Lincoln University
#3 Best HBCUs for Communications- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,167 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,977 C+
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 66% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 20.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best HBCUs for Communications.
Every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,183,416.
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 $20.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lincoln University Matters
Lincoln University is a public university in Lincoln University, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,539
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Communications
Why students choose Lincoln 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
Competitive — admits about 66% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 820–960. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,977 a year after grants and scholarships — 13% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,167 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $28,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 91% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.45 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lincoln University has around 1,539 students and a 66% acceptance rate, making it a welcoming option for those looking for a supportive environment. This school is particularly suited for students interested in health professions, business and marketing, criminal justice, communications, and social sciences. The diverse program offerings can help you explore various career paths while getting a solid educational foundation.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $43,167 on average within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for a decent return on your investment in education. While the graduation rate stands at 48%, it’s crucial to consider that many students here are working hard to balance studies and life, which can impact their completion timelines. It’s important to weigh this alongside the affordability of Lincoln University, where many students benefit from financial aid, particularly with a 69% Pell Grant rate.
When it comes to the bottom line, the net price after aid is approximately $14,977, and the median debt for graduates is around $28,250. This suggests that while financing your education here may require some commitment, many students can manage this with the right planning. Students who thrive at Lincoln University often take advantage of the supportive community, engage actively in their programs, and are motivated to succeed despite challenges.
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.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lincoln University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 920. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Retention Rate
- 73%
- SAT Average
- 920
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 820–960
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,580
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.29
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 6,699
- Admitted
- 5,400
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 $19,384, 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 $14,977. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,011 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $12,512
- Out-of-State
- $19,384
- Avg Net Price
- $14,977
- Median Debt
- $28,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 69%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 79%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,011
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,000
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,641
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,303
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.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lincoln University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lincoln University report median earnings of $43,167, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,865
- 8 Years
- $42,416
- 10 Years
- $43,167
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.65x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (90)
- 30%
- 100% (90)
- 30%
- 100% (90)
- 30%
- 100% (90)
- 30%
How Lincoln 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 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 $14,977/year ($59,908 total). Graduates earn $43,167 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,243,324 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,183,416 (20.8× your investment). The median debt is $28,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $59,908
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,243,324
- Net Return
- $1,183,416
- ROI Multiple
- 20.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,977
- Median Debt
- $28,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
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 Lincoln University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lincoln University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.71%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $111,138
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $9,124
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.
- Health Professions 19% $77,592 early-career
- Business & Marketing 12% $35,702 early-career
- Psychology 10% $49,799 early-career
- Communications 10% $43,787 early-career
- Criminal Justice 9% $38,698 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $23,930 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $35,498 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $52,737 early-career
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 Lincoln 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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lincoln University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 920. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lincoln University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lincoln University is $19,384, 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 $14,977. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,011 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $28,250 in federal student loans.
Is Lincoln University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lincoln University report median earnings of $43,167, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Lincoln University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lincoln University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.71%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lincoln 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 Lincoln University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lincoln University.
- Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, AL · Close peer38% grad $43,457 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · Close peer48% grad $42,386 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Asbury UniversityWilmore, KY · Close peer65% grad $42,368 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Southwest Baptist UniversityBolivar, MO · Close peer53% grad $43,112 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam, NY · Close peer47% grad $47,866 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC · Close peer55% grad $43,035 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lincoln 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 Lincoln University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note