Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Lincoln admits about 7 in 10 applicants (66%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 70% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
No application fee
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 62%, women at 68%.
Yield
12% of admitted students enroll, on the lower end nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How Lincoln reads a record
GPA is very important; , class rank, and tests are all considered. 15% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 1% of first-years sent an SAT and 0% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Recommends 4 years of math (3 required). See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Considered | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Considered | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Not considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Not considered | ||||
| Work experience | Not considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record considered; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test required; other tests considered
Transferring in
74% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 66% of first-year applicants
125 applied · 92 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Minimum high school GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date June 1
- Spring entry: priority date December 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by August 1 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: May 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- $275 housing deposit, due June 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Neither requires nor recommends a set college-preparatory program.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science | 3 | 3 |
| Social studies | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 16 | 17 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Started considering a college-prep program in fall 2024; Started considering class rank in fall 2024; Started considering legacy status in fall 2024; Started considering other tests in fall 2024; Started considering the high school record in fall 2024; Started considering work experience in fall 2024; Started considering recommendations in fall 2023.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.07
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.06%
- 3.75–3.999%
- 3.50–3.7411%
- 3.25–3.4913%
- 3.00–3.2420%
- below 3.040%
The middle half had GPAs of 2.50–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 6.1% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 9.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 11.1% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 13.1% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 20.2% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 23.2% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 16.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 1.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 890 on the SAT, 280 points below the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)