


Courtesy of Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private Christian university founded in Nashville in 1891 as the Nashville Bible School. David Lipscomb and James A. Harding established it to combine academic study with Bible instruction, an origin that still shapes the university's identity.
The institution later took the name David Lipscomb College before becoming Lipscomb University. Its development from a Bible school into a university explains why students can now study subjects ranging from engineering and business to health professions and the arts while encountering an institution-wide emphasis on Christian faith and service.
Lipscomb offers undergraduate, graduate and professional education through colleges and academic programs spanning the liberal arts, sciences and applied fields. Its academic organization includes a College of Bible and Ministry, College of Business, College of Education, College of Entertainment and the Arts, and Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering, among others.
Representative undergraduate fields include biology, computer science, education, engineering, music, nursing and psychology. Graduate and professional offerings extend into areas such as business, education, health care and pharmacy. Students comparing programs should check the current academic catalog: admission requirements, clinical placements, licensure preparation and delivery formats can differ considerably by degree.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 13 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not indicate the size of a particular lecture, laboratory or graduate seminar.
Lipscomb's main campus is in Nashville, Tennessee, in the Green Hills area south of downtown. Students have access to a residential campus within a larger metropolitan area, rather than a campus isolated from employers and community organizations.
Nashville may be useful for internships, clinical experiences, arts activities and part-time work, depending on a student's field. It also makes transportation planning important: commuters should account for traffic and parking, while students without cars should examine the routes and travel times for destinations they expect to visit. Nashville International Airport serves the region.
Lipscomb describes its educational mission in Christian terms, connecting academic learning with faith, service and preparation for work and community life. Its historical affiliation is with the Churches of Christ.
That identity is relevant to students of any background considering the university. It can affect required coursework, chapel or other faith-related programming, and expectations for campus life. Applicants should distinguish the university's stated mission from the requirements of their particular degree and review current student policies before enrolling.
Name of the institution
Lipscomb UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Church of Christ)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1891Lipscomb University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 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
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
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.