Lipscomb University

What Lipscomb University does

Lipscomb University is a private, faith-based liberal arts institution founded in 1891 in Nashville, Tennessee, by David Lipscomb. The university serves traditional undergraduate, graduate, online, transfer, and military-connected students across more than 200 programs of study spanning multiple colleges, including a College of Leadership & Public Service and a College of Education recognized by NCTQ for science-of-reading preparation. Its core offering combines rigorous academics with faith-integrated experiences, supported by services such as the Office of Spiritual Formation, the University Health Center, ETS (Entertainment and Technical Services) which streams campus events via Lipscomb Live, and a Marketing office handling digital communications.

The business model operates on standard private-university economics: tuition, fees, auxiliary services (including a Mail Center, Family Therapy Center, and Racquet Club), and donor giving through its 'Investing in Students' program. Scholarships, financial aid, and VA benefits (including the Yellow Ribbon Program) subsidize enrollment, with military tuition costs often nearly fully covered. Distribution is multi-channel, comprising traditional undergraduate admission, graduate admission, online programs, military and veteran admission, and transfer admission via Tennessee Transfer Pathways agreements with TBR community colleges.

Strategically, Lipscomb is deepening three growth vectors: military-connected student support (veteran services scaled from 19 students in 2009 to 149 veterans plus 249 dependents in Fall 2024), the transfer-student pathway (with scholarships up to $20,000 annually), and creative/digital media programming (anchored by the Animation Y'all Expo, launched in 2025 and expanded in 2026). The institution also operates Lipscomb Academy, a wholly-owned K-12 subsidiary. Governance is led by President Dr. Candice McQueen, and Lipscomb Impact 360 functions as the institution's strategic vision framework.

Name

Lipscomb University

Legal name

Lipscomb University

Website

https://lipscomb.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Lipscomb University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1891, offering more than 200 undergraduate, graduate, and online programs to faith-motivated traditional, transfer, and military-connected students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Christian higher education
• Liberal arts education
• Graduate degree programs
• Online degree programs
• Veteran education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lipscomb University is a private, faith-based institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across more than 200 areas of study from its Nashville campus. It delivers a Christ-centered liberal arts education supported by student services such as Military and Veteran Services (Yellow Ribbon Program), Spiritual Formation programs, Transfer Admission pathways, and an on-campus University Health Center.

Product overview

Lipscomb University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered on its Christian higher education mission. The institution delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across multiple colleges and academic departments, with over 200 programs of study. Supporting the academic core are student services including Military and Veteran Services (with Yellow Ribbon Program participation), University Health Center, Career Development Center, Spiritual Formation programs, and Transfer Admission pathways with Tennessee community colleges. Operational services include Entertainment and Technical Services (streaming campus events via Lipscomb Live), University Marketing capabilities, and an online undergraduate application portal. The university also hosts events such as the Animation Y'all Expo and TN VET Reconnect Conference through its facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spark: A program office providing meeting spaces, training, and CEO Connect program
• Lipscomb Mail Center
• ETS (Entertainment and Technical Services)
• Lipscomb Family Therapy Center
• Lipscomb Racquet Club

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Traditional four-year undergraduate degree programs across more than 200 areas of study, delivered through Lipscomb's colleges and academic departments for first-time college students.
• Graduate Programs Graduate-level degree programs including master's degrees and professional certifications across multiple disciplines for students pursuing advanced degrees.
• Online Programs Distance learning and online degree and certificate programs enabling remote learners to pursue education without on-campus attendance.
• Military and Veteran Services Comprehensive support for military-connected students including GI Bill benefits administration, Yellow Ribbon Program participation, military credit evaluation, peer support, and priority registration.
• Transfer Admission Programs Transfer pathways and credit evaluation services including Tennessee Transfer Pathways agreements with TBR community colleges and transfer scholarships up to $20,000 per year plus a $2,000 Community College Transfer Scholarship.
• Spiritual Formation Programs Faith-integrated student development including weekly chapel services, small group studies, prayer sessions, leadership development, mission opportunities in 40+ global locations, and the Center for Vocational Discovery.
• University Health Center On-campus medical care for students including general medical care, women's health, travel health consultations, skin and wound care, allergy shots administration, laboratory services, mental health support, medical equipment loans, and health education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top School in the Nation for Veterans - U.S. News 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Yellow Ribbon Program and liaises with VA to help maximize military benefits for student veterans. Many Lipscomb students have tuition costs almost completely covered through VA benefits and Yellow Ribbon matching.
• Compu-Med Billing Services, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborates with Compu-Med for insurance claims processing and accounts receivable management for the Lipscomb University Health Center, ensuring HIPAA compliance.
• Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CCCU, a collaborative network of more than 180 Christian universities worldwide, providing resources and partnerships for Christian higher education.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of HACU, representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions and promoting Hispanic higher education success.
• Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of SOC, a consortium of colleges and universities providing educational opportunities to military-connected students with flexible credit policies.
• Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Community CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTennessee Transfer Pathways program with transfer agreements for over 25 programs with all TBR community colleges, ensuring seamless credit transfer for community college students.
• Phi Theta KappaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuaranteed admission offered to qualifying Phi Theta Kappa members transferring from community colleges.
• Tennessee Transfer PathwayscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in state-wide transfer pathway program ensuring specific courses transfer seamlessly between Tennessee community colleges and Lipscomb.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Belmont University: Nashville-based private Christian university of comparable size, also faith-affiliated (Tennessee Baptist) with strong undergraduate and graduate programs. The most direct same-market, same-type competitor to Lipscomb for students, faculty, and Nashville brand positioning.
• Trevecca Nazarene University: Nashville-based private Christian university (Church of the Nazarene) with comparable enrollment scale and graduate/online offerings. Direct same-city peer for faith-affiliated traditional and adult learners.
• Union University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jackson, TN offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs with a faith-integrated model closely aligned to Lipscomb's. Tennessee-region peer competing for similar faith-seeking student segments.
• Carson-Newman University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Jefferson City, TN with comparable enrollment scale, faith-integrated curriculum, and traditional/online program mix. Comparable mid-sized Tennessee faith-based private.
• Samford University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Birmingham, AL with similar scale, comprehensive program portfolio, and faith-centered positioning. Frequent peer in CCCU rankings and Christian higher-ed benchmarking.
• Abilene Christian University: Private Church of Christ-affiliated university in Texas with similar enrollment, faith integration, and comprehensive program set. Especially relevant peer given shared Church of Christ heritage with Lipscomb.

Broad incumbents

• Baylor University: Larger Baptist-affiliated private research university with broader program portfolio and stronger athletics brand. Sets the upper-tier benchmark in the same faith-based private higher-ed segment Lipscomp occupies.
• Vanderbilt University: Nashville-based R1 private research university with much larger endowment and program scope. Anchors the same Nashville labor market and competes for the same Nashville-located talent and graduate students at the high end.
• Liberty University: Largest faith-based private university in the US with massive online and Yellow Ribbon veteran enrollment. Sets the ceiling on scaled online faith-based higher ed and shapes veteran-program competitive dynamics.

Regional players

• Middle Tennessee State University: Large public research university in Murfreesboro, TN (35 miles from Nashville) with comparable program breadth and strong transfer-articulation footprint. Competes for in-region students and transfer pipelines even though tuition model differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lipscomb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/lipscomb
• Facebookfacebook.com/LipscombUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lipscomb-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/lipscombuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Lipscomb University