


Lindenwood University traces its origins to a school for girls established in Saint Charles, Missouri, by Mary Easton Sibley in 1827. Its beginnings as a women's school remain part of its identity, even though Lindenwood is now a coeducational university offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
The institution became known as Lindenwood College before adopting the Lindenwood University name in 1997. Its expansion into professional, graduate, and online education helps explain why today's student body extends beyond traditional-age students living on the Saint Charles campus.
Lindenwood University offers programs in the arts and humanities, business, education, health-related fields, social sciences, and science and technology. Its academic organization includes colleges or schools focused on arts and humanities; education and human services; science, technology, and health; and business and entrepreneurship.
Representative undergraduate fields include business, computer science, education, psychology, criminal justice, communication, biology, and the performing arts. Graduate and online offerings broaden the options for working adults and students seeking advanced credentials. Applicants should consult the current academic catalog for a particular major's curriculum, delivery format, and any requirements beyond general university admission. An institution's list of academic fields does not mean every program is available online or at every degree level.
Lindenwood University's main campus is in Saint Charles, Missouri, in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Students can study in a historic city while remaining within reach of the region's employers, health-care facilities, arts venues, and transportation networks.
Saint Charles's location makes commuting practical for some students, although travel time depends on where they live and whether they have a car. St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the relevant major airport for students traveling to and from the region. Applicants considering an online program should distinguish its delivery and support arrangements from the experience of attending classes on the Saint Charles campus.
Lindenwood describes its educational mission in terms of a values-centered learning community and the development of the whole person through education, experience, and empowerment. That is the university's statement of purpose, not an independently measured outcome for every student.
The institution has historical ties to Presbyterian education but operates today as a university serving students across religious and nonreligious backgrounds. Prospective students can assess how its stated emphasis on experience fits their goals by examining a specific program's internships, clinical work, performances, projects, or other applied requirements.
Name of the institution
Lindenwood UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1832Lindenwood 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.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarshipData 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.