Brandeis University & Lehigh University Research

brandeis_lehigh.md

Brandeis University & Lehigh University Research

Brandeis University

Overview

• Location: Waltham, MA (10 miles west of Boston)
• Type: Private research university
• Founded: 1948
• Enrollment: ~3,342 undergraduates, ~5,205 total
• Student-Faculty Ratio: 8:1
• NCAA Division III (University Athletic Association) — no athletic scholarships
• Testing Policy: Test-optional

Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)

• Total Applicants: 9,748
• Admitted: ~4,387 (45% acceptance rate)
• Enrolled: 761
• Yield Rate: ~17%
• ED Acceptance Rate: 42% (765 ED apps, 323 admitted — Class of 2028 data)
• Early Decision: Offers ED I (Nov 1) and ED II (Jan 1)
• Early Action: Not offered
• SAT Middle 50%: 1380–1480
• ACT Middle 50%: 31–34
• Avg Unweighted GPA: ~3.87
• Top 10% of HS Class: ~50%
• Test Submitters: ~30% of enrolled students submitted SAT

Demographics

• White: 40.0%
• Asian: 14.5%
• Black: 5.5%
• Hispanic/Latino: 7.6%
• Multiracial: 3.3%
• International: 15.8% (61 countries)
• Women: 56%
• First-Generation: 18%
• Out-of-State: 68% of non-international undergrads
• Students of Color: 40.9%

Net Cost by Income (Title IV recipients)

• Average need-based scholarship: $61,636
• 52% of first-year students received need-based financial aid

Athletics

• 19 varsity sports (NCAA Division III)
• ~340 varsity athletes estimated (~10% of undergrads)
• D3 — no athletic scholarships, not in NCAA APR database
• Member of University Athletic Association (UAA)

Notable for Simulation

• ED acceptance rate roughly equal to overall rate (42% vs 45%) — minimal ED boost
• High international student percentage (15.8%)
• Small class size (761) makes for tight admit numbers
• Strong financial aid — families under $75K income pay $13K–$20K
• Brandeis Commitment: full/half tuition for qualifying domestic families

Lehigh University

Overview

• Location: Bethlehem, PA
• Type: Private research university
• Founded: 1865
• Enrollment: ~5,986 undergraduates, ~7,692 total
• Retention Rate: 94%
• NCAA Division I (Patriot League)
• Testing Policy: Test-optional

Admissions (Class of 2029 / Fall 2025)

• Total Applicants: 19,342 (record high)
• Admitted: 5,601 (29% acceptance rate)
• Enrolled: 1,535
• Yield Rate: 27%
• ED Acceptance Rate: ~72% (1,121 ED apps, 815 admitted — combined ED I+II)
• ED Share of Class: ~57% of enrolled class entered via ED
• Early Decision: Offers ED I (Nov 1) and ED II (Jan 1)
• Early Action: Not offered
• SAT Middle 50%: 1390–1510 (EBRW 700–750, Math 710–780)
• ACT Middle 50%: 32–35
• Avg Unweighted GPA: ~3.90
• Top 10% of HS Class: 61%

Demographics

• White: 57.0%
• Asian: 9.4%
• Black: 4.5%
• Hispanic/Latino: 10.0%
• Multiracial: 4.0%
• International: 8.0% (21 countries, 47 states)
• Women: 48%

Enrollment by College

• Arts & Sciences: 37%
• Engineering & Applied Science: 25%
• Business: 22%
• Intercollegiate Programs: 11%
• Health: 4%

Net Cost by Income (Title IV recipients)

• Average need-based scholarship: $56,575
• 47% of first-year students received need-based financial aid

Athletics

• 23 varsity sports (NCAA Division I, Patriot League)
• 858 total varsity athletes (475 men, 383 women)
• ~14.5% of undergraduate enrollment
• Division I with strong athletic culture (famous Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry)

Notable for Simulation

• Very strong ED boost: 72% ED acceptance vs 29% overall (2.48x multiplier)
• ED fills majority of class (~57%)
• Record applicant growth — acceptance rate dropped 5 consecutive years
• Engineering and business strong draws
• Patriot League DI athletics — recruited athletes are significant factor

Data Sources

• Brandeis CDS 2024-2025: brandeis.edu/institutional-research/docs/cds-2024-25.pdf
• Brandeis Admissions: brandeis.edu/admissions/why-brandeis/numbers.html
• Lehigh CDS 2024-2025: data.lehigh.edu/sites/data.lehigh.edu/files/4.18.2025_CDS-2024-2025_FINAL.pdf
• Lehigh Admissions: lehigh.edu/admissions/admission-statistics
• College Factual (net price data)
• CollegeSimply, CollegeData, NextGenAdmit, IvyCoach