Lehigh University

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Updated November 30, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Lehigh University.

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Psychology and Counseling Degrees at Lehigh

Lehigh University in our ranking of The 25 Best Low-Cost Master’s in Counseling Online Programs.

In Johnson Hall, the College of Arts & Sciences capitalizes on Lehigh University's 9:1 student-professor ratio with a 120-credit Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) offering tracks for Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Social, or Clinical Behavioral Health. Since 2011, the M.Ed. in Counseling and Human Services has followed an accredited 60-credit, competency-based plan for Pennsylvania LPC licensure. Chaired by Dr. Arpana Inman, the 48-credit M.Ed. in School Counseling adds PreK-12 endorsement after courses like Special Needs Inclusion and Culture-Centered Career Intervention. The Online M.Ed. in International School Counseling blends live Moodle courses with Summer institutes abroad to tackle a 36-credit global curriculum. Fulfilling NCSP credentialing, the 66-credit Ed.S. in School Psychology provides two specializations in Autism Spectrum Disorders or Response to Intervention Implementation. The Ph.D. in Psychology welcomes cohorts of 17-20 to Bethlehem with $20,810 stipends for a four-year, research-intensive degree in Social Cognition & Personality, Cognition & Language, or Social & Cognitive Development.

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About Lehigh University

Lehigh University originated in 1865 when Lehigh Valley Railroad founder Asa Packer donated $500,000 and his 23-hectare South Mountain estate to begin a four-year academy. On September 1, 1866, an inaugural class of 39 men enrolled for only $90 yearly at Packer Hall. By 1878, Lehigh began creating a postgraduate Master of Arts degree. Lehigh founded the nation's first Hispanic American club in 1887. Six years later, president William H. Chandler graduated an initial Doctor of Philosophy cohort. In 1918, Lehigh University became coeducational and admitted female graduate students. In 1966, the College of Education was formed by John A. Stoops. During the 1980s, Lehigh expanded its 150-building, 2,350-acre Allentown Metro campus by acquiring Bethlehem Steel's Homer Research Lab. In 1992, Lehigh University also became the first to create an online satellite program. Endowed for $1.16 billion, Lehigh now enrolls 7,017 Hawks, including Psychology and Counseling majors, from 85 countries.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Lehigh the 53rd best national university, 27th top value, 64th best education school, and 148th top psychology program. On Niche, Lehigh boasts America's 40th best private education, 61st hardest academics, 74th best faculty, and 93rd top psychology courses. Times Higher Education placed Lehigh University 48th overall. The Princeton Review named Lehigh 20th for career placement and #1 for research labs. Forbes declared Lehigh the 67th top college, 36th best research institution, and 11th best mid-size employer. WalletHub picked Lehigh University 18th for career outcomes and 53rd for student selectivity. College Factual noticed Lehigh for the country's 235th best psychology department and 75th highest paid grads. PayScale recorded the 42nd biggest 20-year ROI of $679,000 at Lehigh. Washington Monthly also deemed Lehigh 47th for Ph.D. completion.

Lehigh University Accreditation Details

On October 1, 2018, Lehigh University announced it passed the intensive self-study evaluation process of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to renew the Level VI accreditation for eight more years under its 14th president, Dr. John D. Simon, who received the Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award. Based 56 miles south via Interstate 476 in Philadelphia, this six-state Mid-Atlantic accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to check for excellence benchmarks in Lehigh's 79 baccalaureate, 72 master's, and 29 doctoral majors. The College of Education reaffirmed Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) approval through August 2024. The Education Specialist program is recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Since 1990, the Ph.D. has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Lehigh University Application Requirements

Admission to Lehigh University is classified "most difficult" by Peterson's because only 3,489 of the 13,871 Fall 2017 applicants were victorious for competitive 25 percent acceptance. First-year Hawks swooping into the Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) must graduate from licensed high schools with college-prep prerequisites. The Class of 2021 presented an average 3.83 GPA, 1370 SAT score, and 30 ACT mark. Scoring 4 or 5 on the AP Psychology exam would transfer credits. Previous college-level courses graded "C" or better also count. The Counseling M.Ed. options require accredited bachelor's degrees with cumulative GPAs above 3.0. Starting the Online M.Ed. in International School Counseling necessitates a minimum 90 TOEFL iBT or 7.0 IELTS grade. The Education Specialist program prefers human services master's study and GRE scores over the 75th percentile. Psychology Ph.D. students build atop 30 Master of Science credits with at least 3.5 GPAs.

Lehigh University set freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Decision and January 1st for Regular Decision. Transferring Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) undergrads apply until February 15th for Fall starts. Two Counseling M.Ed. tracks have January 15th cutoffs, but the International School Counseling program admits until September 15th for Spring too. School Psychology Ed.S. cohorts only have until December 1st. Submitting the Common Application or Lehigh Graduate Application online incurs fees of $65 to $85. Official documents are mailed to 27 Memorial Drive West in Bethlehem, PA 18015. Additional items like the two references, test scores, curriculum vitae, research questionnaire, and personal essay are processed on LU FileSender. Please contact (610) 758-3100 or [email protected] with further questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Lehigh University is billing Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) undergrads $26,240 per semester or $52,480 annually full-time. The $450 technology fee and $200 activity fee are mandatory. Living at the Bethlehem campus' dorms like Centennial Complex adds $7,930 for yearly housing. Meal plans for Rathbone Dining Hall cost $5,670 every nine months. Budgets include $2,065 for books and personal supplies. Annual bachelor's attendance equals $68,795 on-site and $55,195 with family. Counseling M.Ed. cohorts are paying $565 per credit, which is $27,120 to $33,900 in total. The College of Arts & Sciences bills Psychology Ph.D. students $1,500 per credit or $112,500 post-bachelor's combined. Note graduate housing like Saucon Village or Packer House has a monthly rent of $560 to $835.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid gets 50 percent of full-time Lehigh Hawks soaring with a median assistance of $35,317 for $89.10 million overall. University funds include the Alice P. Gast Scholarship, Dean's Scholarship, Trustees' Scholarship, Snyder Family Scholarship, Cutler-Sametz Scholarship, Multicultural Resource Center Scholarship, Thomas/Brucker Minority Doctoral Scholarship, and Villas & Woodring Master's Scholarship. The Lewis R. Shupe III Endowed Assistantship has an April 15th deadline for remitting 18 credits each year. Graduate assistants with minimum 3.0 GPAs work 20 hours weekly for up to $20,810 stipends. Filing FAFSA applications coded 003289 determines Federal Pell, SEOG, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant eligibility. Default rates are below 1 percent for Federal Perkins, Direct Subsidized, and Direct Unsubsidized loans. Counselors and psychologists will sometimes qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship can also assist past Peace Corps volunteers.

Find out more about Lehigh University at the Department of Psychology website.

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