigh Grants are need-based awards funded through university funds and endowments. These grants may be updated to reflect endowed and/or sponsored scholarship awards through a pool and match process. This process allows the university to match scholarships made possible by alumni and friends to students receiving aid, honoring the specifications contained in the donor agreement. Although these named scholarships replace an equivalent amount of the Lehigh Grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis, the total amount of financial aid awarded remains unchanged.

State Grants

Many states offer grant assistance based on financial need. These grants are awarded to students by the scholarship office of the state in which the student resides. Receiving a state grant may reduce the amount of need-based institutional grant aid received from Lehigh. It is essential to check with the State Higher Education Agency for any additional forms required for state grants. Pennsylvania residents should explore Pennsylvania state grant programs like PHEAA and TIP. PHEAA offers funding for Pennsylvania students enrolled at least half-time in an approved institution and program, while TIP (PA-TIP) provides funding for students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields.

Scholarships/Merit-Based Awards

Scholarships and merit-based awards are gift aid awarded to undergraduate students solely on a merit basis. Lehigh University takes a holistic approach when awarding merit aid, considering factors beyond academic performance, such as contributions outside the classroom, recommendations, and personal essays.

Specific Scholarship Programs

Dean's Scholarship: Students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership skills may qualify for these awards, ranging from $15,000 to $25,000, starting with Fall 2024. These scholarships are renewable annually for up to eight consecutive semesters (or ten semesters for five-year programs), provided the recipient maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment. No separate application is required.
Founder's and Trustees' Scholarships: These prestigious merit scholarships are awarded to students in the top tier of the applicant pool. The awards cover full or half tuition and are renewable annually under the same conditions as the Dean's Scholarship. No separate application is required.
Soaring Together Scholarship Program: This program provides full-tuition merit scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, alumni support, and career and professional development, celebrating 50 years of Lehigh women and coeducation. No additional application is necessary.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship: Awarded to admitted transfer students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, this scholarship provides $10,000 per academic year (distributed by semester) above and beyond any need-based financial aid.
Cutler-Sametz Choral Arts Scholarships: Several merit scholarships of $5,000 are available for gifted students in Choral Arts who maintain at least a 2.8 GPA. Recipients also receive free vocal lessons and are expected to participate in the University Choir. A separate application from the Department of Music is required, with a deadline of January 10.
Snyder Family Marching Scholarships: Established by alumnus Joseph Snyder and family, these scholarships are for incoming student instrumental musicians who demonstrate musical talent, leadership skills, and intend to perform with the Marching 97. The scholarship provides an initial award of $1,500 per year, increasing annually over four years. Snyder Scholars also receive free lessons on their primary instrument. Recipients must maintain at least a 2.8 GPA. A separate application, due January 10, is required.
Performing Arts Scholarships: Valued at $3,000 and $5,000 each, these scholarships are renewable annually for four years. Recipients must maintain an active presence in the Department of Theatre and at least a 2.8 GPA. A separate electronic application, due by February 10, is required.
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship: The Army ROTC scholarship covers full tuition and mandatory fees at Lehigh University. Scholarship Cadets also receive a book allowance of $1,200 per year and a monthly stipend. Lehigh University provides a supplemental room & board scholarship for Cadets who commit to serving as Army Officers upon graduation.
P.C. Internal Graduate Student Merit Scholarship: The Graduate Merit Scholarship recognizes current graduate students with outstanding achievement by providing a fifth year of tuition-free study in a graduate degree program at Lehigh University.

Loans: Funding with Repayment Obligations

Loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid over time, typically with interest. Loans are available through the federal government, lending institutions, and Lehigh University. Some loan types are based on financial need, while others are available regardless of need. It is important to understand the repayment periods and terms of each loan before borrowing.

Federal Loans

Federal Direct Loans are funds that students are required to repay after graduating or when they are no longer enrolled at least half-time. Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are available to creditworthy parents and begin repayment while the student is in school.

Lehigh University Tuition Loans

Lehigh University Tuition Loans are awarded based on financial need and must be repaid.

Private/Alternative Loans

Private/Alternative Loans can help finance the family's expected contribution. These loans are based on credit history, and students who have not established credit can apply with a co-borrower. The loan amount can cover up to the cost of attendance minus any aid received. It is crucial to carefully review the terms of each loan, as they can vary significantly.

Work-Study and Employment Opportunities

Federal Work-Study and institutionally funded work opportunities allow students to earn money to help meet expenses not billed by the university, such as books and personal expenses. Students can find job opportunities through Lehigh's in-person or online job boards.

External Scholarships

Many private scholarships are available based on various factors, such as academics, career goals, and personal background. Free scholarship information can be found online at websites like www.collegeboard.com or www.gocollege.com. The Office of Financial Aid also maintains a list of current external scholarships. It is important to avoid scholarships that require payment to apply and to carefully research the legitimacy of the organization offering the scholarship.

Understanding Lehigh's Cost and Value

Lehigh University's tuition is $67,920, which is higher than the national average. The total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, and personal expenses, is $84,700. However, the average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students is $56,575, and 47% of first-year students receive need-based financial aid. Lehigh University meets a significant portion of its students’ financial aid need, demonstrating its commitment to accessibility.

Lehigh University provides great value through academic and research opportunities, faculty mentorship, and real-world collaborative experiences. A high percentage of students who start at Lehigh graduate within six years, and the median income of graduates ten years after starting is substantial, reflecting the return on investment in a Lehigh education. Lehigh is a Coalition Member College, which means they "provide substantial support to lower-income, under-resourced and/or first-generation students; offer responsible student financial aid; and demonstrate a commitment to student graduation.” That also means you can apply to Lehigh via the Coalition Application. The Coalition Application makes it easy to obtain application fee waivers if you qualify.

Managing Student Loan Debt

Students should be mindful of their student loan debt, aiming to keep it below their anticipated starting salary after graduation. The median federal loan debt among Lehigh graduates is $21,960, with a median monthly payment of $233 (assuming a 10-year repayment at 5.05% interest). A portion of graduating students also take out private loans, with an average private loan debt at graduation.

Application Process and Deadlines

Lehigh University is test-optional, allowing applicants to choose whether to submit standardized test scores. The Office of Admissions reviews applications holistically, considering academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, recommendations, and other unique factors. Students must apply by January 1 to enroll at Lehigh during the fall semester. At Lehigh students also have the opportunity to apply Early Decision.

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