Online College Review: Lipscomb University

Lipscomb University is a private Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1891 as Nashville Bible School and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The university is affiliated with the Churches of Christ tradition, classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral university (a designation held by approximately 7 percent of U.S. institutions), and ranked #222 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges among national universities. Total enrollment reached approximately 4,840 students at the start of the 2025-26 academic year, with about 3,000 undergraduates and 1,750 graduate students.

This review examines Lipscomb University Online specifically: the accreditation picture, what online programs are available, what they cost (Lipscomb’s per-credit rates are substantially higher than many competing online universities), who the institution is built for, the role of Christian faith integration in the academic experience, and how Lipscomb compares to other faith-affiliated and secular online universities for prospective students considering enrollment. The review is structured for working professionals and adult learners evaluating online options, not for traditional-age applicants considering Lipscomb’s residential campus experience.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

Institutional Overview

Founding and Affiliation

Lipscomb University was founded in 1891 by David Lipscomb and James A. Harding as the Nashville Bible School, originally focused on religious education. The institution evolved into a full university over the following century, expanding from theology into liberal arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, pharmacy, and engineering. Lipscomb is affiliated with the Churches of Christ tradition, and faith integration is part of the academic culture, though the institution describes its educational philosophy as influenced by but not limited to Church of Christ perspectives.

The Lipscomb-Harding founding connection is meaningful for prospective students researching Churches of Christ-affiliated higher education: David Lipscomb and James A. Harding were prominent figures in the Restoration Movement, and their respective namesake institutions (Lipscomb University in Nashville and Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas) represent the two most prominent Churches of Christ-affiliated universities in the southern United States. Students choosing between them often consider both.

Campus and Setting

The main campus is in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, on a 113-acre property. Nashville’s metropolitan area provides employment opportunities, internship placements, and post-graduation career markets that smaller-city universities cannot match. Lipscomb’s location is a meaningful differentiator from many faith-affiliated universities located in smaller markets. The university also operates Lipscomb Academy (K-12 school) on or adjacent to the main campus, which is part of the institution’s distinctive ‘two-year-old to Ph.D.’ educational continuum.

Enrollment Profile and Recent Growth

Lipscomb’s enrollment has grown substantially in recent years. The fall 2025 semester opened with the largest Day 1 enrollment in university history at 4,840 students, including the largest class of new freshmen for the third consecutive year (approximately 750 first-time freshmen, 900 total new students). Graduate enrollment increased 11 percent year-over-year. First-year retention reached a record 87.4 percent. Military-connected enrollment hit a record 412 students. Online program enrollment growth has been a meaningful component of total enrollment growth.

Is Lipscomb University Accredited?

Yes. Lipscomb University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the seven U.S. Department of Education-recognized regional accrediting bodies. SACSCOC is the same accreditor that oversees Vanderbilt University, Duke University, the University of Florida, the University of North Carolina, and most major universities in the southern United States. Lipscomb received reaffirmation of its SACSCOC accreditation in 2024 with no recommendations for improvement, marking the third consecutive 10-year reaffirmation cycle in which the institution was reaffirmed without findings.

Source: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Programmatic Accreditations

Beyond institutional SACSCOC accreditation, Lipscomb holds an extensive set of field-specific programmatic accreditations that affect licensure and professional credibility. These include: ABET accreditation for Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering programs; ACPE accreditation for the College of Pharmacy; ACEN accreditation for nursing programs; CSWE accreditation for sociology and social work; CACREP accreditation for clinical mental health counseling (which is required for state Licensed Professional Counselor licensure in many states); COAMFTE accreditation for marriage and family therapy programs; ATS accreditation for the Hazelip School of Theology through the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools; ACEND accreditation for nutrition and dietetics; ACS approval for chemistry; and provisional accreditation for the Physician Assistant Studies program through ARC-PA.

This breadth of programmatic accreditation is meaningful. CACREP accreditation specifically distinguishes Lipscomb’s clinical mental health counseling program from many online counseling programs at competing Christian universities that lack this credential. CACREP is required for LPC licensure in many states, and counseling students should verify state-specific requirements before committing to any non-CACREP-accredited program.

Lipscomb Online Programs

Lipscomb’s online catalog spans degree completion programs for adults with prior college credit, traditional bachelor’s programs delivered fully online, master’s programs across multiple fields, doctoral programs in education and other specializations, and a substantial portfolio of online certificates.

Online Bachelor’s Programs

The most distinctive online undergraduate offerings at Lipscomb include several programs designed specifically for adult learners and degree completion students:

BA/BS in Professional Studies in Psychology with Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) concentration: A career-oriented track designed for students pursuing addiction counseling credentials. The LADAC concentration is unusual among online psychology programs.
BA/BS in Customer Experience: A non-traditional online business-adjacent degree focused on customer experience design, service operations, and consumer behavior.
BA/BS in Data Analytics: Online undergraduate data analytics program.
BA/BS in Entertainment Management: A Nashville-distinctive online program tied to the university’s location in the country’s third-largest entertainment industry market.
BA/BS in Integrated Studies: Flexible degree completion program for students with diverse prior coursework.
BA/BS in Psychology: Standard online psychology bachelor’s.
BS in Cybersecurity: Online cybersecurity bachelor’s program.
BS in Public Administration: Online public administration program.

The Entertainment Management online bachelor’s is genuinely distinctive among Christian online universities. Few competitors offer a program tied to a specific industry market the way Lipscomb’s Nashville-based program does, which can be advantageous for students pursuing music industry, sports entertainment, or creative industry careers.

Online Master’s Programs

Lipscomb’s graduate online catalog spans business, education, healthcare, counseling, and theology:

Online MBA: 12-month accelerated track or longer pacing options. $50,220 total program cost ($1,395/credit × 36 credits). Concentrations available in accounting, business analytics, general management, health care administration, and leadership. Multiple entry points throughout the year (August, October, January, March).
Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Management in Healthcare Administration: Healthcare-focused graduate programs.
Master of Education (MEd) and Doctor of Education (EdD): Multiple education tracks. The College of Education announced four programs moving to fully asynchronous online format beginning Fall 2026, including teacher licensure coursework, the EdD, and additional graduate education programs.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: CACREP-accredited program for students pursuing LPC licensure.
Master of Science in Sustainability: Specialized online program available standalone or as part of an MBA dual-degree pathway.
Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, and other theology degrees through the Hazelip School of Theology, with online and hybrid options.

Online Certificates

Lipscomb offers more than 10 online graduate certificates, including Analytics, Applied Artificial Intelligence (HyFlex format), values-based leadership, healthcare administration, and other professional credentials. Certificates are typically shorter (4-6 courses) and less expensive than full master’s programs, making them practical credential additions for working professionals seeking specific skill validation.

Cost of Attending Lipscomb

Undergraduate Tuition

Lipscomb’s traditional undergraduate tuition is among the higher costs in the Christian university market. For 2025-26, full-time undergraduate tuition is approximately $35,848, with required fees adding $2,976, for combined tuition and fees of approximately $38,824. Per-credit rate is approximately $1,562 for additional credits beyond the block-tuition range. Total cost of attendance including room and board runs approximately $62,296 per year. Lipscomb uses block tuition for full-time enrollment between 12 and 18 credits per semester.

These figures place Lipscomb in the upper range of private Christian university tuition. For context, Harding University’s undergraduate tuition is approximately $27,082 (about $11,700 less per year for tuition alone). SNHU’s online undergraduate tuition runs $330 per credit, or approximately $9,900 per year for full-time enrollment. WGU’s flat-rate model produces approximately $8,540 per year. Lipscomb’s residential undergraduate experience costs substantially more than competing online-focused alternatives.

Online Degree Completion Tuition

Lipscomb specifically markets its online degree completion programs at a substantially lower rate than traditional undergraduate tuition: $574 per credit for online degree completion students. The institution describes this as ‘half the price’ of standard tuition. For a student completing the final 60 credits of a bachelor’s degree through the degree completion program, total tuition would be approximately $34,440. This is meaningfully more competitive with other private nonprofit online options, though still above SNHU and WGU.

The CORE Competency Assessment Center adds an interesting wrinkle to the degree completion math: the institution states students can earn up to 30 credit hours through a one-day behavioral assessment. For students with substantial prior professional experience, this can dramatically reduce remaining credit requirements. Students considering this option should request specific details on which programs accept CORE credits and how the assessment process works before enrolling, since competency-based prior learning programs vary substantially in their actual credit-awarding outcomes.

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition varies by program. The Pfeffer Graduate School of Business charges $1,395 per credit for the MBA and most business graduate programs, with specialty master’s programs at $1,250 per credit. The online MBA’s total program cost is $50,220 for 36 credits. Other graduate programs have different per-credit rates: the institution publishes program-specific tuition rates, with graduate tuition averaging $963 per credit across non-business programs. Average graduate tuition for full-time students is approximately $17,100 per year.

Lipscomb’s MBA cost is meaningfully higher than several alternatives. Harding’s online MBA runs under $20,000 total. SNHU’s online MBA runs approximately $19,000 to $24,000 total. The University of Illinois iMBA runs approximately $23,800. Lipscomb’s MBA at $50,220 sits at the higher end of the online MBA market for a non-elite program.

Financial Aid

99 percent of Lipscomb undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. The average aid amount is approximately $23,695, covering roughly 58 percent of the full tuition amount. The average net price after aid for federal loan recipients is approximately $26,070 per year for residential undergraduates. Lipscomb is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant for veterans, expanding GI Bill coverage above standard caps.

For complete guidance on filing the FAFSA as an online student: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply.

Outcomes Data

Lipscomb’s institution-wide outcomes data is meaningfully stronger than many of the schools it competes with for working-adult online enrollment, but most of the published data reflects residential undergraduate students rather than online graduate students specifically.

Metric	Lipscomb	Context
Freshman retention rate	87%	National average ~68% for 4-year institutions
4-year graduation rate	61-63%	National 4-yr public institution avg ~44%
6-year graduation rate	69%	Above national average of ~60%
Median earnings 6 years after enrollment	$50,454	Higher than typical Christian university graduates
Acceptance rate	67-71%	Moderately selective
Student-faculty ratio	13:1	Strong ratio for mid-size private universities
US News National Universities ranking	#222	Up 22 spots from 2025 ranking
MBA full-time graduate employment at graduation	81.3%	Per US News data

The retention rate of 87 percent and 6-year graduation rate of 69 percent are both notably higher than typical online-focused universities, where attrition and non-completion rates are frequently higher among working-adult populations. Whether these residential-focused metrics translate to similar outcomes for fully online students is less clear: institutions with strong residential programs sometimes have weaker online completion rates because the support infrastructure that produces the residential outcomes does not always extend to online cohorts.

For program-level outcomes data on any institution: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Who Is Lipscomb University Online Built For?

Lipscomb’s online programs serve specific student populations particularly well, while being a less optimal fit for others. The cost structure, regional positioning, and program mix produce a meaningful student-fit profile.

Strong Fit

Lipscomb Online is well-suited for several specific student profiles:

Working professionals in the Nashville metropolitan area who want a credible local-brand credential with regional employer recognition. Lipscomb’s positioning in Nashville produces meaningful employer-network advantages for graduates targeting careers in healthcare, banking, music industry, hospitality, and other Nashville industries.
Students pursuing Lipscomb’s distinctive entertainment management or LADAC psychology programs. These programs are not directly comparable at most other Christian online universities, and the Nashville positioning matters specifically for entertainment industry careers.
Counseling students pursuing LPC licensure who specifically need CACREP accreditation. Lipscomb’s CACREP accreditation distinguishes the program from many competing Christian university counseling programs.
Education professionals pursuing the EdD or other advanced education credentials who specifically value Lipscomb’s College of Education reputation, which has been recognized by U.S. News among the best in the nation. The Fall 2026 expansion to fully asynchronous online format opens this credential to working educators who could not access it previously.
Adult learners with substantial professional experience who can use the CORE Competency Assessment Center to compress remaining bachelor’s completion requirements. The 30-credit assessment opportunity is genuinely meaningful for working adults with strong applied experience.
Veterans and military-connected students. Lipscomb is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant with 412 military-connected students and a track record of supporting this population.

Less Strong Fit

Lipscomb Online is less well-suited for several other student profiles where alternatives produce better outcomes:

Students prioritizing the lowest possible cost. Lipscomb’s online MBA at $50,220 is more than double Harding’s at under $20,000 and substantially above SNHU and most other affordable online MBA options. For students whose primary criterion is cost, the alternatives are clearly more affordable.
Students seeking the broadest possible online program catalog. Lipscomb’s online catalog is focused rather than comprehensive. Students wanting wide selection across many fields will find more options at SNHU (200+ programs), Liberty University (600+ programs across modalities), or Penn State World Campus (175+ programs).
Students who specifically do not want faith integration in their academic experience. Lipscomb’s Christian curricular integration is part of the academic culture, not a peripheral feature. Students who prefer a secular academic experience should consider public online options or secular private alternatives.
Students seeking AACSB business school accreditation specifically. Lipscomb’s Pfeffer Graduate School of Business does not currently hold AACSB accreditation. Students prioritizing AACSB should consider ASU Online (W.P. Carey holds AACSB), Indiana Kelley Direct, University of Illinois iMBA, and other AACSB-accredited online MBAs.
Students outside the Nashville metropolitan area pursuing programs where Nashville-specific positioning provides no direct benefit. The premium tuition Lipscomb charges is most justified for students who benefit from the regional brand recognition.

How Lipscomb Compares to Other Online Options

For prospective students considering Lipscomb Online, several other institutions cover overlapping space and deserve direct comparison.

Christian-Affiliated Online Universities

Lipscomb’s most direct competitors for students prioritizing Christian academic integration are Liberty University, Regent University, and Harding University. Each has different distinctive characteristics:

Liberty University: Liberty is a much larger institution (more than 100,000 students total) with the broadest programmatic accreditation portfolio of any private university in the country, including CACREP counseling, CAEP education, ABET engineering, ABA law, and others. Liberty’s scale advantage produces a wider program catalog at competitive online tuition rates. Liberty is a stronger fit for students prioritizing program breadth and lower per-credit cost. Liberty University Online College Review.

Regent University: Regent is a private Christian university in Virginia Beach with approximately 10,200 total students and roughly 81 percent online enrollment. Regent’s identity is similarly oriented toward Christian academic integration, with stronger graduate-program emphasis and well-known programs in counseling, divinity, education, and law. Regent University Online College Review.

Harding University: Harding is the closest peer institution to Lipscomb in terms of denominational affiliation (both Churches of Christ), liberal arts mission, and student profile. Harding is in Searcy, Arkansas (smaller market vs. Nashville), is HLC-accredited (vs. Lipscomb’s SACSCOC), and is meaningfully less expensive (undergraduate tuition $27,082 vs. $42,596; online MBA under $20,000 vs. $50,220). Harding’s online catalog is narrower than Lipscomb’s. Students choosing between Harding and Lipscomb often consider regional preference (Nashville metropolitan vs. Arkansas), program-specific availability, and total cost.

Secular Online Alternatives at Lower Cost

For students who don’t specifically prioritize Christian academic integration, secular online options often produce dramatically lower total cost and broader program selection.

SNHU: $330 per credit, more than 200 online programs, monthly start dates, NECHE regional accreditation. SNHU is the most directly comparable nonprofit alternative for students focused on cost and program selection rather than faith integration. Southern New Hampshire University Online College Review.

WGU: Flat-rate competency-based model at approximately $4,270 per six-month term (~$8,540/year). NWCCU regional accreditation. Strong fit for self-directed learners in business, IT, education, and healthcare. Western Governors University Online College Review.

Decision Framework for Specific Programs

Different Lipscomb online programs deserve different evaluation approaches based on what’s available elsewhere and what Lipscomb specifically provides.

If Considering the Online MBA

Lipscomb’s MBA at $50,220 is among the more expensive non-elite online MBAs. The program’s value depends on whether the Nashville positioning, the CORE competencies, the optional international business trip, and the values-based MBA framing produce career outcomes that justify the cost premium over alternatives. Direct comparisons to consider: Harding’s online MBA (Christian-affiliated, under $20,000, 14 months), SNHU’s online MBA ($19,000-$24,000), Liberty’s online MBA ($24,000-$32,000), and AACSB-accredited public alternatives like the University of Illinois iMBA ($23,800) and Indiana Kelley Direct ($26,000-$70,000).

If Considering the Counseling Master’s (CACREP)

This is one of Lipscomb’s strongest online program areas. CACREP accreditation is required for state LPC licensure in many states, and many faith-affiliated competing programs lack CACREP. Direct CACREP-accredited online competitors include Liberty (CACREP), Capella (CACREP), and Walden (CACREP). Students should compare program-specific curriculum, residency requirements, and state board acceptance before committing.

If Considering Education (EdD or MEd)

The Fall 2026 expansion to fully asynchronous online format for the EdD and other education programs opens this credential to working educators who could not access it previously. Lipscomb’s College of Education has strong recognition. Direct comparisons include programs at Liberty University, the University of Tennessee online programs (lower cost for Tennessee residents), and other regional university online programs.

If Considering the LADAC Psychology Track

This program is genuinely distinctive among Christian online universities. Most competitors do not offer a specific LADAC track within their psychology programs. Students pursuing addiction counseling credentials specifically should evaluate this program against state-specific LADAC pathway requirements before committing.

Bottom Line: Should You Enroll at Lipscomb University Online?

Lipscomb University Online occupies a distinctive position in the online higher education market: a SACSCOC-accredited, mid-sized private Christian university in Nashville with strong institution-wide outcomes (87 percent retention, 69 percent six-year graduation, $50,454 median graduate earnings), an unusually broad set of programmatic accreditations (CACREP counseling, ABET engineering, ACPE pharmacy, ACEN nursing, CSWE social work, ATS theology), and a growing online catalog that includes several distinctive programs not found at peer institutions (entertainment management, LADAC psychology, sustainability MBA dual-degree).

The cost structure is the primary trade-off. Lipscomb’s tuition runs substantially above many competing online universities, particularly for the MBA program ($50,220 vs. competitors at $20,000-$30,000). The cost premium is most justified for students who specifically benefit from the Nashville regional positioning, who need CACREP accreditation for counseling licensure, who want one of the distinctive programs (entertainment management, LADAC), or who prioritize Lipscomb’s specific brand and community.

Lipscomb is a strong choice for working professionals who specifically value Christian academic integration combined with strong institutional credibility (Carnegie doctoral classification, US News national university ranking), who are pursuing programs Lipscomb offers strongly (counseling, education, entertainment management, LADAC psychology), or who benefit from the Nashville regional employer network. Lipscomb is a less strong choice for students prioritizing the lowest possible cost, the broadest possible online catalog, AACSB business accreditation, or who would prefer secular alternatives.

The single most important practical step for any prospective Lipscomb Online student: request specific program-level outcomes data from Lipscomb admissions, compare against the same data for alternatives at SNHU, WGU, Harding, Liberty, and Regent, and make the enrollment decision based on the specific program rather than on general institutional reputation. The cost premium Lipscomb charges relative to alternatives makes this comparative due diligence particularly important.