“A 200+ year-old liberal arts college near five major East Coast cities, ranked #5 nationally for social mobility.”
Lycoming College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, making it one of the oldest colleges in the United States. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church but operating independently, Lycoming combines more than two centuries of academic tradition with a thoroughly modern educational mission focused on access, opportunity, and outcomes. The college is nationally recognized for its impact on social mobility — ranked #5 in the country among liberal arts colleges by US News in 2026 — and for its strong return on investment, with a top-25 ranking for Best Value. With approximately 1,000 undergraduates and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Lycoming offers an intimate academic environment across 43+ majors and 66+ minors spanning the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, business, and the arts. Top majors include business, psychology, criminal justice/criminology, biology, art, communication, history, English, applied computer science, accounting, and astronomy/physics. The college's location in Williamsport — less than four hours from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New York City, and Washington DC — gives students unique access to East Coast internship and career opportunities while maintaining the affordability and community feel of a small Pennsylvania town. Campus life at Lycoming is deeply residential and tradition-rich. Students live in eight residence halls and college-owned apartments adjacent to campus. Beloved traditions include the David B. Sykes Gate Procession (each entering class enters through the historic gate at New Student Convocation), the annual Thanksgiving Harvest Dinner where faculty serve students, Late Night Breakfast during finals, and induction into the IRUSKA Honor Society for distinguished juniors. The Warriors compete in 19 NCAA Division III varsity sports, and over 60 student organizations, multiple honor societies, and affinity housing communities round out an active student life. With 99% of undergraduates receiving financial aid and an average award of nearly $42,000, Lycoming makes a high-quality liberal arts education accessible to students from all backgrounds.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Social Mobility — Liberal Arts Colleges
US News 2026
Best Value — Liberal Arts Colleges
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding commitment; decision in December
Early Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Rolling review after December 16
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$52,275
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Strong programs in biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and applied computer science with active undergraduate research culture.
Practical business education with strong placement record and accounting specialization.
Programs examining human behavior, society, criminal justice, and global affairs.
Rich programs in history, literature, languages, philosophy, religion, and the visual and performing arts.
Structured tracks for medical, dental, legal, and educational careers with dedicated advising.
4 years
Lycoming's distinctive astronomy program features a campus observatory and undergraduate research opportunities rare at colleges of this size.
4 years
One of Lycoming's most popular majors, offering a strong combination of theoretical and applied study with internship opportunities in the regional justice system.
4 years
Top-earning major at Lycoming with median graduate earnings of $64,544 and access to internships across the East Coast corridor.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $50,029
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
