Lehman College Admissions: Eligibility, Process and Cost 2026-27

Lehman College Application Deadlines

Lehman runs a two-intake calendar — Fall and Spring — routed through two separate portals. The CUNY Application handles all undergraduate entry, while graduate applicants apply directly through Lehman’s own portal at welcome.lehman.cuny.edu. Fall is the primary window for Indian students because more programs, housing seats, and onboarding events open here. Lehman College’s primary intake for Indian students is Fall 

Insider note: One $65 CUNY freshman fee lets you apply to up to six CUNY colleges on one form — Lehman, Hunter, Baruch, City, Brooklyn and Queens are the common combination Indian applicants pick as a portfolio.

Lehman College Eligibility for Indian Students

Lehman follows CUNY’s baseline entry rules for both levels. Indian applicants are assessed on Class XII marks for UG and on Bachelor’s degree grades for PG, with the same English-proficiency floor for anyone educated outside the United States.

Lehman UG Eligibility

• Class XII general entry: around 65 to 75 percent from a recognised board (CBSE, ICSE, or state boards).
• SAT and ACT: optional through Spring 2027 — no minimum score required to file.
• Prerequisite subjects: Mathematics through Class XII for B.S. Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Business Administration.
• English proficiency: IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 61, or Duolingo English Test 85, scored within the last two years.

Lehman PG Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree: a 3- or 4-year Indian Bachelor’s equivalent to a US Bachelor’s, evaluated via WES or a similar credential-evaluation service.
• Undergraduate GPA: 3.0 on 4.0 (about 65 percent), with higher floors in Computer Science, Accounting, and Nursing.
• GRE: not required at Lehman for any master’s programme.
• English proficiency: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 61, or Duolingo 85 — same floor as UG, higher in most departments.

Planning note: Lehman states the published English scores are minimums and that competitive departments — especially M.S. Computer Science and M.S. Nursing — expect higher figures. Aim for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 if you plan to apply to those tracks.

Lehman College PG Programs and Requirements

Lehman runs over 40 master’s programmes across liberal arts, sciences, business, health, and teacher education. Base graduate tuition is $855 per credit for non-residents — roughly $12,825 (₹ 12.25 Lakhs) per year at a typical 15-credit annual load, per the Lehman Bursar page. See the full course-wise fees breakdown for per-credit costs and total programme fees.

Lehman UG Programs and Requirements

Lehman’s undergraduate catalogue covers arts, sciences, business, nursing, education, and health. UG non-resident tuition is $620 per credit, working out to about $18,600 (₹ 17.76 Lakhs) for a standard 30-credit academic year. Indian freshmen apply against Class XII marks and named subject prerequisites, not standardised US tests, since CUNY is test-optional through Spring 2027.

Undergraduate entry runs entirely through the CUNY Application, a shared portal for all CUNY colleges. Graduate applicants use Lehman’s separate direct portal. The steps below assume an Indian applicant filing for the primary Fall 2027 intake.

1. Create a CUNY Application account on the CUNY portal - Fall 2027 international undergraduate submissions close 1 December 2026. Graduate applicants instead register at welcome.lehman.cuny.edu.
2. Select Lehman as one of up to six CUNY choices on the freshman form, or up to four on the transfer form.
3. Pay the application fee of $65 (₹ 6,208) for freshmen or $70 (₹ 6,686) for transfers on the CUNY portal. Graduate applicants pay a $75 (₹ 7,163) fee on the Lehman portal instead.
4. Upload Class XII marksheets (UG) or Bachelor’s marksheets and degree certificate (PG), all translated to English.
5. Submit a WES or ECE credential evaluation for foreign transcripts - required for graduate applicants.
6. Send English-test scores directly from the test provider - IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 61, or Duolingo 85, dated within the last two years.
7. Add supplemental items: statement of purpose or 500-word career-objective essay, two or three letters of recommendation (PG), and CV.
8. Track your decision on the applicant portal - CUNY sends freshman decisions from 1 March for the Fall priority round.

Before you apply: Foreign transcripts must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis and equated to a US Bachelor’s — WES is the CUNY-preferred agency and turnarounds run 4 to 6 weeks. Start this before you file, not after.

Lehman College Admission Decisions

CUNY sends freshman decisions from 1 March for the Fall priority round and continues on a rolling basis until seats fill. International UG applicants who file by 1 December 2026 typically hear back by early February 2027. Graduate decisions arrive programme by programme, usually 4 to 8 weeks after a complete file lands. Once admitted, you accept the offer, pay the enrolment deposit, and Lehman’s international office issues an I-20 within 2 to 4 weeks.

• Freshman priority decisions: from 1 March 2027 for Fall entry.
• Graduate decisions: 4 to 8 weeks after your file is complete.
• I-20 issuance: 2 to 4 weeks after enrolment deposit clears.
• Deferral policy: one-semester deferral considered on written request; talk to Undergraduate Admissions before declining.

Lehman Documents Required

Every applicant uploads a paperwork bundle before the reader review begins. The items below are the CUNY and Lehman common set for international freshmen, transfers, and graduate applicants from India.

• Passport: bio-data page, valid at least six months beyond intended stay.
• Certified transcripts: Class XII marksheets and pass certificate (UG); Bachelor’s marksheets and degree certificate (PG).
• Credential evaluation report: WES, ECE, or equivalent course-by-course report — required for PG and for any UG applicant with foreign schooling beyond Class XII.
• English-proficiency score report: IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo, sent directly by the testing service.
• Statement of Purpose / career-objective essay: around 500 words for PG applicants, focused on academic fit and post-degree plans.
• Letters of Recommendation: two or three from academic or professional referees, PG only.
• Resume or CV: required for most PG programmes except select teacher-certification tracks.
• Passport-style photograph: recent, matching passport specifications.
• Financial documentation: bank statements or an affidavit of support showing enough for one year’s tuition plus living costs, needed for the I-20.
• Application fee receipt: from the CUNY portal (UG) or Lehman portal (PG).

Lehman College Acceptance Rate

Lehman’s freshman acceptance rate is about 57 percent, per the US News CUNY-Lehman profile. That places it in the moderately selective band for CUNY senior colleges, ahead of open-access community colleges but easier than Baruch or Hunter. Indian applicants with Class XII around 70 percent and IELTS 6.0 are competitive candidates for most departments.

What the 57 percent Really Means

The figure is the share of freshman applicants offered admission — it is not an admit-to-enrol yield. Applicants with strong Class XII scores and a completed English test tend to sit comfortably above the median. See the full ranking band and US News position on the Ranking page.

USA Student Visa Process

Indian students admitted to Lehman College need an F-1 student visa to study in the US. After receiving the I-20, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $350, complete the DS-160, pay the $185 visa fee, and schedule biometrics and the visa interview at a US consulate in India.

For the interview, carry your I-20, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS receipt, admission letter, academic transcripts, English-test score, and financial documents. Your funds should cover at least the first year’s tuition and living expenses. After arriving, complete the required check-in with Lehman’s International Student Services within 30 days of your I-20 start date.

2026 update: US consulates in India continue to offer interview waivers for eligible F-1 renewals but require in-person interviews for first-time F-1 applicants. Book your slot at least 8 to 10 weeks before Lehman’s programme start date.

• US Student Visa Requirements: Cost, Application & Process
• US Student Visa Types: Differences Between J, M and F Visa
• Common US Student Visa Rejection Reason

Lehman offers Indian students a moderately selective, teaching-led route into CUNY with lower fees than most private New York colleges and a straightforward two-intake calendar. Fall 2027 international undergraduate applications close 1 December 2026 and remain the primary window for most Indian entrants. Graduate applicants have rolling access via the Lehman portal, and the 57 percent acceptance rate keeps the file odds favourable for well-prepared candidates.