Lincoln University

What Lincoln University does

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania is a private, nonprofit Historically Black College and University (HBCU) founded in 1854 as the nation's first degree-granting HBCU. It operates a 56-building main campus in Lincoln University, PA (southern Chester County, approximately 45 miles from Philadelphia and 55 miles from Baltimore) and a satellite School of Adult & Continuing Education (SACE) location in Philadelphia's University City corridor. The institution serves a diverse, international student body of more than 2,200 students across more than 35 undergraduate programs and 4 graduate programs (M.Ed., MBA, M.A. in Human Services Leadership), plus adult-learner offerings through SACE in human services, education, and business.

The university's core technology stack is conventional and entirely third-party or internally administrative: Canvas serves as the Learning Management System, LU Self-Service is a web-based Student Information System for registration/records, and IRIS provides emergency notification across phone/text/email. No proprietary technology products, AI/ML capabilities, or platform integrations are evidenced. Service delivery is primarily on-campus instruction with hybrid/online options for select programs and summer sessions.

Lincoln's revenue model rests on multiple streams: tuition and fees (in-state and out-of-state differentiated), auxiliary services (housing, dining, campus store), federal financial aid pass-through (Pell Grants, GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon, Pennsylvania National Guard EAP), sponsored research grants (notably $12M+ from USDA across 2023), and philanthropic donations — most prominently a $25 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in December 2025, the largest single donation in the university's history. The institution operates within the Commonwealth System of Higher Education and is governed by its own board of trustees with no parent company or equity ownership.

Name

Lincoln University

Legal name

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Website

https://lincoln.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania is a private HBCU founded in 1854, serving 2,200+ students across 35+ undergraduate and 4 graduate programs via its main Chester County campus and a Philadelphia adult-education satellite, funded by tuition, federal aid, sponsored research, and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Continuing education
• Liberal arts college

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln University

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including in-state and out-of-state rates, along with various student fees
2. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from on-campus housing, dining services, and campus store operations
3. Federal Financial Aid: Student financial aid programs including Pell Grants, student loans, and institutional scholarships funded by federal government
4. Philanthropic Donations: Major gifts and donations from alumni, foundations, and philanthropists such as MacKenzie Scott's $25 million scholarship gift
5. Grants and Sponsored Programs: Research grants and sponsored programs from government and private sources

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lincoln University is a private historically Black university that delivers higher education through 35+ undergraduate degree programs and 4 graduate programs on its main Lincoln, Pennsylvania campus and its satellite School of Adult & Continuing Education (SACE) campus in Philadelphia. The university offers online and blended learning options, an Honors Program, NCAA Division II athletics, and wraparound services such as academic advising, financial aid, and career development for a student body of 2,200+ from 25+ states and 30+ countries.

Product overview

Lincoln University is an educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It does not offer a technology product or software platform in the traditional sense. The university's core offerings are academic programs across multiple disciplines, including business administration (MBA), education (M.Ed.), human services leadership (MAHSL), and various undergraduate programs. The institution operates a main campus in Pennsylvania and a satellite location (University City) in Philadelphia through its School of Adult & Continuing Education (SACE).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs 35+ bachelor's degree programs across liberal arts and professional disciplines delivered on the main Lincoln, PA campus for residential and commuter students.
• Graduate Degree Programs Four master's degree programs providing advanced study for post-baccalaureate students seeking professional or scholarly credentials.
• School of Adult & Continuing Education (SACE) Adult and continuing education programs delivered at the Philadelphia SACE campus for working adults and nontraditional learners seeking flexible credentialing.
• Online and Blended Learning Programs Fully online and blended course formats that allow students to complete degree requirements with flexible scheduling.
• Honors Program Enhanced academic program offering rigorous coursework and enrichment for high-achieving undergraduate students.
• NCAA Division II Athletics Intercollegiate competitive athletics program for student-athletes competing at the NCAA Division II level.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IIT Patna (Indian Institute of Technology Patna)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Lincoln University Australia signed an MoU with IIT Patna to enhance international research cooperation and academic exchange programs. The partnership aims to promote joint research, student and faculty exchanges, and interdisciplinary educational development, expanding global exposure and research opportunities for both institutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Howard University: Howard is the largest private HBCU in the United States, offering extensive undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in Washington, D.C. It is broadly comparable to Lincoln as a private HBCU but operates at significantly larger scale across more disciplines and with a much larger research endowment.

Direct peers

• Spelman College: Spelman is a private, liberal arts HBCU in Atlanta focused on undergraduate education with a small, residential model. It shares Lincoln's small-campus, liberal-arts positioning within the HBCU ecosystem and competes for similarly mission-driven prospective students.
• Morehouse College: Morehouse is a private, liberal arts HBCU in Atlanta with a small residential undergraduate model. It is one of the closest direct comparables to Lincoln in size, mission, and historic-significance positioning within the HBCU segment.
• Hampton University: Hampton is a private HBCU in Virginia offering undergraduate and graduate programs across liberal arts, sciences, and professional fields. Comparable to Lincoln in mission, program breadth, and private-HBCU positioning, though it operates at a larger scale and with a stronger research footprint.
• Tuskegee University: Tuskegee is a private HBCU in Alabama with a similar mix of undergraduate and graduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, business, and engineering. It is a close peer in mission and program structure, with a comparable emphasis on STEM and workforce-preparation outcomes.
• Fisk University: Fisk is a small, private, liberal arts HBCU in Nashville with a residential model and a strong research legacy (notably in physics). It is highly comparable to Lincoln in size, mission, and historic HBCU identity, and competes in the same small-private-HBCU segment.
• Xavier University of Louisiana: Xavier is a private, Catholic-affiliated HBCU in New Orleans known for STEM and pre-medical education. It is a close direct peer to Lincoln in scale, mission, and HBCU positioning, with comparable emphasis on producing graduate outcomes in science and health fields.
• Clark Atlanta University: Clark Atlanta is a private HBCU formed by the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University, offering undergraduate and graduate programs across liberal arts, business, and sciences. Comparable to Lincoln as a private HBCU with a similar program mix and small-to-mid scale of operations.
• Wilberforce University: Wilberforce is a small, private HBCU in Ohio with a liberal arts focus and a historical-significance identity similar to Lincoln's. It is one of the smallest comparable HBCUs and competes for the same mission-aligned student demographic at similar scale.

Regional players

• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania: Cheyney is Pennsylvania's other HBCU, a state-related institution located near Lincoln with overlapping admissions territory and similar mission focus. It is the most direct regional peer for prospective student recruitment and Pennsylvania higher-education policy context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheLincolnUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-university-19278
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolnuniversityofpa
• Xx.com/LincolnUofPA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln University