CUNY Lehman College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
CUNY Lehman College, established in 1968 in the Bronx, New York, is a public college offering strong nursing, education, and arts programs. Ranked for social mobility, it serves a diverse urban population.
The campus includes a state-of-the-art nursing simulation center, performance spaces, and research labs. Its Bronx location provides community engagement and internship opportunities.
CUNY Lehman College Acceptance Rate
CUNY Lehman College is moderately selective. 55.4% of applicants are admitted, with room for a well-rounded, if imperfect, transcript.
What Lehman College Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
CUNY Lehman College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for CUNY Lehman College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants, with additional plans listed below.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 42 days left — Spring Priority💡 The scholarship deadline (FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Lehman College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Lehman College is 3.2. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.90–3.2 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.40–3.60.Lehman College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Apply through the unified CUNY Application, ranking Lehman among CUNY campus preferences rather than applying to Lehman alone
- Ranked No. 1 nationally in Nursing and No. 1 in Psychology by Degree Choices, based on graduates' economic outcomes
- College Now program allows qualified NYC high school students to begin earning Lehman credit before graduating high school
- SAT/ACT scores required only for transfer applicants with fewer than 24 transfer credits
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Lehman College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on CUNY Lehman College's verified institutional data
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
CUNY Lehman College (Lehman College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Lehman College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Lehman College Without SAT or ACT?
CUNY Lehman College Average SAT Score: 1010
The average SAT score of admitted students at CUNY Lehman College is 1010 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
If your score is below 860, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Lehman College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 515 | 400 | 630 |
| SAT Reading | 525 | 460 | 590 |
| SAT Composite | 1010 | 860 | 1220 |
Below 860, you're behind most admitted students; at 1220 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into CUNY Lehman College (Lehman College) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of Lehman College's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Lehman College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Lehman College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Rank your CUNY campus preferences carefully - one application routes you across the entire CUNY system, so how you order your choices matters.
Lehman is independently ranked No. 1 nationally in both fields by Degree Choices, based on graduates' economic outcomes - a genuine, citable differentiator worth naming directly.
This dual-enrollment program lets you start earning Lehman credit while still in high school, meaningfully shortening your later timeline.
This requirement doesn't apply once you have 24+ transfer credits - know which bucket you fall into before assuming you need to test.
Applicants sometimes assume "CUNY" admission works like a single-school application. It doesn't - you're ranking preferences across a multi-campus system, and requirements like standardized testing apply differently depending on whether you're a freshman or a transfer student at a specific credit threshold. Confirm your exact category's requirements before assuming a blanket policy.
Lehman College Profile
Is a Lehman College Degree Worth It?
Lehman College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $41,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 7.31%.
How much does a degree from Lehman College Cost?
The sticker price is $13,456/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $3,482.
60.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 12.9% take federal loans at Lehman College. File your FAFSA early and list Lehman College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Lehman College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $58,013. That's about 43% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Lehman College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA | 998 | 19 |
| Life University | Marietta, GA | 994 | 17 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | Kapolei, HI | 973 | 18 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as CUNY Lehman College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1014 | 20 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than CUNY Lehman College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Troy University | Troy, AL | 1086 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Lehman College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Lehman College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at CUNY Lehman College run about $58,013 a year.
At about $13,456 a year, CUNY Lehman College is on the more affordable end.
With 60.5% of CUNY Lehman College students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong. An early FAFSA filing naming CUNY Lehman College is the key move.
At 55.4%, CUNY Lehman College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at CUNY Lehman College average a 3.2 GPA.
CUNY Lehman College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.9 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.8, CUNY Lehman College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at CUNY Lehman College — aim above 1010, ideally within the 860–1220 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for CUNY Lehman College is September 15 for Spring Priority applicants.
The application fee is 65. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is FAFSA/TAP Priority: 2027/02/15. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
