Colleges › North Carolina › Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University says yes to 84.6% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $45,543 median earnings.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Lenoir-Rhyne University sits in Hickory proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Evangelical Lutheran Church affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $78,839 four years out. 39.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,359 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.5% of first-years come back for a second year.
Lenoir-Rhyne University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Lenoir-Rhyne University received 6,299 applications and admitted 5,082 (80.7%), with 377 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Lenoir-Rhyne University's 84.6% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Lenoir-Rhyne University compares
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | North Carolina median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 84.6% | 75.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $31,900 | $19,500 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $45,543 | $45,873 | $53,781 |
At $45,543, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($45,873). Look at Lenoir-Rhyne University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $31,900 regardless of where you're from. At Lenoir-Rhyne University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,359 — Lenoir-Rhyne University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
47.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 52% don't — ask a Lenoir-Rhyne University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Lenoir-Rhyne University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,839 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $53,609 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $44,131 |
Median earnings for these 3 Lenoir-Rhyne University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $45,543 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 41 additional Lenoir-Rhyne University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Lenoir-Rhyne University?
Lenoir-Rhyne University doesn't look at test scores; its 84.6% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Lenoir-Rhyne University's acceptance rate?
80.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,082 admitted from 6,299 applicants.
How much does Lenoir-Rhyne University cost?
At Lenoir-Rhyne University, published tuition is $31,900 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Lenoir-Rhyne University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Lenoir-Rhyne University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $45,543 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in North Carolina
- Lees-McRae College — 76.8% admitted
- Mars Hill University — 67.9% admitted
- Meredith College — 74.2% admitted
- Methodist University — 75.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.