Programs of Study
Lipscomb University offers an intellectually challenging academic program with a commitment to continual spiritual formation while engaging the world. Lipscomb’s 4,700 students study in academic areas that range from majors in the liberal arts to programs of study in pre-professional and professional disciplines. In addition to master’s and doctoral degrees, Lipscomb offers the following undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Bachelor of Social Work.
Lipscomb’s Core Curriculum
The Core curriculum at Lipscomb University is grounded in the study of the Bible and Christian theology, cultivating a systematic engagement with the Christian intellectual tradition across disciplines. Students will develop an understanding of core texts, great ideas, and seminal figures in history, literature, philosophy, and politics. They will engage with methods of inquiry and problem-solving, informed by the discoveries of mathematics, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The Core experience is further enriched by the creative expressions and contributions of the arts. Through this curriculum, students are equipped to think critically, reason ethically, communicate effectively, and deliberate responsibly, while also broadening their perspectives through engagement with diverse ideas and perspectives.
National Honors and Awards
Lipscomb University is ranked as a national university for the ninth year in a row in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s “2025 Best Colleges” rankings.
As of 2025, Lipscomb’s Institutional Classification by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education is Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium. This classification places Lipscomb among 135 institutions (just 3% nationally) that offer a broad array of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including at the doctoral level; award a majority of degrees in career-aligned or pre-professional fields; and enroll between 4,000 and 20,000 students annually.
Lipscomb is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral/professional university, placing it among only 12% of higher education institutions in the United States that meet the criteria for the doctoral university classification. According to a 2020 report by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Lipscomb was the fastest-growing private doctoral university in Tennessee and the eighth fastest growing in the nation between 2008 and 2018.
Lipscomb University was ranked the #13 Best Christian College in America according to the 2025 Niche Ranking. The ranking evaluated 519 Christian colleges and universities across the country and is based on a rigorous analysis of key statistics and student reviews using data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Lipscomb is among 417 universities across the country named a College of Distinction for the 2024-2025 academic year, marking its commitment to providing a high-quality undergraduate education that focuses on hands-on learning, strong student-teacher relationships, a vibrant campus life and successful outcomes.
The College of Business undergraduate programs were ranked among the top 50 undergraduate programs in the nation by Poets&Quants in its 2024 Best Undergrad Business Schools rankings. This is the eighth consecutive year for Lipscomb’s College of Business to be ranked among the top nationally.
The College of Education’s undergraduate secondary teacher preparation program was named one of the top 120 programs in the country for 2019 by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). For 13 consecutive years, Lipscomb’s College of Education has been recognized as one of the most effective teacher preparation programs in Tennessee on the Teacher Preparation Report Card, released annually by the Tennessee State Board of Education.
The undergraduate Social Work program, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was ranked No. 1 in Tennessee by socialworkdegree.org in its 2019 rankings of nearly 400 programs nationwide.
Lipscomb’s undergraduate engineering program, housed in the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering, was ranked No. 110 in the nation for a non-doctoral degree engineering program by the 2021 U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” rankings.
As of 2022, Lipscomb had produced 14 Fulbright student scholars over the previous 16 years, with five awarded in 2019.
Great Location
Lipscomb’s beautiful 113-acre campus is located in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee, just four miles from downtown. Nashville is one of the nation’s most exhilarating cities and is located within one day’s drive of 75 percent of the nation’s population.
Engaging the World
The city is our campus, and the world is our classroom. An important component of a Lipscomb education is global engagement. Lipscomb offers study opportunities throughout the world. Students also engage in humanitarian service through SALT (service-learning) and mission programs.
High Placement Rate
Lipscomb has continued to surpass the national average of positive career outcomes each year for the past decade. Lipscomb’s 2019-2020 job placement rate was 92 percent. This was based on the amount of bachelor’s degree graduates who are employed or pursuing graduate school within six months of graduation.
Diverse Population
The Lipscomb community is diverse, with a student body that comes from all 50 states and 43 nations and territories representing a rich diversity of ethnic and religious experiences.
Athletics
The Bison athletics program is a vital part of campus life. Competing in the NCAA Division I as a member of the ASUN Conference, Lipscomb continues to build on its tradition of athletic success with several teams advancing to their respective NCAA national tournaments each year.
The 2024-25 men’s basketball team had won the ASUN regular season title and the ASUN Tournament. In doing so, they earned the school’s second-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The women’s basketball team also had a notable year, winning 20 games and making its first-ever trip to the WNIT Tournament.
The 2024 Women’s soccer team won the ASUN Championship and earned its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament while the 2024 women’s cross country team won the conference championship for the 11th time in program history and competed at NCAA Nationals for the second year in a row.
The 2023 baseball team won the ASUN Regular Season and Tournament Championships, earning the right to compete in the Clemson NCAA Regional.
In 2024-25, the Bisons continued a history of strong academic performance with over 90 percent of student-athletes posting a 3.0 grade point average or better in that year.
In 2024-25, Volleyball Coach Brandon Rosenthal earned his 400th career win and Baseball Head Coach Jeff Forehand earned both his 700th career win and his 500th win as a Lipscomb skipper while also being inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame.
Integration of Faith & Academics
Our faculty intentionally integrate Christian faith and practice into the academic curriculum. Lipscomb is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
Community Service Leader
Lipscomb renewed its Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching “Community Engagement” classification in 2020, including it among just over 350 universities in the nation to have achieved this classification. Lipscomb has a commitment to community engagement that is demonstrated in the university’s mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices. In addition, the Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership received a Regional Thinking and Action Award recognizing successful examples of growth leadership by Cumberland Region Tomorrow.
Going Green
Lipscomb is leading the way for universities in Tennessee by using geothermal technology and other sustainability practices.
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