Lipscomb University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Nashville, Tennessee. It enrolls 2,997 students (a mid-sized 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
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes78
Value30
Affordability29
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.7%, Lipscomb University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1160 – 1380
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Lipscomb University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lipscomb 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 $24,739 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,739
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
29%
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
$40,572
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,424
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,170
Books & Supplies
$1,700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,117
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$20,048
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,009
$48,001 – $75,000
$24,124
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,210
Over $110,000
$31,265
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.
$4,00010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $19,500
—
No Pell $13,000
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $17,904
↓ $1,596
Independent students $12,500
↓ $7,000
Female students $15,000
↓ $4,500
Male students $15,750
↓ $3,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
67% of full-time students who enrolled at Lipscomb University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
67%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lipscomb University earn a median of $55,541 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,541
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$44,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$53,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,800, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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 ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lipscomb University is home to 2,997 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,997
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 65.7%1,968
Hispanic 13.5%404
Black 7.2%216
Other 3.6%109
International 3.4%102
Asian 3.1%93
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lipscomb University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNashville, Tennessee
Housing
Mostly residential1,600 beds on campus
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lipscomb University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
107 distinct programs across
26 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 Lipscomb University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$203M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$79,237
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
246 instructional faculty across 5 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
59
24%
$90,215
Associate Professors
76
31%
$83,670
Assistant Professors
93
38%
$72,648
Instructors
15
6%
$61,266
Lecturers
3
1%
$45,093
Pros & Cons of Lipscomb University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lipscomb University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Lipscomb University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lipscomb University.
Is Lipscomb University hard to get into?
Admissions at Lipscomb University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lipscomb University?
Lipscomb University has an acceptance rate of 67.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Lipscomb University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lipscomb University scored between 1160 and 1380 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Lipscomb University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Lipscomb University scored between 23 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Lipscomb University cost?
The average net price after aid at Lipscomb University is $24,739 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lipscomb University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,541 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,739 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lipscomb University known for?
Lipscomb University is best known for its programs in Teaching ESL, Curriculum & Instruction, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lipscomb University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lipscomb University are $55,541, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lipscomb University accredited?
Yes. Lipscomb University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Lipscomb University?
Lipscomb University enrolls 2,997 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lipscomb University?
Lipscomb University graduates 67% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lipscomb University a public or private college?
Lipscomb University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lipscomb University located?
Lipscomb University is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
What programs does Lipscomb University offer?
Lipscomb University offers 107 distinct programs. The most popular include Teaching ESL, Curriculum & Instruction, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lipscomb University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lipscomb University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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