Brandeis University & Lehigh University Research
Source: 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)
| Income Bracket |
Net Price |
| $0–$30,000 |
$13,567 |
| $30,001–$48,000 |
$16,074 |
| $48,001–$75,000 |
$20,122 |
| $75,001–$110,000 |
$29,713 |
| Over $110,000 |
$49,781 |
- 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)
| Income Bracket |
Net Price |
| $0–$30,000 |
$14,080 |
| $30,001–$48,000 |
$13,363 |
| $48,001–$75,000 |
$19,924 |
| $75,001–$110,000 |
$26,906 |
| Over $110,000 |
$45,789 |
- 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