Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hickory, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,359 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value28
Affordability57
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 84.6%, Lenoir-Rhyne University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
84.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lenoir-Rhyne University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lenoir-Rhyne University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,689 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,689
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$31,900
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,400
Books & Supplies
$1,360
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,250
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,621
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,669
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,768
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,209
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,878
Over $110,000
$25,866
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,750
↓ $9,250
No Pell $15,000
↓ $11,000
Dependent students $15,340
↓ $10,660
Independent students $20,000
↓ $6,000
Female students $16,187
↓ $9,813
Male students $14,652
↓ $11,348
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
47% of full-time students who enrolled at Lenoir-Rhyne University graduate within six years, and 73% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
47%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
73%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lenoir-Rhyne University earn a median of $45,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,543
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lenoir-Rhyne University is home to 1,359 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,359
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.8%826
Black 14.0%190
Hispanic 8.8%120
International 7.2%98
Other 4.6%62
Asian 1.9%26
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityHickory, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential1,017 beds for 1,359 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lenoir-Rhyne University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lenoir-Rhyne University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$213M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,792
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
127 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
29%
$78,567
Associate Professors
33
26%
$70,915
Assistant Professors
43
34%
$63,511
Instructors
14
11%
$63,250
Pros & Cons of Lenoir-Rhyne University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lenoir-Rhyne University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lenoir-Rhyne University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University hard to get into?
Lenoir-Rhyne University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Lenoir-Rhyne University?
Lenoir-Rhyne University has an acceptance rate of 84.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lenoir-Rhyne University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lenoir-Rhyne University is $20,689 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,689 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lenoir-Rhyne University known for?
Lenoir-Rhyne University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Rehabilitation, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lenoir-Rhyne University are $45,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University accredited?
Yes. Lenoir-Rhyne University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lenoir-Rhyne University?
Lenoir-Rhyne University enrolls 1,359 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lenoir-Rhyne University?
Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates 47% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University a public or private college?
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lenoir-Rhyne University located?
Lenoir-Rhyne University is located in Hickory, North Carolina.
What programs does Lenoir-Rhyne University offer?
Lenoir-Rhyne University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Rehabilitation, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lenoir-Rhyne University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lenoir-Rhyne University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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