Quad

Cost & aid

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $19,333 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $5K less than the national median. The 94% who received grants paid $14,473 on average; the other 6% paid the full sticker price of $28,505 in-state / $35,377 out-of-state.

−22% after inflation since 2013–14Over time
Full price, in-state
$28,505 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income

Cost by family income

Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).

Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.

$0$10K$20K$0$100K$200K$300K$400K+Full price $29KLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • Published federal figures
View as a table
Price per year by family income
Family incomePrice per year
$0–30K$14K a year
$30–48K$13K a year
$48–75K$16K a year
$75–110K$20K a year
$150KPublished data end at $110K
$200KPublished data end at $110K
$250KPublished data end at $110K
$300KPublished data end at $110K
$350KPublished data end at $110K
$400K and abovePublished data end at $110K
$150K a year

At $150K: Published data end at $110K

Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.

Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.

What can change this

  • Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
Average total cost per year, all first-years (est.)

$19,333

Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24

Full price, averaged across in-state & out-of-state$32,285
− Grants, averaged over every first-year−$12,952

94% got grants averaging $13,750; 6% got none.

= Average total cost$19,333
Tuition & fees$16.3KRoom & board$11.1KBooks & supplies$1.6KOther expenses$3.3K
Compared to all colleges$19,333
National median: $24,284Below typical

Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.

Who pays what

Received grants · 94%$14,473 averagenet price (in-state students)
No grants · 6%$28.5K / $35.4Kfull price, in-state / out-of-state

Share of first-year students, 2023–24.

Sticker price by residency

RateTuition & feesFirst-years
In-state$12,512$28,50545%
Out-of-state$19,384$35,37755%

Full cost adds books, on-campus room & board, and other expenses ($15,993) to tuition and fees.

Tuition guarantee Part of a Promise program
Median debt at graduation

$28.3K

≈ $299/month for 10 years

Payback estimate

1.8 yrs

of median salary to cover 4 years of net price

Undergrads with a federal loan79%
National median: 45%Above typical

79% of undergrads borrow federally.

Median federal debt, by background

Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.

Pell Grant recipients$23,250
No Pell Grant$21,250
Family income under $30K$23,000
$30K–$75K$22,000
Over $75K$23,041

Three years into repayment

Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.

  • Paid in full0–1%
  • Paying it down3%
  • Payments paused50%
  • Not paying it down23%
  • Behind or in default21%
  • Forgiven or discharged0–1%

Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.

Who actually gets aid

40%of full price

Aid generosity

Generous

Grants cover 40% of the $32,285 full price on average across all first-years (generous), more than at 50% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.

$12,952 in grants per first-year ÷ $32,285 full price.

Compared to every college40%
40%
← Limitedmore generous than 50% of 1,514Very generous →

Who gets grants and scholarships

Full-time first-year students (534), 2023–24

Received grants or scholarships, avg $13,750 No grants

About 1 in 17 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $28,505 in-state / $35,377 out-of-state.

Where the aid comes from

From the college78% · avg $9.3K
Pell Grants73% · avg $6K
State or local grants27%
Student loans84% · avg $7.1K

Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.

Aid by family income

By family income: only students who received federal aid, because income is only reported for them.

Aid by family income isn't reported.

From Lincoln University's Common Data Set

First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2024–25.

First-yearsAll full-time
Have financial need99%415 students95%1,513 students
Need met, on average53%52%
Need fully met11%11%
Average aid package$17,885$17,069
Average need-based grant$10,434$11,277
Average need-based loan$3,276$4,012
Merit aid without need–2%
Athletic scholarships–154average $7,043

Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.

Applying for aid

For fall 2026 entrants.

To apply for aid: the FAFSA.
Need is calculated with the federal formula.

Priority date: April 1 · Aid offers: on a rolling basis · Reply: within 2 weeks

Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.

What the college's own scholarships consider

Academics✓✓
Alumni connection✓not marked
Art✓not marked
Athletics✓not marked
Music or drama✓not marked
State or district residency✓✓

A blank means the college didn't mark it, not that it never counts.

International students

The college offered its own aid to international students in 2024–25.

Need-based and merit aid offered.

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;Lincoln University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)