Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Graduation Rate
- 49% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,543 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $20,689 C-
- 21% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 85% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $843,729.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lenoir-Rhyne University Matters
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private university in Hickory, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,359
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 39
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Lenoir-Rhyne University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 85% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,689 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,543 ten years after enrolling — 12% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 64% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.37 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,359 students and an acceptance rate of 85%, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a welcoming choice for those seeking a supportive academic environment. Here, students can dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Education, among others. This school particularly suits individuals who thrive in smaller settings and appreciate a community-oriented approach to learning.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $45,543 on average within ten years. This figure gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment. While the graduation rate stands at 49%, many find their footing in the workforce, especially those who engage deeply in their studies and take advantage of networking opportunities. The affordability factor is also worth noting, with a significant portion of students receiving Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden.
In terms of cost, the net price after aid is about $20,689, and the median debt upon graduation is $26,000. This financial layout makes it relatively manageable for students, especially when compared to the earnings potential. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who are proactive, willing to engage with faculty, and interested in leveraging the university's resources to build their careers.
Rankings
- #12 Best Psychology Colleges in North Carolina
- #22 Best Business Colleges in North Carolina
- #23 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #25 Best Computer Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #25 Best Data Science Colleges in North Carolina
- #30 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #30 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
- #34 Best Biology Colleges in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Lenoir-Rhyne University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lenoir-Rhyne University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hickory, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,780
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
- Applicants
- 5,452
- Admitted
- 4,519
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lenoir-Rhyne University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lenoir-Rhyne University is $31,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,689. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,669 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $31,900
- Out-of-State
- $31,900
- Avg Net Price
- $20,689
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 56%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,669
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,768
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,209
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,866
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lenoir-Rhyne University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lenoir-Rhyne University earn a median of $45,543, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,799
- 8 Years
- $48,452
- 10 Years
- $45,543
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.57x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (127)
- 37%
- 100% (127)
- 37%
- 100% (127)
- 37%
- 100% (127)
- 37%
How Lenoir-Rhyne Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lenoir-Rhyne University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,689/year ($82,756 total). Graduates earn $45,543 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $926,485 in total earnings — a net gain of $843,729 (11.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 49% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,756
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $926,485
- Net Return
- $843,729
- ROI Multiple
- 11.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,689
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 49%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Lenoir-Rhyne University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.22%, well above the typical college. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.22%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 20.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $124,452
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,918,592
- Investment Income
- $588,126
Top Programs
The fields Lenoir-Rhyne University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 24% $58,042 early-career
- Health Professions 14% $57,348 early-career
- Education 7% $50,183 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6%
- Psychology 6%
- Social Sciences 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lenoir-Rhyne University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lenoir-Rhyne University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Hickory, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lenoir-Rhyne University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lenoir-Rhyne University is $31,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,689. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,669 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Lenoir-Rhyne University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lenoir-Rhyne University earn a median of $45,543, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Lenoir-Rhyne University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.22%, well above the typical college. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 20% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lenoir-Rhyne University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lenoir-Rhyne University.
- Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · Close peer50% grad $48,382 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of MobileMobile, AL · Close peer56% grad $43,611 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL · Close peer62% grad $45,399 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Muskingum UniversityNew Concord, OH · Close peer55% grad $48,440 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Carolina Wesleyan UniversityRocky Mount, NC · Close peer41% grad $45,873 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Mount Aloysius CollegeCresson, PA · Close peer56% grad $46,165 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lenoir-Rhyne University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note