• LR ALERT: Campus Email Restored

    November 13, 2026, 7:45 a.m.: Microsoft 365 services appear to have been restored following yesterday's widespread outage. Some users may continue to experience intermittent issues as services stabilize. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

LR at a Glance

Fast Facts


Students walking along campus sidewalk with LR red banners on light posts

Lenoir-Rhyne is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. 

University Information


  • Founded in 1891 by four Lutheran pastors
  • Three locations: Hickory, N.C.; Asheville, N.C.; Columbia, S.C.
  • Motto: Veritas vos Liberabit (the truth shall set you free)
  • Alma mater: “Fair Star of Caroline”
  • Mission, vision and values
More About Lenoir-Rhyne

Student Body


  • 2,230+ students
  • 1,477 undergraduate (on-campus in Hickory, N.C.)
  • 753 graduate (on-campus and online)
  • Student distribution: 39 states/territories; 75 North Carolina counties; 29 countries
  • $30+ million awarded in scholarships and financial aid annually
  • $200,000+ in study abroad scholarships for LR students
  • 17,643+ living alumni (undergraduate and graduate degree holders) from all 50 states and many countries around the globe

In the Classroom


  • Majors Offered: 45+
  • Minors: 53
  • Graduate Programs: 20
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1
  • Average class size: 22
  • Faculty: 127 full time; more than 80% hold terminal degrees
Explore Our Academic Programs

Athletics


  • Mascot: Joe Bear
  • Conferences: South Atlantic Conference
  • Affiliation: NCAA Division II
  • Teams: 23
Explore Bears Sports
Santiago Ambroggio

One thing I like here is that you get a lot of options. Since LR is a small school, you get a chance to be a part of everything. You can be part of many groups. Being engaged for me is a big deal.

Santiago Ambroggio '19, MBA '21
Liz Graham at a museum with large silver wire sculpture behind her

Through the Lutheran College Washington Semester, Liz Graham ’27 is gaining practical experience in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation through a national advocacy organization.

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Womens lacrosse players surround stacks of cans in a rectangle

Seven student teams turned canned goods into creative sculptures during LR’s inaugural Homecoming Canstruction competition, collecting 842 cans of food for the campus food pantry.

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