I am going to walk you through what the federal government reports about Lincoln University: what kind of institution it is, whom it admits, how much it costs, how students pay for it, and what happens to those who enroll. I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your family. No data can tell you that. But if you finish this article understanding this part of the map, you will make the next decision with better judgment than you had when you began reading.
Who Lincoln University Is
Let’s start with the basics. Lincoln University is a four-year public institution located in the community of Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is within the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area, although its census code places it in a suburb: inside the urbanized area but outside the heart of the city. If your child were considering living at home and commuting every day, do not rely on what the map says: drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time your child would leave for class.
The Carnegie system, which classifies the nation’s universities by what they do, places it among master’s universities with medium-sized programs and describes it as a four-year, highly residential institution: at least half of degree-seeking students live in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the institution, and at least 80 out of every 100 attend full time. That tells you something important from the outset: living on campus is a normal part of the experience here, not the exception. And that brings a separate cost that is almost never listed alongside tuition in the brochure. Ask for it separately, including the meal plan, before comparing this school with any other.
IPEDS, the Department of Education’s official database, reports that the highest degree level Lincoln University offers is the master’s degree. That is an institutional fact: it does not tell you whether the exact major your child is interested in exists or whether there is a clear path from an undergraduate degree to graduate study. That must be checked program by program.
And here is the piece that defines its identity: in the 2023 federal file, Lincoln University is designated as an HBCU. In that same census of 3,012 institutions, only 76 have that designation. That tells you where the school comes from and the mission with which it was founded. It does not tell you whom it admits today or what your child’s experience there will be. Being an HBCU does not make it better or worse than another school. Do not read it as a verdict. Read it as an open question: what student center exists, what scholarship applies, and who answers the phone in April? Ask about specific names, not labels.
A Small Community, and What That Means
Lincoln University had 1,848 students enrolled in the most recent official fall count: 1,717 undergraduates and 131 graduate students. Above all, it is an undergraduate institution. And it is small: compared with the 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools in this same census, it is among the smallest. At least nine out of ten of those schools have more students.
What does “small” mean for your child? Not necessarily what you first imagine. Being large does not mean more options, and being small does not guarantee more attention. That is something to ask about for the specific major, not infer from the school’s overall size.
Within that community, one fact is worth looking at directly: 6 out of every 100 undergraduates are Hispanic or Latino. It is a small minority, and the institution ranks below the comparison-group midpoint. Having few Latino students does not make the school bad, just as having many would not make it good on its own. It is simply a fact about who is enrolled today. If your child will be one of the few, this deserves a direct question during the visit: what student group exists, is there a cultural center, and is there someone in the office who speaks Spanish? Talk with a Latino student who is already there before deciding. The number covers the entire school; your child’s experience in a particular major may look different.
Other facts about this community: there are more women than men —66 out of every 100 students are women—, adults ages 25 to 64 are a minority —just 5 out of every 100— and fewer than half of first-time students, 46 out of every 100, reported permanent residence in Pennsylvania. The rest come from other states or other countries, or their residence was not clearly reported. In that sense, this is a predominantly out-of-state community.
How Academics Work
The academic calendar follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. In its official report, the university indicated that it accepts two forms of prior credit: AP exams and what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences” —independent study, work experience, prior certifications, and military training. Reporting that it accepts them does not mean your child will automatically receive credit. Ask for a written transfer-credit evaluation before enrolling, and do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand. A separate fact: it does not enroll high school students in college courses for credit, so if your child is looking for that option, it is not available here.
As for degree offerings, in the latest year reported Lincoln University awarded 303 bachelor’s degrees across 20 fields of study. The field awarding the most degrees was health professions, accounting for 21 out of every 100 degrees that year, but no other field accounts for the bulk of the remainder: the offerings are distributed rather than concentrated. Compared with similar schools, it is in the quarter awarding the fewest degrees overall each year. Twenty fields with rows in the report do not mean twenty guaranteed majors: one field groups several programs, and some rows may report zero. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, not the general category.
Regarding instructional staff, the official ratio is 13 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member, placing it in the lowest quarter compared with similar schools —in other words, a low aggregate ratio. But be careful: this number does not show actual class sizes. It is an institutional average, not a promise about the classroom where your child will sit.
The institution also reports structured academic opportunities: study abroad, cocurricular undergraduate research, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, and preparation and certification pathways for those who want to become teachers, including state approval for initial teacher certification. It is worth asking directly about these opportunities if any of them connects with what your child wants to do.
Admissions: Who Gets In and Who Stays
Several pieces should be considered together here without mixing them up.
Lincoln University does not have open admissions: it reviews certain factors before saying yes. Of the nine considerations in the federal report, only two are marked as required: the high school GPA and, when applicable, an English proficiency exam. The list of factors the university reported as not considered is longer: the complete high school record, class rank, the college-preparatory program completed, a portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and whether a family member attended. The personal essay and letters of recommendation are listed as not required but considered if submitted.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, this matters today, not in March: the English proficiency exam is marked as required when applicable. Ask about it early.
One practical fact: the published undergraduate application fee is $0.
As for how accessible admission is: of 5,987 first-time applicants in the most recent cycle, 4,692 were offered a place. That equals 78 out of every 100. Compared with similar schools, it is a common rate, ranking slightly below the midpoint. Put simply: this school reports thousands of applicants, yet 78 out of every 100 still receive a yes. Your child has reason to apply and also reason to submit a complete application on time. Still, remember that this number comes from a single cycle, not a permanent rule: check it again when it is your child’s turn.
Now comes the part that confuses families most and is worth explaining carefully. Of every 100 admitted students, only 12 enrolled. In other words, of every 8 young people who receive a yes from this school, approximately one ultimately attends. The other 88 do not appear as enrolled here during that period —the data do not say where they went or why. Compared with similar schools, this figure is low: at seven out of ten comparable schools, a larger share of admitted students enroll.
Do not read this as a mark against the school. The fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean something is wrong here; the federal record does not explain anyone’s reasons. What does matter is this: what other people decided does not tell you what the school will offer you. Wait for your own letter showing the net price —what the year will actually cost your family— and use that number to decide whether this school remains on the list.
Regarding standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains valid. Among the students who did enroll, 14 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and the middle half of them scored between 450 and 530 in reading and writing and between 420 and 520 in mathematics. Those ranges describe students who were already enrolled, not all applicants: that 450 is not an admission minimum, and that 530 does not guarantee anything either.
Finally, regarding transfers: among the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 27 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing their degree here. That is a common proportion compared with similar schools. And there is a calculation almost no one sees, but it matters here: a student who transfers does not appear as a Lincoln University graduate, even if the student completes the degree elsewhere. Keep that in mind when we reach graduation rates later. The fact that many transferred does not mean they did poorly; the report tracks the movement, not the outcome.
Cost: What the Paper Says and What It May Actually Cost
At Lincoln University, among 55 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and had EFC records showing family income below $30,000, the average net price was $11,585. Among 34 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $12,623; among 15 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $16,615. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (55 students) and the average for the highest-income band (15 students) is $5,030. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $12,910.
$11,585 was the average net price for families in the lowest-income band in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the financial aid letter.
The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall grant average, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.
Financial Aid and Loans: What Is Common Here
At Lincoln University, 90 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received a grant or other aid that does not have to be repaid. That is the norm here, not the exception, and compared with similar schools, the institution is in the quarter where grants reach the largest share of students. Among those who received this aid, the annual average was $12,500.
The federal Pell Grant —for students with demonstrated financial need— reached 67 out of every 100 students. That is a high proportion. But be careful not to read a number like this as a promise: it is what happened with other students last year, not your probability or guaranteed amount. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, what the deadlines are, and what happens to the grant if your child’s grades decline.
Regarding loans: 83 out of every 100 undergraduates received a federal loan last year. Leaving here with federal debt is common, not the exception. Compared with similar schools, Lincoln University is among those with the largest share of students who have loans. Among those who borrowed, the average amount per borrower that year was $6,811. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years of the degree, the total would be around $27,244, not counting interest —and that calculation should be considered before the first signature, not at the end.
An important clarification: that average includes only federal loans taken out in the student’s name during one year. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt owed to banks, or credit card balances. Nor is it the total debt with which someone graduates —that number is not in this report.
The fact that borrowing is common here does not determine whether your child will need it. That depends on the individual financial aid letter and the difference between the net price and what your family can pay. If debt appears in the letter, ask for the estimated monthly payment before accepting it.
The institution also reports payment options: a guaranteed tuition plan, installment payments, and participation in a Promise program. It is worth asking about the details of each one.
Campus Life, Athletics, and Support
Lincoln University has its own housing and does not require all first-time students to live there —although that does not rule out the possibility that a particular program may require it. It also offers meal plans with a fixed number of meals per week in its largest option. IPEDS reports a maximum housing capacity of 1,714 spaces. The existence of housing does not guarantee that a bed will be available for your child: ask in writing for the rate for the year, the housing application deadline, and whether a space is guaranteed or your child will be placed on a waiting list.
ROTC is available, and the only branch confirmed in the report is the Army; the Navy and Air Force are not marked. If your child is interested in another branch, it is not confirmed here —that does not make it impossible, but it does make it something to ask about directly.
Lincoln University competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with membership reported in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child wants to play, write directly to the coach for that sport: ask whether there is room on the team, what division it competes in, and whether that sport offers athletic scholarships. Get the answer in writing.
Regarding distance education, the school does offer undergraduate courses in that format, but in the most recent count, no student took an entire course load completely through distance education. It also reported that it does not offer a complete program in which all required courses can be taken remotely. If this matters to your family, confirm it directly before assuming anything.
The library has employed staff and physical and digital materials. It participates in interlibrary lending, and its annual spending exceeds the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government. That is only a floor: it does not guarantee that databases specific to your child’s intended major are available. Ask about the major by name.
Reported services include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for students, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans organization, and a published page describing services for people with disabilities.
Do Students Stay and Graduate?
This is perhaps the section that carries the most weight for a family, so let’s take it slowly.
Retention. Of the first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort, 71 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. Compared with similar schools, this proportion is in the lower part of the group: seven out of ten comparable schools retained a larger share. The data do not separate those who are still studying from those who graduated quickly, nor do they explain what happened to the rest. And one key point: not returning is not the same as dropping out. Someone who transferred to another university and continues studying there is counted the same way in this number as someone who stopped studying altogether.
Graduation within six years. Of the first-time, full-time students who entered in 2017, 344 out of 660 had earned a degree from this school six years later. That is 52 out of every 100 —almost an even split. At the four-year mark, the figure falls to 39 out of every 100, a difference of 13 points. Compared with similar schools, this six-year rate ranks below the comparison-group midpoint.
What should you do with this number? It is not a verdict on your child. It is a question worth taking to the visit: what specific support exists to help students finish on time, and how long does the degree your child is interested in take on average? And remember what we saw earlier: someone who transfers is not counted as a graduate here, even if that student completes the degree elsewhere. This rate follows only first-time, full-time students —not transfer students and not those who began part time.
Within eight years. Following a different cohort, the one that entered between July 2015 and June 2016, 50 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school by the August 2023 reporting date. Compared with similar schools, this result also ranks below the comparison-group midpoint.
One fact here deserves special attention: among the students in that cohort who received a Pell Grant, only 45 out of every 100 graduated within eight years —16 points fewer than among those who did not receive Pell. This is not a judgment about any individual student. It is a specific question worth asking if your family would qualify for Pell: what support exists specifically for those students? Is there an assigned counselor, emergency aid, and annual renewal of the institutional grant? Ask for the answer in writing.
What You Now Know, and What Remains Yours to Decide
You now know a real part of Lincoln University: a small, highly residential, public historically Black university with relatively accessible admissions but few admitted students enrolling, financial aid that reaches the great majority of its students, common federal debt, and graduation outcomes around half —neither a promise nor a condemnation.
None of this tells you whether it is the right school for your child. That depends on three things only your family can bring together: what this university actually offers —which you now understand better—, what your child wants to study and has accomplished so far, and what you can and are willing to pay. A plan grows from that combination, not from a single fact or figure.
If your child has not applied yet, ask what your child wants to study and how far away your child imagines living while doing it. If your child is already building a list, request the letter with the net price before crossing out or underlining anything. And if something you read here —the English exam, housing, ROTC, or a grant— left you with an open question, that is exactly the kind of question worth emailing directly to the university and saving the written response.
Source note: The information in this article comes from data reported by Lincoln University to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), primarily for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, along with the Carnegie classification based on 2019-20 data. Best College Aid does not represent Lincoln University or the United States government and does not guarantee admission, financial aid, or any outcome.