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Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory, North Carolina · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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Official website

At a glance

Average net price
$20,689What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
85%
Graduation rate
49%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,359
In-state tuition
$31,900Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$31,900
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$45,543Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$20,689

Better than 63% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

49%

Better than 32% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$45,543

Better than 24% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$44,621

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$20,689

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Lenoir-Rhyne University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time49%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return76%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$45,543

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Lenoir-Rhyne University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$64,84649
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$45,53423
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,61022
Human Services, General$32,73212
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$22,69540
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported23
Psychology, GeneralNot reported21
Biology, GeneralNot reported19
Accounting and Related ServicesNot reported13
PhysicsNot reported10
MarketingNot reported8
Public HealthNot reported8
Information Science/StudiesNot reported7
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported7
Communication and Media StudiesNot reported7
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported6
HistoryNot reported5
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reported5
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsNot reported5
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported5
Health/Medical Preparatory ProgramsNot reported5
SociologyNot reported4
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported3
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported3
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reported3
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported3
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported3
International BusinessNot reported2
MusicNot reported2
EconomicsNot reported2
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported2
MathematicsNot reported2
Religious Music and WorshipNot reported1
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot reported1
ChemistryNot reported1
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported1
PhilosophyNot reported1
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Area StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported

All 44 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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