Lyon College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Batesville, Arkansas. It enrolls 648 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.
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
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes27
Value31
Affordability61
Selectivity61
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 62.8%, Lyon College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
62.8%
Moderate
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 Lyon College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
21.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Lyon College 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 $19,616 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,616
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
64%
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
$31,000
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,750
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,750
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,978
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
$16,084
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,695
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,348
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,936
Over $110,000
$23,391
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$24,72075%percentile
$27,00090%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 $11,000
↓ $10,500
No Pell $8,623
↓ $12,877
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $10,500
Independent students $7,500
↓ $14,000
Female students $13,761
↓ $7,739
Male students $8,373
↓ $13,127
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
44% of full-time students who enrolled at Lyon College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lyon College earn a median of $44,232 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,232
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$36,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,100, about 30% 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.
Stable ↓
1.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lyon College is home to 648 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 30% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
648
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 33.3%216
International 7.9%51
Black 7.4%48
Hispanic 6.5%42
Asian 1.4%9
Other 1.2%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lyon College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBatesville, Arkansas
Housing
Mostly residential436 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Lyon College offers
a varied set of programs:
19 distinct programs across
12 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 Lyon College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$59M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$54,151
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
50 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
9
18%
$55,992
Associate Professors
19
38%
$58,102
Assistant Professors
20
40%
$51,159
Instructors
2
4%
$38,250
Pros & Cons of Lyon College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lyon College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Lyon College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lyon College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lyon College.
Is Lyon College hard to get into?
Admissions at Lyon College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 62.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lyon College?
Lyon College has an acceptance rate of 62.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lyon College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lyon College is $19,616 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lyon College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,232 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,616 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lyon College known for?
Lyon College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Kinesiology, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lyon College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lyon College are $44,232, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lyon College accredited?
Yes. Lyon College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lyon College?
Lyon College enrolls 648 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lyon College?
Lyon College graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lyon College a public or private college?
Lyon College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Lyon College located?
Lyon College is located in Batesville, Arkansas.
What programs does Lyon College offer?
Lyon College offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Kinesiology, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lyon College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lyon College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Arkansas
Other colleges in Arkansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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