 | This articlerelies excessively onreferences toprimary sources. Please improve this article by addingsecondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "Lancaster Bible College" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
Former names | Lancaster School of the Bible (1933–1973), Lancaster Bible College & Graduate School (1996–2016) |
|---|---|
| Type | PrivateBible college |
| Established | 1933 (1933) |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
Religious affiliation | Non-denominational |
Academic affiliations | ABHE |
| President | Thomas L. Kiedis |
| Provost | Tricia Wilson |
Academic staff | 199 full-time, 69 part-time[1] |
Administrative staff | 58 full-time, 289 part-time (fall 2022)[2] |
| Students | 1,979 (fall 2022)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 1,546 (fall 2022)[2] |
| Postgraduates | 520 |
| Location | ,, United States 40°4′30″N76°17′17″W / 40.07500°N 76.28806°W /40.07500; -76.28806 |
| Campus | Suburban, 109 acres (.45 km2) |
| Hymn | "My Hope Is in the Lord" |
| Colors | (Red and black) |
| Nickname | Chargers |
Sporting affiliations | NCAADivision III, NCCAA |
| Website | lbc.edu |
 | |
 | |
Lancaster Bible College is aprivateBible college,seminary,[3] andgraduate school inLancaster, Pennsylvania.
Lancaster Bible College offers non-credit courses, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs. The college offers severalMaster of Arts andMaster of Education degree programs,[4] along with threeDoctorate programs.[5]
Founded in 1933 by Henry J. Heydt, the original name of the school was Lancaster School of the Bible.[6] In 1957, the college made the move to its current location inManheim Township,Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1973, the school took on its current name, and in 1981 thePennsylvania Department of Education gave LBC official approval to offer theBachelor of Science in Bible degree.
In 1994, LBC's graduate school was approved to awardMaster of Arts in Bible, Ministry, Counseling, and Master of Education degrees in School Counseling and Consulting Resource Teacher.
In July 2012, LBC announced the launching of a Philadelphia site through its partnership with the Center for Urban Theological Studies (CUTS).[7] The location ceased operations on August 24, 2025, and the location's offerings have since been folded into the college's online programming.[8]
LBC was granted an exception toTitle IX in 2016 which allows it to legally discriminate againstLGBT students for religious reasons.[9]
LBC's current president is Thomas L. Kiedis.[10] He was preceded by Peter W. Teague (1999–2020), Gilbert A. Peterson (1979–1999), Stuart E. Lease (1961–1979), William J. Randolph (1953–1961), and Henry J. Heydt (1933–1953). Teague announced his retirement on August 21, 2018, and Kiedis became president effective February 1, 2020.[11][12]
The campus of Lancaster Bible College is situated on 109 acres inManheim Township,Lancaster County. The campus is just north ofLancaster, Pennsylvania, and is within driving distance of Philadelphia, New York City, Baltimore, andWashington, D.C.
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| Master's | |
| Washington Monthly[13] | 351 of 604 |
| Regional | |
| U.S. News & World Report[14] | 130 (tie) of 152 |
Lancaster Bible College is classified byThe Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a bible college with a high-undergraduate enrollment profile.[15]
Students on average receive about $3,000 in financial aid from the college.[16] Reduced tuition for one class per semester is offered to junior and senior high school students.
LBC's undergraduate education grants six bachelor's degrees, two associate degrees, and two one-year certificates. Over 170 faculty (part-time and full-time) teach at the college, many of whom have doctorates. Undergraduate students can select from 32 undergraduate majors (and 22 minors).[17]
The institution's graduate education grants ten master's degrees and seven graduate certificates.[18]
Lancaster currently offers four doctorate programs in Leadership (PhD), Biblical Studies (PhD), Educational Leadership (EdD) and Strategic Leadership (DMin).[19]
Lancaster Bible College is accredited by theMiddle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and theAssociation for Biblical Higher Education on Accreditation (ABHE). LBC is also accredited by theCouncil on Social Work Education (CSWE), theNational Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COMSA).[20] The school is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.[21][22]
It is a tradition for students to receive a towel along with their diploma as they graduate, as a symbol offoot washing and a reminder to use their education to serve others.[23]
Lancaster Bible College runs The Trust Performing Arts Center in downtownLancaster, Pennsylvania. Built in 1912 for the Lancaster Trust Company, the building features Beaux-Arts design from esteemed Lancaster architectC. Emlen Urban.
The Trust hosts live theater, music, dance, and lectures throughout the year.[24]
Lancaster Bible College teams (which are only at the college's Lancaster campus) participate as a member of theNational Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I and theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division III.[25] The Chargers are a member of the NCAA'sUnited East Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball; women's sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.[26]
Women's beach volleyball was added as a club sport during the 2023-2024 academic Year.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
