
Lakeland University traces its origins to Mission House, founded in 1862 by German immigrants in Wisconsin. Its history helps explain both its longstanding connection to the United Church of Christ and its present mix of traditional and career-oriented programs.
The institution later became Mission House College, adopted the name Lakeland College in 1956, and became Lakeland University in 2016. Today, it serves students at its Plymouth-area campus as well as students who study through other locations and online programs. Those different ways of attending matter when comparing campus life, schedules, and services.
Lakeland offers undergraduate and graduate study across business, education, the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and health-related fields. Prospective students should use the university's current academic catalog to identify the school or department responsible for a particular program and confirm where and how it is taught.
Examples of fields represented in its academic offerings include accounting, business administration, computer and information sciences, education, psychology, criminal justice-related study, biology, and the arts. Lakeland also offers graduate programs. A program's presence in a university-wide directory does not mean every course, concentration, or credential is available in person at the Plymouth campus.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. That institution-wide measure is not a class-size guarantee: course format and access to instructors can differ between campus, online, and adult-learning programs.
Lakeland University's main campus is near Plymouth in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, in a rural setting rather than a downtown district. Students considering campus-based study should account for transportation to classes, work, and off-campus services.
The university also serves students through locations beyond its main campus and through online instruction. An applicant should confirm the location of required courses, advising, and any clinical or field placement before enrolling. Students can park a car on campus as first-years; Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a regional air-travel option, not a routine substitute for local transportation.
Lakeland describes its educational mission in terms of learning that connects academic study with work and life. Its history is tied to the United Church of Christ, an affiliation that is part of the institution's identity rather than evidence that every student or program has a religious requirement.
The university's emphasis on combining classroom learning and applied experience is particularly relevant to students comparing conventional courses with work-integrated options. Applicants should evaluate the requirements of their intended degree - including any experiential component - rather than assume a particular placement or outcome follows from the mission statement.
Name of the institution
Lakeland UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Rural: FringeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (United Church of Christ)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
OtherFoundation year
1862Lakeland University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning 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.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificateData last updated on November 5, 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.