Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #1070 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,739 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 69.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Lenoir-Rhyne University sits in the 32.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Lenoir-Rhyne University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across Azimuth's pillars, with graduates achieving meaningful financial outcomes relative to similar institutions. The university's earnings profile combines above-expectation performance with solid median earnings four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #1070 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Hickory, North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne University enrolls roughly 1,359 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 47.8%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Lenoir-Rhyne University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #758 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,711, and Lenoir-Rhyne University earn about $2,739 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 69.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program portfolio — with Business as the dominant field — aligns with strong early-career outcomes and employer demand in the region. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Lenoir-Rhyne University sits in the 35.4 percentile for access and the 38.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 39.2% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.7% first-generation, the institution serves a meaningful share of cost-conscious students, though the composite reflects the pricing pressures typical of private nonprofit institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 10.8 percentile, indicating moderate upward movement for graduates relative to peer institutions.
Lenoir-Rhyne University's published cost of attendance is $44,621. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $18,669, middle-income families pay around $17,209, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,866. Azimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #876 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lenoir-Rhyne University uses need-based financial aid to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply using the FAFSA and may qualify for federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid. The aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,711, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a good fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Hickory, NC. The university's program mix is concentrated in Business, which represents 24% of degrees. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,711, placing Lenoir-Rhyne University in the 32.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $2,739 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 69.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a notable share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $25,866, and typical federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 84.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business-oriented fields. Students whose interests align with those areas will find strong outcomes relative to NC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Lenoir-Rhyne University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
56 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
47 graduates
Psychology, General
14 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
29 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
12 graduates
Lenoir-Rhyne University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private regional university serving the Hickory, North Carolina market. Nursing is the largest program with 56 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Biology, General, and Digital Marketing.
The Business concentration — accounting for a substantial share of degrees — positions the institution as a pipeline into applied business and professional careers in the region. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in business-adjacent and professional fields.
Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $78,839 four years after enrollment with 56 graduates, while Kinesiology delivers median earnings of $53,609 and Teacher Education reaches $44,131. These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles and see earnings growth aligned with regional labor-market conditions.
The program portfolio emphasizes applied professional preparation over research-intensive or grad-school-dependent pathways. This orientation supports students seeking clear, predictable career transitions into business, management, and professional-services roles in the Southeast.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Lenoir-Rhyne University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lenoir-Rhyne University's published cost of attendance is $44,621. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $18,669, middle-income families pay around $17,209, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,866.
Azimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #876 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Lenoir-Rhyne University uses need-based financial aid to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply using the FAFSA and may qualify for federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid.
The aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,711, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Lenoir-Rhyne University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,711, placing Lenoir-Rhyne University in the 32.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,739 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lenoir-Rhyne University in the 69.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lenoir-Rhyne University #758 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a trajectory where graduates see meaningful earnings growth in the early career years, contributing to solid long-term financial returns relative to the cost of attendance.
The earnings pattern is anchored in Business, which represents the institution's primary focus and drives much of the return story. Nursing is the largest program with 56 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $78,839, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Kinesiology program graduates 47 students earning median 4-year earnings of $53,609, at 1.0x the benchmark. Additional programs including Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Biology, General, and Digital Marketing round out the portfolio, collectively shaping graduate outcomes across applied professional and business-focused fields.
The concentration in Business aligns with regional labor-market demand in North Carolina, where employers actively recruit graduates into stable, career-track positions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alice Lloyd College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29408 ranked) | KY | 75% | $40,573 | #29408 | Compare |
Warner University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29409 ranked) | FL | 43% | $46,086 | #29409 | Compare |
Drake University Similar quality tier (#29405 ranked) | IA | 64% | $71,901 | #29405 | Compare |
Judson University Similar quality tier (#29403 ranked) | IL | 48% | $56,313 | #29403 | Compare |
Friends University Similar quality tier (#29399 ranked) | KS | 55% | $52,113 | #29399 | Compare |
