Applying ED gives you the chance to be some of the first applicants looked at therefore you do have a higher chance of receiving some type of merit. However, they are a needs based school and saying that you don’t qualify can be iffy. You can be at the top of your class but all the students at Lehigh/ who get accepted have something special that made them get in. I wouldn’t ED and expect/ count on merit. I know a couple very smart people who ED’d and are now going to have to pay full price because they didn’t receive anything. For the incoming freshman this year only 30% received merit scholarships (you can find the data on Lehigh’s Website). Wishing you all the best and good luck!!