Lenoir-Rhyne University
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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, Biology & Biomedical, Education
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 85% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 49%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Lenoir-Rhyne University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $31,900 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,689 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,669 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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 national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Lenoir-Rhyne University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lenoir-Rhyne University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lenoir-Rhyne University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Hickory, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 85% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lenoir-Rhyne University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Lenoir-Rhyne University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $31,900 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $20,689 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,669 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,000.
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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.37 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.37 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note