Transfer Students

Lehigh offers many opportunities for transfer students to excel in their chosen field, pursue their goals and develop as a leader.

Lehigh University welcomes applications from transfer students who are currently enrolled at other two- or four-year colleges or universities. Lehigh uses the Common Application and Coalition Application for Transfer Students, and prospective transfer students are strongly encouraged to visit the Application Requirements page to learn more about our deadlines for both admission and financial aid.

Deadlines

Fall Enrollment: April 1
Spring Enrollment: November 1

Transferring Courses from Other Colleges and Universities

Lehigh’s Office of Registration & Academic Services (RAS), in consultation with the faculty of Lehigh University, will make the final determination on which college credits will transfer to the institution.

An evaluation of prior college-level courses is complete only after a student has been extended an offer of admission as a new transfer student. The Office of Admissions works in consultation with the Registration & Academic Services to coordinate our communication with students regarding the results of the evaluation in as timely a manner as possible. It is critical, however, for students to provide as much detailed information (course description, syllabi, textbook list if not on syllabus, etc.) as possible for each course completed in order to allow the faculty to complete an accurate evaluation.

While RAS can make preliminary determinations for credit toward the degree fairly quickly, RAS works with Lehigh academic departments and colleges to review transfer courses for specific course equivalency. The full review process may take several weeks. For more information on how this process works, see Lehigh University Transfer Credit Evaluation: A Q&A for Admitted Transfer Students.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credit

In addition to a college credit evaluation, Lehigh will also accept Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits from admitted transfer students to be used for both academic classroom placement and course credit. AP and IB scores should be submitted to the Registration & Academic Services after the student has been accepted to be considered for transfer credit. The following items are appropriate for class placement and course credit consideration:

• Most AP Test Scores of 4 and 5 (with the exception of Calculus AB, Chemistry and both English exams, which require a score of 5)
• Most IB Test Scores of 6 and 7 on higher-level examinations

Basic Facts About Transferring College Credits to Lehigh

• Only courses with a grade of "C" or better will transfer. A grade of "C-" will not transfer to Lehigh under any circumstances.
• Pass/Fail credit and non-credit courses are not acceptable for transfer.
• Transfer courses may not be used to delete a prior grade from your cumulative grade point average at Lehigh University.
• Transfer grades are not calculated in the Lehigh GPA.
• The student will receive credit equivalent to the number of credits indicated on the transcript, up to the number of credits for the equivalent course at Lehigh. Registration & Academic Services has the final authority for the amount of credit awarded toward a Lehigh degree.
  • No student may receive more credit at Lehigh than was granted on the other institution's transcript. (For example, if a transfer course is three credits, and the Lehigh equivalent course is four credits, the transfer course may fulfill the relevant Lehigh course requirement, but the student will receive three credit hours of Lehigh credit, rather than four.)
  • Courses taken on the quarter system will have credit granted on a 3:2 ratio. No partial credit will be awarded.

  For more information about transfer credit requirements, please contact Registration & Academic Services at (610) 758-3194.

  Applications from Students holding Bachelor’s Degrees

  Lehigh University accepts applications from students who have already earned one or more bachelor's/master's degree(s). If you have already earned a degree and wish to apply, you must submit the same forms as other transfer students, which can be found on the Application Requirements page.

  If you already have a degree and the admissions committee offers you admission, a special degree plan will be designed by your advisor with the courses required to obtain a Lehigh degree. Registration & Academic Services will not transfer credit as in the case of other transfer applicants.

  Financial Aid

  Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

  Lehigh awards the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship to admitted transfer students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs. Recipients will be recognized with a $10,000 scholarship per academic year (distributed by semester) above and beyond any need-based financial aid that has been awarded. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters (or 10 consecutive semesters for students enrolled in a bona-fide five-year program), provided you maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 and are enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Lehigh University.

  Yellow Ribbon GI Educational Benefits

  As a supporting institution of the Yellow Ribbon Program through the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, Lehigh provides financial support to post-9/11 veterans. Participants of the Yellow Ribbon Program must be admitted to Lehigh University through the traditional transfer admissions process before Yellow Ribbon considerations are made.

  Need-Based Financial Aid for U.S. Citizen Transfer Students

  At Lehigh, we are dedicated to providing need-based financial aid. We believe that we have a responsibility to evaluate a family's ability to contribute in an equitable and consistent manner, recognizing that special circumstances can and do affect a family's ability to pay tuition and other related costs. In order to be considered for need-based financial aid, please follow the steps on the Apply for Financial Aid page to determine the required forms.

  Applicants seeking Fall entry must submit the required financial aid documents by April 1, and those seeking Spring entry must submit the required documents by October 1.

  Lehigh University is committed to a strong need-based financial aid program. We use a combination of grants, scholarships, work study, and loans to cover 100% of financial need to all admitted students.

  Financial Aid for International Transfer Students

  Since Lehigh University has limited need-based institutional funding for international transfer students, all non-U.S. citizens who will need financial aid during any of their years enrolled at Lehigh are required to submit the Certification of Finances with their application for transfer admission. To be considered for need based financial aid, international transfer students must also submit the CSS Profile through the College Board. Both the Lehigh Certificate of Finances and CSS Profile must be submitted by your application deadline.

  Please note that if admitted to Lehigh, there will not be additional funding awarded beyond the initial financial aid offer outside of adjustments made based on increases in cost of attendance. We are unable to provide additional financial aid due to changes in the value of your home country’s currency during your enrollment at Lehigh.

  *Note: Tuition, room and board at Lehigh can cost upwards of $87,000 USD per year. If your family cannot support this amount for all intended years of undergraduate enrollment, your application will not be complete without a CSS Profile and Lehigh Certificate of Finances. A bank statement/certificate is not required with your Certification of Finances form and will be collected if you are admitted and decide to attend Lehigh.