

Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) was founded in 2011 with an emphasis on education across religious and cultural differences. Its early development involved the Claremont School of Theology and Jewish and Muslim partners. The university subsequently developed a broader focus on leadership and social change.
That history helps explain its identity today: CLU is a small, primarily online university rather than a traditional residential college. Applicants should distinguish it from the Claremont Colleges and the Claremont School of Theology, which are separate institutions.
Claremont Lincoln University organizes its academic offerings around leadership and related professional fields, rather than a large collection of conventional undergraduate departments. Its offerings include a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership and graduate study in leadership-related areas.
Prospective students should examine the current program catalog for the exact degree title, curriculum, credit requirements, and available concentrations. That matters especially for applicants seeking a particular professional credential: a leadership degree is not necessarily interchangeable with a degree required for licensure in teaching, counseling, or another regulated field.
Claremont Lincoln University is based in Claremont, California, in eastern Los Angeles County. Its programs are primarily online, so the institution's Claremont address should not be mistaken for a conventional residential campus experience.
Claremont is a suburban community with regional rail and road connections to the greater Los Angeles area. For an online student, location may matter less than time-zone scheduling and whether a particular program requires live sessions, in-person meetings, or other activities away from home. Applicants should check those requirements for their intended degree rather than assuming every course is fully asynchronous.
CLU states that its educational purpose is to develop people who can lead constructive change across differences. Its approach emphasizes dialogue, collaboration, and the practical application of leadership skills.
The university's origins include interreligious cooperation, but applicants should not assume that every current degree is a religious-studies program. Its stated philosophy is most useful as a guide to the kinds of discussion and applied projects students may encounter; it is not, by itself, evidence of a particular career outcome.
Name of the institution
Claremont Lincoln UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1946Claremont Lincoln University is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.