Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University Lenoir-Rhyne is a private liberal arts institution with locations in Hickory, NC; Asheville, NC & Columbia, SC. Extracurricular activities are abundant at LRU.
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Founded in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University is celebrating 125 years of providing exceptional higher education opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The private, coeducational, liberal arts university encompasses three campuses in two states: a primary campus extending over 100-acres in the heart of Hickory, North Carolina, the Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville, NC, and the Ce

nter for Graduate Studies of Columbia, SC which shares a campus with the LR Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS). Today, more than 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled across the three campuses. This past academic year, LR welcomed its largest freshmen class, largest number of international students as well as its largest graduate classes at its Hickory and Asheville campuses in school history. The student to faculty ratio is 13:1, and there are over 50 undergraduate majors and 26 graduate programs for students to choose from. Recently added majors include criminal justice and social entrepreneurship, as well as graduate programs in exercise science and physician assistant studies. The challenging academic course work is supported by internships, mentor opportunities, work study, and study abroad programs designed to enhance the learning experience. Academic honor societies and organizations โ€“ such as the Lineberger Fellows โ€“ offer additional opportunities to challenge the intellectually gifted. LR competes in the South Atlantic Conference of the NCAA Division II in 22 varsity sports for men and women. Recreational sports, fraternities and sororities, service organizations, music and theater programs, student government, and faith-based groups are just some of avenues that allow students to pursue their passions. Lenoir-Rhyne is affiliated with the NC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and welcomes students from all religious denominations and backgrounds. At Lenoir-Rhyne University, we encourage thoughtful and insightful conversation from students, faculty, staff, family, alumni, and the community. We will delete comments that contain abusive, vulgar, offensive, threatening or harassing language, personal attacks of any kind, or offensive terms that target individuals or groups. Users who have a continued pattern of negative or disruptive behavior on Lenoir-Rhyne social media accounts may be banned from the pages and reported to the host site.

09/04/2026

A behind-the-scenes look at the Bear Brigade shirts coming to life with the help of Innovative Outfitters. ๐Ÿป๐Ÿˆ

We canโ€™t wait to see the Bear Brigade charge across the field tomorrow before we take on West Alabama at 3 p.m.!

Meet Ethan Craig โ€™30. He hasnโ€™t even finished his third week of college, and he already has a museum internship โ€” and a ...
09/02/2026

Meet Ethan Craig โ€™30. He hasnโ€™t even finished his third week of college, and he already has a museum internship โ€” and a story about bestselling author Jan Karonโ€™s first haircut โ€” under his belt.

After spending his summer learning the ins and outs of museum curation at the Mitford Museum in Hudson, N.C., the art major is bringing his curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm for community to LR.

โ€œI just want to go in with curiosity. I want to learn as much as I can. I want to improve as much as I can.โ€

Ethan is going to fit right in.

Read the full story with the link in the comments!

09/02/2026

Following a 45-3 victory over Virginia Union in week 0, the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears are ranked No. 21 in this weekโ€™s AFCA DII Coaches Poll.

๐Ÿ”— bit.ly/4gxWjPN

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๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“šFive MORE MORE Fun Facts About LRโ€™s Founding 11. LRโ€™s first president also had a teaching load. Robert A. Yoder didnโ€™t...
09/01/2026

๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“šFive MORE MORE Fun Facts About LRโ€™s Founding

11. LRโ€™s first president also had a teaching load. Robert A. Yoder didnโ€™t spend his days solely on presidential duties. He taught psychology and logic while running the brand-new college.

12. LR's first opening-day address happened upstairs. President Robert A. Yoder spoke in Highland Academy's second-floor chapel on Sept. 1, 1891, while classes were held downstairs.

13. President Yoder brought his house along. He and his wife had a new home in Conover that she didnโ€™t want to leave. So Yoder had the house and the surrounding elm trees moved seven miles up the road to Hickory.

14. One of LRโ€™s first students was also one of its first professors (and eventually its second president). Robert L. Fritz, a senior who had studied at Concordia, taught mathematics while completing his own degree at the new college. He graduated in 1892.

15. LR nearly doubled its enrollment during its first year. The college opened with 63 students on Sept. 1, 1891, grew to 113 by the end of the first semester and enrolled a total of 149 students during its second semester.

๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“šFive MORE Fun Facts About LRโ€™s Founding 6. LRโ€™s original campus came with 23 acres. Walter W. Lenoir set aside part of...
09/01/2026

๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“šFive MORE Fun Facts About LRโ€™s Founding

6. LRโ€™s original campus came with 23 acres. Walter W. Lenoir set aside part of his 56-acre Hickory property for a school, deeding 23 acres in trust to local businessman J.G. Hall.

7. LRโ€™s โ€œLenoirโ€ has deep North Carolina roots. Walter W. Lenoir, whose land became the original campus, was the grandson of Revolutionary War General William Lenoir and Waightstill Avery โ€” the namesakes of Lenoir and Avery counties, respectively.

8. Before his name was part of Lenoir-Rhyne, Walter W. Lenoir grew up at Fort Defiance. The historic Caldwell County home was built by his grandfather, Revolutionary War General William Lenoir, and Walter was born there in 1823.

9. Walter W. Lenoir never actually saw the college that bears his name. The Wilkes County lawyer and judge died in July 1890, a little more than a year before the college opened in Hickory.

10. Lenoir-Rhyne's first college students numbered just 63. When the new college opened on Sept. 1, 1891, eight faculty members welcomed 63 students. That's a student-to-faculty ratio of fewer than eight to one.

๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“š LR is celebrating 135 years, and weโ€™re marking the occasion with 135 fun facts throughout the year. First up: five fa...
09/01/2026

๐Ÿป๐Ÿ“š LR is celebrating 135 years, and weโ€™re marking the occasion with 135 fun facts throughout the year. First up: five facts about Foundersโ€™ Day.

1. Robert A. Yoder was only 38 when he helped found Highland Academy in 1891. He was already president of Concordia College in Conover and an honors graduate of North Carolina College.

2. Andrew L. Crouse taught ancient languages and theology at Concordia College. So yes, at least one of LRโ€™s founders could probably correct your Latin.

3. Jason C. Moser was already part of the Hickory community. In addition to helping found Highland Academy, he served as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

4. William P. Cline was running one school while helping start another. He was president of Holly Grove Academy near Lexington and financial agent for Concordia College. Apparently one school wasnโ€™t enough.

5. The building where Lenoir-Rhyne got its start was already nine years old. The cornerstone of Highland Academy was laid on March 25, 1882, and the school opened that July โ€” nine years before the college opened there in 1891.

The Bear Brigade led us off. The fans showed out. Our Bears got the win. ๐Ÿป๐ŸˆIf this is how weโ€™re starting the season, itโ€™...
08/31/2026

The Bear Brigade led us off. The fans showed out. Our Bears got the win. ๐Ÿป๐Ÿˆ

If this is how weโ€™re starting the season, itโ€™s going to be a fun year!

08/29/2026

A new LR tradition is born! ๐Ÿป

The Class of 2030 kicked off football season with the first-ever Bear Brigade Run, bringing the newest Bears together before the first game of the year.

๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜€ $๐Ÿต๐Ÿฌ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ผ๐—ฎ๐—นThanks to the extraordinary generosity of our alumni, parents, friends and part...
08/27/2026

๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฑ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜€ $๐Ÿต๐Ÿฌ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ผ๐—ฎ๐—น

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our alumni, parents, friends and partners, Lenoir-Rhyne has surpassed the $90 million Charge Forward campaign goal ahead of schedule. This achievement reflects a powerful investment in our students, our university and LRโ€™s future.

View the story link in the comments.

A new academic year begins with historic momentum at Lenoir-Rhyne. ๐ŸปAs faculty and staff gathered to kick off 2026-27, P...
08/26/2026

A new academic year begins with historic momentum at Lenoir-Rhyne. ๐Ÿป

As faculty and staff gathered to kick off 2026-27, President Summer McGee celebrated record enrollment and fundraising, major investments in campus and student support and the people whose work continue to move LR forward.

With new facilities underway, new initiatives taking shape and a new brand promise, Can. Do., LR is building for what comes next.

Click the link in the comments to read the full story!

Address

625 7th Avenue NE
Hickory, NC
28601

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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