Lenoir-Rhyne University

Private · Moderately Selective · NC

Photo: Lespagee (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationNC · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,359

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate35.5%

6-yr grad rate47.8%

Drop-out rate24.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$32k

Out-of-state tuition$32k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity39.2%

Gender diversity53.4%

International7.2%

IdentityEvangelical Lutheran Church

Overview

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a Lutheran-affiliated university in Hickory, North Carolina, in the state's western foothills near the Blue Ridge Mountains. It combines a small, residential campus feel with a health-sciences focus that has grown substantially in recent years, positioning the university as a regional draw for clinical and allied-health careers.

Academics

Health sciences, education, and business are the clearest strengths, with health sciences in particular expanding through graduate-level clinical programs that also create undergraduate pipeline opportunities. Faculty accessibility is a consistent feature given the university's modest size.

Campus & student life

The Hickory campus is compact and residential, with Division II athletics giving campus life a traditional college-sports rhythm, and the foothills setting supports easy access to outdoor recreation in the nearby mountains.

Getting in

Admission is holistic and moderately accessible, with health-sciences applicants often signaling clear program interest given the sequenced, clinically oriented curriculum in those tracks.

After graduation

Health sciences graduates find strong regional clinical placement, and the university's growing graduate health programs support continued study for undergraduates who want to stay within the same institution.

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Admissions

Acceptance rate84.6%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying