Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee
Founded in 1891, Lipscomb University is a private coeducational institution in Nashville, Tennessee, where a Christ-centered community prepares learners for purposeful lives through rigorous academics and transformative experiences. Committed to an ongoing search for truth, informed by the life and teachings of Jesus, Lipscomb nurtures students to grow in their character, leadership, service and faith. This holistic learning equips you to discover and succeed in your vocation for the good of the world. You’ll be deeply known and connected, with engaged learning opportunities that refine your gifts and talents.
Located just south of downtown Nashville in the secluded neighborhood of Green Hills, Lipscomb offers access to Music City’s multifaceted corporate and creative community to deepen your educational experience. A major metropolitan area of more than two million, Nashville is still one of the friendliest places in the country—and it’s easy to reach, as it sits merely within a day’s driving distance, or less, of roughly three-quarters of the U.S. population.
Get to know Lipscomb University
College Highlights
Lipscomb University offers students a wide range of opportunities to study abroad, serve, participate in mission trips, gain valuable experience through internships, and explore their discipline with research.
“Getting involved on campus not only gives you opportunities to connect with people but also to get plugged into ways to spend your time… If I wasn’t volunteering with the IDEAL program, what else would I be doing? Scrolling on my phone or something?”
– Riley Robertson (’27), Molecular Biology, Chattanooga, Tennessee
GLOBAL LEARNING AND MISSIONS
At Lipscomb, some of your most valuable learning experiences will happen outside of the classroom—or even outside of the country. Transform your worldview by engaging with another culture. Choose from semester-long study abroad programs in Florence, London or Vienna and some 30 other destinations on six continents to serve and study abroad.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
From your first day on campus, you can participate in research, even as a freshman. You could join over 300 students presenting at the Student Scholars Symposium, Lipscomb’s premier annual research conference. With the guidance of a faculty mentor, you’ll have limitless resources to explore the questions that drive your passions.
JOURNEY CORE CURRICULUM
Featuring 46 credit hours grounded in the Christian intellectual tradition and shaped by the themes seek, discover, know and flourish, Journey will guide you through a purposeful progression of coursework that fosters critical thinking, ethical reasoning, spiritual growth and vocational clarity. Intentionally connecting a liberal arts foundation with career preparation, Journey ensures you develop the skills, knowledge and spiritual grounding necessary for purposeful living.
The course of study includes Bible, math, science, communication, literature, humanities, social science and more.
ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Non-U.S. Citizen: 3%
Hispanic/Latinx: 10%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 9%
White, non-Hispanic: 68%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 0%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 3%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 3%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 3%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 4%
Lipscomb University’s faculty invest themselves in their students, making their academic programs, and in turn their students, the best that they can be.
“As soon as I started teaching, in that first dispute resolution class at Lipscomb, I realized that this is where I come alive. This is where I’m so passionate, introducing complicated concepts to students and then watching the students come to fully understand — I love it, I absolutely love it.”
– Kimberly McCall, Associate Dean of Academics, College of Leadership & Public Service, and Director, Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice and Society
AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION
Lipscomb University is a leading force in meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world, offering innovative programs that respond to market demand. Majors like Sustainability, Law, Justice and Society, Entrepreneurship, Missions, Animation, and Art Therapy offer students the opportunity to receive training in cutting-edge fields.
The same commitment to innovation and academic leadership permeates all of Lipscomb’s programs; from Nursing to Engineering, and Business to Education, Lipscomb students are trained to think about the future of their field and effectively synthesize information and respond to the challenges that define our time.
ENGAGED FACULTY
The faculty at Lipscomb University make students their first priority. Classes are small—usually less than 30 students—so professors are able to get to know students on a personal level. They make a point to be accessible after class, often act as individual mentors and frequently host students in their home for a meal.
All classes at Lipscomb University are taught by professors and never graduate assistants.
Faculty are frequently involved in the lives of their students beyond the classroom. Many faculty members lead Spring Break and summer mission trips as well as service-learning experiences and serve as sponsors for student organizations.
COMPASS FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
Setting the tone for your life at Lipscomb and who you can become, this course invites you to join the academic world, to stir your curiosity and expand your horizons, encouraging you to embrace the journey with all the challenges and uncertainties ahead. Faculty step in as mentors, offering knowledge, support and inspiration.
POWERS
The Power of Words Rhetorical Sequence (aka POWERS) are two concurrent courses designed to help students develop as ethical citizens and professionals. Through coursework and campus life, you will encounter new perspectives and face obstacles that challenge assumptions and foster resilience. Preparing for significant academic challenges, you will reflect on what you need to succeed, discovering the tools and strengths you possess. Along the journey, you are taught how to effectively communicate with various audiences through multiple modalities while discussing ethical considerations for this communication.
SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Cross-registration
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Student-designed major
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
Undergraduate research
Lipscomb University’s campus and the city of Nashville are alive with opportunities to learn and engage with peers and thought leaders alike.
“There are so many people that you’ll get to meet here and so many different things that you can get involved with. Whether that’s worship or athletics or anything, there’s going to be something that you can get involved with and find a group of people that you hang out with and walk alongside.”
– Zoe Wise (’28), Public Relations, Grand Rapids, Michigan
SPIRITUAL LIFE ON CAMPUS
At Lipscomb, spiritual growth is just as important as academic achievement. That’s why, every Tuesday and Thursday, the entire campus community sets time aside to come together for worship and to be challenged by dynamic speakers during The Gathering for corporate worship and smaller groups called Breakout Chapels.
PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURE SERIES
Throughout the year, Lipscomb hosts several noteworthy events with prominent scholars, thinkers and leaders who can speak to the cultural moment and help better understand the world around us. Past and future speakers have included the likes of David French and Russell Moore (both visiting professors at Lipscomb), author David Pink and English poet Malcolm Guite.
CAMPUS EVENTS
Lipscomb University is a focal point of the Nashville community, the Southeast, and beyond. Each year, the university hosts a wide variety of speakers and such events as The Christian Scholars Conference, Nashville Business Breakfast and many others. Special speakers, films, plays, concerts, and cultural events are brought to campus on a weekly basis through an array of Lipscomb’s clubs and leadership organizations.
TRADITIONS
One of the best parts of life at Lipscomb is what you choose to do with your time outside the classroom. Getting involved in campus life allows you to dive deeper into your interests and discover an even greater sense of community. You should have high expectations for that experience—for you to become the best version of yourself and to prepare to maximize your impact on the world around you.
When you engage in traditions as a part of campus life, it will enrich your college experience in unexpected ways. Paint the Bison with your social club. Put in the work at late-night practice to shine at Singarama. Rally the Herd and cheer the team to victory. When you do, you’ll understand what it means to be a Bison.
NASHVILLE
Lipscomb’s great location just 10 minutes from downtown Nashville affords students easy access to a tremendous number of educational, professional, cultural, and entertainment opportunities, all while enjoying the convenience of the secluded Green Hills neighborhood. You can also drive 10 minutes and find a state park filled with walking and hiking trails if you need to get away from the hustle and bustle. The Bluebird Café, 12th Avenue South, and Radnor Lake State Park are just a few of the close attractions where you can find off-campus adventures. Additionally, the university provides all of its students with a free, year-round Nashville Metro bus pass to ensure that they can take advantage of all the city has to offer.
ATHLETICS
There’s nothing like standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a sea of purple and gold. United in support of the Herd, you’ll be part of something bigger than yourself that brings the entire campus together. The Lipscomb Bisons field 17 Division I teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Competing as members of the ASUN Conference, the Bisons have a proud tradition of success, regularly contending for conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Our student-athletes are exceptional, having won the ASUN Academic Trophy eight times for strong performance in the classroom. Because of our small campus community, you’ll attend classes together and actually know the players you’re cheering for. Horns up!
RESIDENCE LIFE
Campus housing options.
Men’s dorms
Women’s dorms
Apartments for single students
“Lipscomb has prepared me extraordinarily well academically. Professors offer lots of opportunities for independent learning, but they are always there to guide you. If you have the initiative to do something, Lipscomb will make sure you have the support you need. Without Lipscomb, and without the support I’ve found here, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I’m ready for what’s next, and I’m proud to say I’ll be carrying a piece of Lipscomb with me wherever I go.”
– Easton Ball (’25), Music, Cosby, Tennessee
PREPARED FOR THE WORLD
Lipscomb University students graduate with the education, preparation and sense of purpose to take on whatever God has in store for them. The university is determined to help its students seek out God’s will for their lives and be servants and scholars of integrity.
CENTER FOR VOCATIONAL DISCOVERY
As a Lipscomb student, you will engage with the Center for Vocational Discovery, which guides you through a process to help you explore opportunities at the intersection of your academic aspirations and life purpose. This specialized service is integrated throughout your Lipscomb experience to help you discover your natural abilities and how to carry out your calling by focusing on a different theme each year. Then, you’ll take what you’ve learned to create a life of impact.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Lipscomb University graduates are prepared for life after they cross the stage and receive their diploma, with over 98% finding a job or enrolling in graduate school within six months of graduation. Some departments go even further to promote post-graduate success: For example, Lipscomb sponsors an annual pitch competition for entrepreneurs, in which students can present their business ideas and win funds they can use to help start or grow their business.
What’s more, Lipscomb’s Career Development Center works to connect students with internships and job opportunities in Nashville, across the country, and even around the world.
INTERNSHIPS
Speaking of internships, many Lipscomb students choose to complete a relevant work experience in their area of interest. Multiple academic programs embed employer engagement and relevant experience into their curriculum. Notable internship sites include Bridgestone, Frist Art Museum, HCA, Kingdom Story Company, Rabbit Room Press, Schneider Electric and the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Admission
TEST SCORES
Optional
FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 590 | 75th Percentile: 700
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 570 | 75th Percentile: 680
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 23 | 75th Percentile: 30
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 22 | 75th Percentile: 28
ACT English
25th Percentile: 24 | 75th Percentile: 33
Tuition & Cost
Tuition: $35,848
Fees: $2,976
Room: $8,524
Board: $6,900
Aid
Lipscomb offers a wide range of scholarships that recognize, among other areas, academic accomplishment, service involvement, leadership capability, extracurricular activities and more. The full-tuition Trustee Scholarship and Transfer Trustee Scholarship follow a separate application and interview process for eligible students. In fact, 99% of Lipscomb students receive financial aid, demonstrating the university’s commitment to make a life-changing, top-tier Christian education attainable for students and families.
While Lipscomb admits students on a rolling basis, applying by the December 1 Priority Scholarship and Application Deadline ensures you maximize the financial aid and scholarship opportunities you’re eligible for!
What Others are Saying
Contact Lipscomb University
Contact Admissions
lipscomb.edu/admissions
(615) 966-1776
admissions@lipscomb.edu
Campus Location
One University Park Dr.
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 966-1000