@lehighhawkdad “their yield is about 32%, so 488 fewer admits would yield 156 fewer student to the class… 1,093 in class of 2020 compared to 1,250 class of 2019…sounds like a lot for an class that size.”
Right, but say they admitted 100 more ED. That would increase the total by 68 students to 1161. That would make the class a little smaller but close to the right size. Then they could fill in any gap from the waitlist. That would imply that they may have actually reduced the pre-waitlist admit rate may actually be 25.5%.
If I were them I would want the rate under 30%, if possible, because in some rankings that is the dividing line for Highly Selective or Most Selective or whatever the term is. If that makes the school more attractive to some to students during their search and selection process, then it is helpful to Lehigh admissions.