When evaluating a university in the United States, there are always certain questions students and families care about:

What is the campus atmosphere like?  

How strong are the academics?  

Are faculty and students closely connected?  

How advanced are the facilities?  

What is student life really like?  

Is the surrounding environment safe and convenient?  

How accessible are internships and career opportunities?

Sometimes, the answers become much clearer after simply walking through the campus in person.

Each year, HYP Global arranges university visits across the United States for its admissions team in order to deepen institutional understanding and provide updated insights into academic environments, faculty resources, student life, campus culture, and career outcomes at partner universities.

Recently, Doris Liu, Admissions Manager for Southern China, and Vera Zhang, Admissions Manager for Northwest China, visited several U.S. institutions including Lehigh University, Santa Clara University, Pepperdine University, and Otis College of Art and Design.

This article marks the first entry in our university visit series, beginning with one of the most underrated institutions in the greater New York region — Lehigh University.

First Impressions: A Campus That Feels Cinematic

Less than ninety minutes after landing at Newark Airport, we arrived in the historic town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

As the road curved toward the hillside campus, Lehigh’s iconic Gothic-style buildings gradually came into view. The scene felt almost cinematic — reminiscent of the castle landscapes described in classic British novels.

Professor Sabrina from the engineering school warmly guided us through the campus and shared that spring and autumn are widely considered the most beautiful seasons at Lehigh. Along the way, it was not uncommon to see squirrels, deer, and other wildlife quietly moving through the campus landscape.

The main campus we visited, Asa Packer Campus, is located approximately 70 miles north of Philadelphia and 75 miles west of New York City, within Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley region.

Lehigh’s additional campuses include:

- Mountaintop Campus, home to major research facilities and innovation spaces

- Murray H. Goodman Campus, dedicated primarily to athletics and student recreation

Together, the campuses stretch across the hillside landscape and offer a surprisingly expansive environment with strong integration between historic architecture and modern academic facilities.

A University More Impressive Than Rankings Can Convey

Following a rainfall earlier that day, the entire campus carried a calm and refreshing atmosphere.

The combination of stone buildings, tree-lined pathways, and misty hillsides gave the university a timeless feeling — almost like a watercolor painting layered across 19th-century architecture.

Before visiting Lehigh, many people may imagine it as a relatively small and highly selective private university. In reality, the campus feels far more expansive than expected.

Founded in 1865, Lehigh celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2025. Across the university, historic buildings coexist naturally alongside newly constructed facilities, creating an academic environment that feels both traditional and forward-looking.

Walking through the campus, it quickly becomes clear why so many students describe Lehigh as a “dream school” atmosphere — intellectually serious, visually beautiful, and deeply student-centered.

Engineering, Research, and Academic Strength

One of the highlights of the visit was Lehigh’s newly developed business school building, which reflects a modern and highly collaborative learning environment.

Faculty members Kelvin and Allison from the business school warmly welcomed Chinese students and introduced Lehigh’s STEM-designated business programs and interdisciplinary approach to graduate education.

During tours of Lehigh’s bioengineering and engineering laboratories, the university’s research strength became especially evident.

Particularly notable was the materials engineering laboratory, which houses specialized equipment available at only a very limited number of institutions nationwide, reinforcing Lehigh’s reputation as a leading engineering-focused research university.

Following student ambassador Lingling through the College of Health, another detail stood out immediately: the strong presence of Asian and international students.

Several Chinese doctoral students were discussing research topics in Mandarin in the hallway. Many came from top institutions in China, including Tsinghua University and Peking University.

Within academic and research communities, Lehigh maintains a remarkably strong reputation among highly competitive STEM students.

Student Experience and Career Support

During informal conversations with students and alumni, one theme appeared consistently: balance.

“Lehigh feels very safe,” several students shared. “The cost of living is far lower than New York City, while career opportunities remain highly accessible.”

Others mentioned classmates who had already secured employment opportunities nearby, emphasizing that outcomes often depend on personal initiative, preparation, and long-term planning.

The university’s Career Center also left a particularly strong impression.

Through industry partnerships, individualized advising, faculty involvement, and geographic proximity to major economic centers, Lehigh provides students with substantial career development support.

The overall experience reflects many of the advantages commonly associated with leading private universities in the United States — personalized attention, strong alumni networks, and meaningful professional mentorship.

The “New York Circle” Advantage

Following the campus visit, we spent several days in New York City exploring museums, galleries, Central Park, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Experiencing the city firsthand made it easy to understand why New York remains one of the world’s most influential centers for art, finance, culture, and innovation.

From MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to spontaneous public art installations throughout the city, the creative atmosphere is deeply immersive. For students interested in architecture, design, visual arts, media, or entrepreneurship, the broader New York ecosystem offers extraordinary inspiration and access.

Lehigh occupies a particularly interesting position within this ecosystem.

Much like university cities connected to Shanghai, Shenzhen, or Guangzhou in China, Lehigh offers students the ability to study in a quieter academic environment while remaining within close reach of major metropolitan opportunities.

Within approximately ninety minutes, students can access:

- Internship opportunities

- Financial institutions

- Technology companies

- Research organizations

- Art exhibitions

- Professional networking events

This balance between focused campus life and urban accessibility is one of Lehigh’s greatest strengths.

As one student casually described it:

“You can practically nap your way into Manhattan.”

Why Lehigh Leaves Such a Strong Impression

Throughout the visit, one thing became increasingly clear:

Lehigh’s appeal cannot be fully captured through rankings, statistics, or admissions data alone.

From classrooms and research spaces to career centers and student support services, the university consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to student experience and academic quality.

The atmosphere feels intellectually serious yet welcoming.  

The campus feels historic yet innovative.  

The environment feels peaceful while remaining deeply connected to opportunity.

Even after several hours exploring the campus, it still felt difficult to leave.

It also became easier to understand why alumni speak so highly of the university — and why Lehigh has quietly earned a reputation as one of the “Hidden Ivies” in the United States.