Lehigh University

Lehigh University offers one of the best on-campus housing facilities to international students. There are several residence halls such as Brodhead, Dravo, Drinker, Richards, etc., that foster community living. The amenities and facilities of the housing include 24-hour security, a full kitchen, Wi-Fi, TV, cable, study areas, furnished bedrooms, laundry, etc.The university has specified the list of some of the residence houses with their rates as follows:On-Campus HousingSemester Cost (in USD)Undergraduate HousingCategory I (Dravo, Drinker, Centennial I & II, McClinticMarshall, Richards, Taylor)4,515Category II (All Greek Houses, Houses 85, 87, 88, 89, 93, 96, UMOJA, Warren Square)4,840Category III (Brodhead House, Singleton, Hitch, Maida)5,030Category IV (Farrington Square, Sayre Park Village)5,255Graduate Housing230 W. Packer HouseSmall bedroom – 630Large bedroom – 650Packer HouseSmall bedroom – 630Large bedroom – 650Saucon VillageEfficiency – 730One bedroom – 820Two-bedroom – 950Three bedrooms – 1,020

Some tips and hacks for incoming freshmen at Lehigh University are given below:Learn to know your instructors: Developing a rapport with the instructors can be very beneficial. Ask them questions and seek their advice when you visit them during business hours. Investigate the campus: Spend some time getting to know the campus and all that it has to offer. This involves figuring out where your classes are, where the library is, and which student support services are. Join a club or organization: There are many different clubs and organizations available at Lehigh University. Participating in extracurricular activities can facilitate friendship-building, interest exploration, and the development of a solid support system. Effective time management: It is essential to balance social life, academics, and personal time. To prioritize the responsibilities and maintain organization, use a planner or digital calendar.

Some of the best reasons to attend Lehigh University are:1. Lehigh is frequently included among the colleges whose graduates earn the greatest salaries. It has excellent job placement as well. 2. Lehigh is renowned for its challenging academic program, yet staff and instructors are always there to help. Additionally, the shared suffering strengthens your relationships with your peers. 3. Awesome folks. Students will meet people who share their beliefs and some who will challenge their patience no matter who they are.4. Very lovely campus. In addition to being stunning, the buildings are a lot of fun. There are corridors and tunnels, some off-limits to students, but good luck stopping a Lehigh student from doing anything.

The university offers various scholarships to international students. The scholarships are based on merit, academic excellence, and the financial need of the students. The scholarships are as follows:Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship: A scholarship of USD 12,500 (INR 10L) is offered to the students for tuition and research-related activities. It is awarded to women who are pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field at the university. Students must have a 3.0 GPA to maintain the scholarship.Dean’s Scholarship: A scholarship of USD 12,000 (INR 10L) is offered every academic year to students who can demonstrate their academic and leadership skills. It is awarded to full-time undergraduate students. Students are required to have a 3.0 GPA for the scholarship.National Merit Scholarship: A scholarship of USD 1,000 or USD 2,000 (INR 83K- INR1.6L) is offered to the students who are national merit finalists at the university. Students are not required to submit any additional applications for the scholarship.Cutler-Sametz Choral Arts Scholarships: A scholarship of USD 5,000 (INR 4L) is awarded to the students in Choral Arts who have a GPA of 2.8. The deadline for the scholarship is mid-January.Snyder Family Marching Scholarship: A scholarship of USD 1,500 (INR 1.2L) is offered every year to incoming students who can demonstrate their musical talents. The deadline for the scholarship is early January. (USD1=INR 83.49)

International students can work in the country while studying if they have F-1 or J-1 visa status. J-1 students are required to get OISS authorization before working on campus. Students with an F-1 visa status can work a maximum of 20 hours a week on campus while the semester is in session. However, during vacations and holidays, they can work full-time. F-1 students are required to get OISS authorization to work off-campus.Students can work on campus 30 days before the I-20 programme starts. Employment will end once students finish their study programs at the university unless they enroll themselves in another I-20 study programme at the university. J-1 students are also allowed to work for 20 hours a week during a study semester and full-time during holidays. The students who are sponsored by Fulbright or other US government agencies are required to have work authorization before working on-campus. 

Lehigh University has different living expenses which depend on whether the student resides on campus or off campus. In 2021, the average student living on campus paid USD 9,030 (INR 7.5L) for accommodation and USD 6,300 (INR 5.2L) for meals, for a total room and board cost of USD 15,330 (INR 12L). An estimated USD 78,650 (INR 65L) will be spent on tuition, housing & board, technology fees, student activity fees, and wellness fees for the 2023–24 academic year. In addition, a full meal plan costs USD 6,790 (INR 5.6L), and housing costs USD 9,680 (INR 8L) on average for first-year students. For an Indian student, the cost of living at Lehigh is quite expensive if considering all the above costs. (USD1=INR 83.49)