Bethlehem, PA · Clery Act 2023 · Private Nonprofit

Lehigh University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 7,590-student campus.

2.24
Incidents / 1k students
#2,078
Rank of 3,050
#81
PA rank
7,590
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

Lehigh University reports 2.24 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,078 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 67% of ranked campuses its size.

2.24
incidents / 1,000 students
#2,078
of 3,050 ranked nationally
67%
report fewer incidents than this campus
9
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

No change

Lehigh University was unchanged from 9 to 9 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

Lehigh University is a Private Nonprofit institution located in Bethlehem, PA, enrolling approximately 7,590 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 39 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within PA, it ranks #81 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 7,590 enrolled students, this campus sits in the mid-sized institution bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at Lehigh University is "Burglary" with 17 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in PA averaging 0.74 incidents per 1,000 students, Lehigh University reports 204% more incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 2 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.

Safety Score

2.24 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#2078

See peer comparison

State Rank (PA)

#81

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

9

across 11 crime categories

Where Lehigh University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

2 safer than 33% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). Below this entry. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). This entry sits in this band. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

Lehigh University percentile rank 31.9%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2078 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

Lehigh University reports 204% more incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$64,980
Out-of-State Tuition
$64,980
Avg Net Price
$36,931
Median Debt
$21,960
Pell Grant Recipients
18%
How does this cost rank in PA? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
26%
SAT Average
1440
SAT Math Range
690–770
ACT Average
32
ACT Range
31–34

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
89%
Retention Rate
94%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$88,810
Median Earnings (10yr)
$105,584
Loan Repayment (3yr)
91%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

Lehigh University: on-campus incidents by year

Declining 57% (21 → 9 incidents)

510152025 202120222023 21 9 ▼ -57.1%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 003
Arson 000
Burglary 638
Fondling 105
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 000
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 265
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 2 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 47
Liquor 2023 5 230
Weapons 2023 0 2
Drugs 2022 0 49
Liquor 2022 3 236
Weapons 2022 0 0
Drugs 2021 4 26
Liquor 2021 2 196
Weapons 2021 0 0

Lehigh University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

PA

Lehigh University

2.24 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#2,078
Enrollment
7,590
Data year
2023

NJ

Camden County College

0.13 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,001
Enrollment
7,591
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Camden County College
Blackwood, NJ · 7,591 enrolled
Safety Score 0.13
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton, NJ · 7,587 enrolled
Safety Score 0.13
Texas A&M University-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · 7,584 enrolled
Safety Score 1.32
Schoolcraft Community College District
Livonia, MI · 7,596 enrolled
Safety Score 0.26
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO · 7,599 enrolled
Safety Score 1.84

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest Lehigh University nationally (rank #2078), regardless of size or state.

Big Bend Community College
Moses Lake, WA
National Rank #2077
Limestone University
Gaffney, SC
National Rank #2079
Boston University
Boston, MA
National Rank #2076
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
National Rank #2080
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
National Rank #2075

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lehigh University safe?
Lehigh University has a safety score of 2.24 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,078 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Lehigh University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Lehigh University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in PA.
Does Lehigh University have fire safety data?
Yes. Lehigh University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 2 fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding Lehigh University's Safety Profile

Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA enrolls 7,590 students and has a safety score of 2.24 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2078 nationally.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents remained at 9 from 2022 to 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 2 fires were reported in the most recent year.

What this means for you

Lehigh University's 2.24 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.