Lancaster Bible College: An In-Depth Overview

Lancaster Bible College (LBC) is a private, non-denominational Bible college committed to providing students with a biblically integrated education. Founded on a "students-first commitment" in 1933, LBC has grown from its humble beginnings to a thriving institution offering a range of programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. With a main campus in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LBC offers both on-campus and online programs.

History and Founding

Lancaster Bible College was founded in September 1933 by Henry J. Heydt. The original class consisted of eight daytime students and 14 evening students, meeting in the Convention Hall at West Orange and Pine Streets in Lancaster. Heydt served as president until 1953, laying the foundation for the college's commitment to biblical education.

Presidential Leadership

Throughout its history, Lancaster Bible College has been guided by a series of presidents who have each contributed to its growth and development:

Henry J. Heydt (1933-1953): Founder of Lancaster Bible College.
William J. Randolph (’50) (1953-1961): Succeeded Heydt and moved the school toward accreditation, expanding the campus with a land gift in 1957.
Stuart E. Lease (’52) (1961-1979): Oversaw significant growth in the student body and campus size, expanding it to 36 acres.
Gilbert A. Peterson (1979-1999): Focused on debt reduction and financial stability, raising significant funds for the school's endowment.
Peter W. Teague (1999-2020): Presided over the completion of several key facilities, including the Good Shepherd Chapel and others.
Thomas L. Kiedis (2020-Present): Introduced numerous online programs and has continued to advance the college's mission.

A Commitment to Faith

Since its founding, Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School has maintained an unqualified commitment to a historic, orthodox position on essential doctrines of the faith. A statement of faith is central to the college’s identity, serving as a unifying and clarifying document in an age of theological shifting and confusion.

The college's statement of faith includes:

The Scriptures: Belief in the Old and New Testaments as the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
The Godhead: Belief in one God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections.
Jesus Christ: Belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, eternally begotten of the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.
The Holy Spirit: Belief that the Holy Spirit came in a special sense indwelling every believer.
Humanity: Belief that God created humanity, male and female, reflecting the image and likeness of God.
Salvation: Belief that salvation was provided and accomplished solely by the finished work of Christ shedding His blood upon the cross.
The Church: Belief that the Church universal consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Future: Belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, and the reward and everlasting conscious blessedness of the just.

Campus and Location

Lancaster Bible College is located in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The campus is situated on 103 acres, providing a suburban setting that combines the tranquility of picturesque farmland with access to Lancaster's vibrant city life. In 1957, the college made the move to its current location in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This exceptional location allows students to experience the best of both worlds.

Academics

Lancaster Bible College offers a variety of academic programs, including:

Associate degrees
Bachelor's degrees
Master's degrees
Doctoral degrees
Certificate programs

The college is committed to Biblical Integration, where the Bible is the foundation of every academic program. LBC's undergraduate education grants six bachelor's degrees, two associate degrees, and two one-year certificates. LBC offers non-credit courses, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs.

Faculty

Over 170 faculty members (part-time and full-time) teach at the college, many of whom hold doctoral degrees. The student-faculty ratio at Lancaster Bible College is 18:1, allowing for personalized attention and mentorship. Professors are "very educated in their topics and experienced in fields relating to those topics;" they also "really care about the students and are willing to go the extra mile for them."

Accreditation

Lancaster Bible College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education on Accreditation (ABHE).

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Student Life

Lancaster Bible College is primarily a residential campus. Students at LBC are all Bible majors along with their specific majors, most have a desire to be in some [type] of church ministry, whether it be full-time or part-time, after their graduation. Students are encouraged to participate in campus activities, chapel services, and community outreach programs.

Community and Engagement

LBC fosters an Authentic Community, where students engage in genuine relationships that focus on spiritual growth, personal development, and mutual care. Relational Education means that professors and staff tailor their interactions to students’ unique interests, gifts and talents. Students here tell us LBC is all about preparing young men and women to build God-honoring relationship[s] and to serve God and others through professional ministries, church ministries, and everyday life encounters.

Athletics

Lancaster Bible College teams (which are only at the college's Lancaster campus) participate as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The Chargers are a member of the NCAA's United East Conference. Women's beach volleyball was added as a club sport during the academic Year.

Admissions and Enrollment

Lancaster Bible College has a test-optional admissions policy. In 2023, Lancaster Bible College received 395 undergraduate applications, which represents a 12.5% annual growth. Out of those 395 applicants, 376 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 95.2% acceptance rate.

The total undergraduate enrollment is 1,778 (fall 2023). The enrolled student population at Lancaster Bible College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 57.3% White, 28.4% Black or African American, 3.75% Two or More Races, 1.96% Hispanic or Latino, 1.34% Asian, 0.692% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.326% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

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Costs and Financial Aid

The school's tuition and fees are $29,990. The average net price for federal loan recipients is $22,575. In 2023, the median undergraduate tuition at Lancaster Bible College is $29,990, which is $14,826 more than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($15,164).

In 2023, 78% of undergraduate students attending Lancaster Bible College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 53% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Rankings and Recognition

In the edition of Best Colleges, Lancaster Bible College is ranked No. #146 in Regional Universities North. It's also ranked No. #52 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Outcomes

The four-year graduation rate is 65%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $36,747. In 2023, 418 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Lancaster Bible College. 47.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 52.6% awarded men.

Additional Resources and Facilities

Lancaster Bible College runs The Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Built in 1912 for the Lancaster Trust Company, the building features Beaux-Arts design from esteemed Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban.

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