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Lincoln University

Public Jefferson City, MO · Urban · Plains · 87% data
B- Diversity C Earnings C- Affordability
Graduation Rate
22% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$39,463 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$19,092 C-
Close to the national average
Enrollment
1,392
Earnings -3% vs avg
Graduation -62% vs avg
Net Price 11% vs avg

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years.

13.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $943,638.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Lincoln University

Lincoln University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
1,392
Setting
Urban
Designations
HBCU
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology

Why students choose Lincoln University

Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 61% overall
C
Earnings
$39,463 median
C-
Value
2.1× net price
C-
Affordability
$19,092/yr net
F
Graduation
22% graduate
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of just 1,392 students, Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO, caters to those looking for a more intimate college experience. It appeals to students interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, and Humanities. The smaller campus environment can foster close relationships with faculty, which is crucial for hands-on learning and mentorship.

When we look at post-graduation outcomes, the average earnings after 10 years sit at $39,463. That’s a solid starting point for many graduates, especially considering the affordability of the education here. While the graduation rate is on the lower side at 22%, many students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease financial burdens and make college more accessible for those in need.

In terms of costs, the net price after aid is around $19,092, and the median debt upon graduation is $28,875. This financial landscape means that students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and are determined to succeed despite challenges. Those who take advantage of the support systems in place, including grants and personal connections with faculty, tend to navigate their educational journey more successfully.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Lincoln University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lincoln University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Jefferson City, Missouri, Lincoln University enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

Retention Rate
60%
Full-Time Faculty
72%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,626
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.66
First-Gen Students
38%

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 Lincoln University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Lincoln University is $17,692, 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 $19,092. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,070 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,875 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$9,796
Out-of-State
$17,692
Avg Net Price
$19,092
Median Debt
$28,875
Pell Grant Rate
49%
Federal Loan Rate
44%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$20,070
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,313
Family Income $48K–$75K
$18,287
Family Income $110K+
$19,984

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 Lincoln University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Lincoln University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lincoln University report median earnings of $39,463, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$32,185
8 Years
$36,168
10 Years
$39,463
Debt-to-Earnings
0.73x
Earning > $25K
49%

Earnings Trajectory

$32,185 6yr $36,168 8yr $39,463 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (59)
12%
100% (59)
12%
100% (59)
12%
100% (59)
12%

How Lincoln Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation22%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$19KRetention60%Median Debt$29KPell Grant Rate49%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$20K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$18K$48-75K$20K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Lincoln University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Lincoln University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,092/year ($76,368 total). Graduates earn $39,463 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,020,006 in total earnings — a net gain of $943,638 (13.4× your investment). The median debt is $28,875, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$76,368
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,020,006
Net Return
$943,638
ROI Multiple
13.4×
Cost Per Year
$19,092
Median Debt
$28,875
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
22%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$2,852,874
Federal Grants
$245,470
Investment Income
$-695,246

Top Programs

The fields Lincoln 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lincoln University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Jefferson City, Missouri, Lincoln University enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lincoln University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Lincoln University is $17,692, 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 $19,092. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,070 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,875 in federal student loans.

Is Lincoln University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lincoln University report median earnings of $39,463, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lincoln University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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