How to Apply to Computer Science at Lehigh University: The Engineering BS and the Arts and Sciences BS and BA, Choosing a College When You Apply and Declaring After Entry, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Lehigh University, computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), which serves two colleges: the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science awards a B.S. in Computer Science, and the College of Arts and Sciences awards a B.S. and a B.A. in Computer Science. You choose your intended college on the Common App or Coalition (Scoir) and declare your major after entry. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Lehigh’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. The computing degrees, and which college to apply to

• Degrees: the B.S. in Computer Science in engineering; the B.S. and B.A. in Computer Science in Arts and Sciences; the inter-college B.S. in Computer Science and Business; the B.S. in Computer Engineering; and, new from fall 2026 according to the department, a B.S. in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science in engineering (at least 130 credits).
• The two B.S. degrees: the department says they are identical in their fundamental mathematics and computer science requirements and differ in their non-CS content: the engineering B.S. includes chemistry, physics and introductory engineering courses, while the Arts and Sciences B.S. follows that college’s distribution requirements.
• Unsure between computer science and computer engineering: the department’s FAQ says you can enroll as a first-year engineering student; the first year is the same for all engineering degrees, and you declare computer science, computer engineering or another engineering major at the end of the first year.
• B.A.: the department describes it as suited to students who want room for other academic interests; past students have combined it with B.A. programs such as modern languages or design.
• Switching colleges after entry: the catalog says you may switch once you have sophomore status and at least 12 credits in your college of matriculation; the receiving college may require up to three introductory courses (minimum C-) first. The petition is due at least three weeks before registration for the semester of the switch, and switching may mean more than eight semesters.
• No programming background: start with the two-semester CSE 003 and CSE 004, or the one-semester CSE 007.
• AP and placement: AP Computer Science A 4 or 5 gives four credits for CSE 007 and placement into CSE 017; AP Computer Science Principles 4 or 5 gives CSE 099 (3 credits). First-year students can take the department’s anticipatory exam before classes or in the first two weeks; passing gives credit for CSE 007 or CSE 017.
• High school course requirements: the pages read for this guide do not give specific high school mathematics or science requirements for engineering or computer science; check with Lehigh admissions.

2. Curriculum (2026-27 catalog)

• Engineering B.S.: the page states 130 required credits, and the course table totals 130 to 131. Required CSE courses: introductory programming (CSE 003 and 004, or CSE 007), CSE 017 Programming and Data Structures, CSE 109 Systems Software, CSE 140 Foundations of Discrete Structures and Algorithms, CSE 202 Computer Organization and Architecture, CSE 216 Software Engineering, CSE 262 Programming Languages, CSE 303 Operating System Design, CSE 340 Design and Analysis of Algorithms, and the two-semester capstone CSE 280 and 281. Mathematics and science: Calculus I and II (MATH 021, 022), linear algebra (MATH 205, 241 or 242), MATH 231 Probability and Statistics, CHM 030, PHY 011 and 012, ENGR 005 and ENGR 010, and a 3-credit follow-on natural science course. Plus 15 credits of technical electives (200-level CSE), 12 credits of science and technology courses, and humanities and social science courses including ECO 001, WRT 001, WRT 002, CSE 252 Computing Ethics and 16 credits of the engineering college’s advanced HSS requirement.
• Arts and Sciences B.S.: the same required CSE and mathematics courses, plus 12 credits of natural science (one course with a lab and a two-course lab science sequence), 15 credits of technical electives, 10 credits of science and technology courses, CSE 252, WRT 001, WRT 002, 21 credits of Arts and Sciences distribution courses and 11 free elective credits, for a total of 127 to 128 credits.
• Arts and Sciences B.A.: 120 credits in total, with 46 in the major: introductory programming, CSE 017, 109, 140, 216, 262 and 340, two calculus courses (several options), one linear algebra course (MATH 043, 205 or 242) and 12 credits of technical electives.
• Tracks: the department highly recommends focusing electives in one track, taking three or more courses from it: Interactive Multimedia Systems, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Information Management, Bioinformatics, Computing Principles, Hardware-Software, Systems and Networks, and Software Systems.
• Accreditation, stated two ways: the catalog says both Computer Science B.S. programs are accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET; the department’s “choosing a program” page says the B.S. in Computer Science is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Check ABET’s official listing.

3. Deadlines and decisions

• Early Decision I (binding): 1 November, decision mid-December.
• Early Decision II (binding): 1 January, decision mid-February.
• Regular Decision: 1 January, decision late March.
• Lehigh has no Early Action. ED I and ED II applicants are considered for admission and merit scholarships in the same holistic way.
• Materials: application with Lehigh questions and writing supplement, school report and transcript, one teacher recommendation, mid-year report, and a $75 fee.

4. Students at high schools in China

• International status: non-US citizens apply as international students wherever they attend high school (eligible non-citizens such as permanent residents apply as domestic students).
• Qualification: you must be completing, or have completed, the equivalent of 12 years of education or the program that qualifies you for university study in your system.
• Gaokao: Lehigh does not say how Gaokao results are used.
• Interviews: Lehigh’s pages do not describe interview arrangements.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Same application and deadlines; Lehigh publishes no grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula.
• English waiver: not required if English is your first language or your last two full years of formal instruction (not counting the current year) were in English.

6. Testing and English

• Test optional: Lehigh has extended test-optional admission indefinitely for first-year and transfer applicants and superscores SAT and ACT. Admitted students who reported scores must send official scores before classes; any discrepancy may reverse admission.
• English: non-US citizens must submit an English test unless waived. TOEFL and IELTS are preferred; TOEFL Home Edition and Duolingo are considered if those are unavailable; SAT/ACT cannot meet the requirement. Lehigh’s guidance:
  • strong proficiency: TOEFL 95+ (before 21 January 2026) or 5.5+ (from 21 January 2026), IELTS 7.5+, Duolingo 120+;
  • may need additional support: TOEFL 86–94 or 4.0–5.0, IELTS 6.5–7.0, Duolingo 110–119;
  • lower scores raise considerable concern about readiness.
  Another Lehigh page says the most competitive candidates score above TOEFL 90, IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 120.

7. Costs and aid

• Typical 2026-27 costs (US$): tuition 69,420, first-year housing 11,470, full meal plan 7,760, technology fee 630, plus activity and wellness fees, for a total of 89,820; some programs add a $910 fee (the Engineering and Science, Arts and Sciences or Health fee); the fees page does not say which applies to computer science. Books and personal expenses are extra. The international page estimates tuition, room and board at more than $98,900 a year, while the admissions requirements page says more than $93,400.
• International aid: Lehigh has limited aid for international students and therefore reviews non-US citizens who apply for aid need-aware. Aid applicants submit the CSS Profile by the application deadline (1 November for ED I, 15 January for ED II and RD); if the $25 fee is a hardship, the ISAFA is accepted, though places are limited.
• Aid at admission is final: it will not increase except for cost-of-attendance increases, and is not adjusted for home-currency changes.
• Fee waiver: families unable to contribute more than $10,000 a year can use the waiver code Lehigh lists on its international page.
• Merit scholarships: Lehigh says 26% of admitted students for 2025-26 received merit scholarships of $15,000 or more a year, but does not say whether international students are eligible.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall entry 1 April (decision mid-May); spring entry 1 November (decision late December).
• Materials: Common App or Coalition, final high school transcript (high school requirements apply), college transcripts and a conduct report from your institution; testing optional.
• Credit: evaluated after admission by Registration & Academic Services with the faculty. Only courses graded C or better transfer (never C-); pass/fail courses do not; transfer grades are not counted in the Lehigh GPA.
• CSE transfer credit: credit for transfer students is evaluated after admission by Registration & Academic Services with the faculty. For continuing students taking CSE courses elsewhere, the department allows up to two required and two elective CSE courses (including AP or exam credit), gives no credit for C- or lower, and only accepts courses from the last four years; replacements for required courses normally come from ABET-accredited programs and need at least 60% of the grade from proctored in-person assessment, or a department exam within 10 days of the next semester. The page does not say whether these rules also apply to credit on entry; check with the department after admission.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to engineering or Arts and Sciences (engineering if unsure between computer science and computer engineering) by 1 November (ED I) or 1 January (ED II, RD)
• Submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo, aiming for TOEFL 5.5 (new scale) or IELTS 7.5
• If you need aid, file the CSS Profile by the deadline

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; two full years of English-medium instruction waives the English test

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 April, spring 1 November
• Only C or better transfers; keep CS syllabi for the department’s review after admission

Sources: Lehigh University, How to apply and deadlines; Admissions requirements; International students; Transfer students; Tuition, aid and affording college; Catalog: Computer Science and Engineering; Catalog: Transfer between colleges; Choosing a computing program; CSE tracks; AP credit and placement; Transfer credit for CSE courses; BS in AI, Machine Learning and Data Science. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Lehigh for the latest details.