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Hickory , NC
Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU) is a private liberal arts institution located in Hickory, North Carolina. Founded in 1891, the university offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, LRU delivers an intimate and personalized education experience, fostering strong relationships between students and professors.
LRU prides itself on its commitment to intellectual growth, social responsibility, and personal development. The university's academic programs encompass over 50 majors and minors, including business, education, health sciences, humanities, sciences, and more. The curriculum is designed to promote critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving skills, ensuring students are equipped with a well-rounded education to excel in their chosen fields.
Beyond the classroom, LRU offers a vibrant campus life that encourages student involvement and engagement. Students can participate in over 80 student clubs and organizations, including academic, cultural, and special interest groups. Athletics also play a significant role at LRU, with the Bears competing in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference. The university's commitment to holistic student development is further exemplified by community service and leadership opportunities, creating well-rounded graduates prepared for success in their careers and their communities.
Located in Hickory, NC and set in an urban environment, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 84%. The freshman retention rate at Lenoir-Rhyne University is 76% and the six-year graduation rate is 48%.
To find out more about what Lenoir-Rhyne University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,472
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$32,000
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
48%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly increase. How difficult is it to get admitted to Lenoir-Rhyne University and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 3,100 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.4. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Lenoir-Rhyne University was 76% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 48%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 2,256 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 21% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,472, 98 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 133 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 735 male and 1,019 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality. There were 113 full-time graduate male and 426 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 26, while the number of African American students was 190. 120 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 56 identified with more than one race. There were also 37 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Lenoir-Rhyne University estimated tuition price.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $32,000 in 2025. As this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,000.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to consider is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,360.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Lenoir-Rhyne University amounted to $13,600 a year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 32,000 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,600 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,360 |
| Total Expense | $ 46,960 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
According to the most recent data, 317 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $35,205 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
1,128 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,136. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $3,268,914, and state $4,286,384. The students of Lenoir-Rhyne University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $23,475,415, and external in the amount of $636,747.
$21,852
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
156 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. 43 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,767,017. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $230,065 USD.
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Lenoir-Rhyne University was 13:1. That means that there were 13 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 111. This number included 52 men and 59 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Lenoir-Rhyne University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
It has a campus size of 100 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
According to the most recent information, there are 58 open-membership organizations at Lenoir-Rhyne University. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 9 and female students 13. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is SEEDS of LRU, followed by Greek Organizations and Black Student Alliance. Other popular organizations among the students at Lenoir-Rhyne University are CAB and InterVarsity.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Lenoir-Rhyne University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Lenoir-Rhyne University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Lenoir-Rhyne University has a number of services vital for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
All in all, campus life at Lenoir-Rhyne University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Career Counselling
At Lenoir-Rhyne University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Lenoir-Rhyne University is located in Hickory, NC.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Lenoir-Rhyne University is 32,000 USD a year.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Lenoir-Rhyne University is 84%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Lenoir-Rhyne University is 76%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
