
Lebanon Valley College is a private college founded in 1866 in Annville, Pennsylvania. Its origins are tied to the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and its history helps explain both its liberal arts foundation and its continuing emphasis on service.
The college has expanded beyond its original course offerings to include undergraduate and graduate study in fields such as business, education, health professions, and the sciences. It remains in Annville rather than operating as a branch of a larger university. Applicants comparing older accounts with current program listings should use the present academic catalog: a college's historical strengths do not necessarily describe every degree it offers today.
Lebanon Valley College offers undergraduate majors across the arts, humanities, sciences, business, education, and health-related fields, along with selected graduate and professional programs. It is a college with academic departments and programs, not a university whose name implies a separate faculty for every subject.
Examples of undergraduate study include biology, chemistry, computer science, music, psychology, accounting, and teacher education. Health-related pathways include physical therapy. Some fields involve professional preparation or a sequence extending beyond a bachelor's degree, so applicants should compare the credential awarded, program length, clinical or fieldwork requirements, and admission rules for the specific program - not just its subject name.
The college reports an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. That institution-wide measure can help describe scale, but it does not predict the enrollment or format of an individual course.
Lebanon Valley College's main campus is in Annville, a small community in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. The setting is distinct from an urban campus: many classes, activities, and services are concentrated on campus, while off-campus travel may require a car or other planned transportation.
Annville is near Lebanon and within reach of the Harrisburg and Hershey areas. Harrisburg International Airport is a regional option for longer-distance travel. Students who expect to commute, take an off-campus placement, or work locally should check the route and schedule for those commitments; proximity on a map does not always translate into a convenient daily trip.
Lebanon Valley College describes its educational purpose in terms of academic preparation, personal development, and service to others. Its mission reflects a liberal arts approach alongside preparation for careers and further study; those are institutional aims, not guarantees about an individual student's outcome.
The college's historical connection to the United Brethren tradition, and subsequently the United Methodist tradition, is relevant to its identity. Prospective students can assess how its stated values appear in current academic requirements, community engagement, and campus programming without assuming that historical affiliation determines every student's beliefs or experience.
Name of the institution
Lebanon Valley CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (United Methodist Church)School type
Upper-level higher education institution with graduate programsMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1866Lebanon Valley College is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 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 degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData 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.