Lenoir-Rhyne University — College Profile

About

Located in Hickory, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a premier private liberal arts institution best known for its exceptional programs in the health sciences—such as nursing, occupational therapy, and physician assistant studies—as well as highly regarded majors in business and education. On campus, students enjoy a tight-knit, welcoming community that thrives on collaborative learning, active participation in NCAA Division II athletics, and a strong tradition of community service. What truly sets Lenoir-Rhyne apart is its dedication to personalized mentorship, highlighted by an intimate 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and its "Engaged Learning" framework, which ensures every undergraduate participates in hands-on internships, research, or study abroad before graduation.

Wikipedia:Lenoir–Rhyne University is a private university in Hickory, North Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1891 and is affiliated with the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Location

Hickory, NC, 28601 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

RDU · Raleigh-Durham

143 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$31,900

Housing & food (on campus)$13,400

Books & supplies$1,360

Cost of attendance$62,610

Average net price$20,689

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$31,900

Housing & food (on campus)$13,400

Books & supplies$1,360

Cost of attendance$62,610

Average net price$20,689

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.lr.edu

How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27

Lenoir-Rhyne University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$44,200

Housing$13,800

Books & supplies$1,360

Total published by the school$62,610

Source: www.lr.edu · checked Sep 30, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$18,669

$30–48k

$18,768

$48–75k

$17,209

$75–110k

$21,878

$110k+

$25,866

Your family's actual price → Lenoir-Rhyne University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Merit aid · 2025-26

Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.

Average award$13,800

Share of first-years who get one21%

Source: Lenoir-Rhyne University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

49%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

35%

Back for yr 2

76%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

50% graduated · 27% transferred · 23% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$44,799

10 yrs after entry$45,543

Debt

Median at graduation$26,000

Monthly payment$276

Middle 50% owe$6.5k–$27k

90th percentile$36,000

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

85%

Test policy

Not required

Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

How much essays count at Lenoir-Rhyne University: Important (one of four levels: very important · important · considered · not considered)

Source: Lenoir-Rhyne University's Common Data Set for 2025-26 — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).

If Lenoir-Rhyne University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 47%Women 53%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

15 : 1

Pell grant

39%

First-gen

32%

Family income

$44,652

Independent

10%

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

61%

Hispanic

Black

14%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Other Sports
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$44,799

After 10 yrs

$45,543

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing49

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness40

Finance and Financial Management Services23

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods23

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods22

Psychology, General21

Biology, General19

Accounting and Related Services13

Human Services, General12

Physics10

Public Health8

Marketing8

Natural Resources Conservation and Research7

Communication and Media Studies7

Information Science/Studies7

Political Science and Government6

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$136M

Full-time faculty

100%

Faculty salary

$7,780/mo

Teaching spend

$10,703

per student

Federal loans

56%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Undergraduate profile

Four-year, selective admissions

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