The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's and master's degrees. Overall, Lenoir–Rhyne University has over 50 undergraduate majors and nearly 30 graduate programs. The university has campuses in Hickory, Asheville, and Columbia, South Carolina.[3]
The school's swimming programs compete in the Bluegrass Mountain Swimming Conference and the men's lacrosse program was a member of the Deep South Lacrosse Conference until the conference dissolved in 2013.[4] The men's and women's track & field and women's lacrosse teams compete as NCAA Division II Independents.
Moretz Sports Athletic Complex
Prior to competing in the NCAA, the university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The LRU football team won the NAIA National Championship in 1960 and made three trips to the title game in four years. In 2013 the Lenoir–Rhyne football team made it to the 2013 NCAA Division II Football Championship game. In 1980, the Bears' women's basketball team reached the NAIA Final Four while the men's basketball squad made it to the NAIA Elite Eight in 1992.
Recently, the Lenoir–Rhyne softball team has seen six straight trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and reached the Southeast Region Finals in 2010 and 2011. Also, the Bears' women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2010 after the program's most successful season to date. The LRU men's and women's basketball teams have both reached Division II NCAA postseason play several times in the 2000s, with the Bear women hosting the Southeast Region Tournament in 2009. In 2023, the LR Men’s Lacrosse team won the Division II National Championship. They defeated Mercyhurst University by a score of 20-5. This is the first NCAA team championship win in the school's 125 years.[citation needed]
Men's and Women's Athletic Programs
Men's
Women's
Baseball
Softball
Basketball
Basketball
Cross Country
Cross Country
Football
Volleyball
Golf
Golf
Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Soccer
Soccer
Spirit Team
Spirit Team
Swimming
Swimming
Tennis
Tennis
Track & Field
(Indoor & Outdoor)
Track & Field
(Indoor & Outdoor)
Student life
There are over 60 student clubs and organization on campus.
Undergraduate students are required to live on campus for their first three years.[5] The university designates Morgan Hall, Isenhour Hall, and half of Fritz-Conrad Hall exclusively for freshman students. Upperclassmen housing includes Hickory House, Price Village, and Fourth Street apartments. In 2007 Lenoir-Rhyne built the Living Learning Center which provides upscale living and classroom space. Students who are part of the Lenoir-Rhyne Honors Academy or Greek Life may choose to live in designated on campus houses.[6]
Fraternities and sororities
There are several fraternities and sororities on campus.