Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) has reached the highest enrollment in its history, welcoming 6,808 students for the fall 2026 semester and marking a sixth consecutive year of record growth.
Fall enrollment rose 6.8 percent over last year, an increase of 431 students. Over the past decade, LMU has grown by more than 61 percent, adding nearly 2,600 students since 2016—momentum that reflects growing demand for the University’s academic and professional programs.
The most dramatic gains are within LMU’s professional schools, where enrollment reached 4,219 this fall. That represents a 12.8 percent increase in a single year and growth of more than 174 percent over the decade. In a striking measure of LMU’s transformation, professional enrollment alone now equals the size of the entire University ten years ago.
“LMU is not growing for growth’s sake. Every new student represents a future physician, dentist, veterinarian, attorney, therapist, educator or community leader—and every graduating class strengthens the communities that need them most. Six consecutive record years show that students believe in our mission, and we are matching that confidence with the faculty, facilities and clinical partnerships they need to succeed," said LMU President Dr. Jason McConnell.
LMU’s professional programs span osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law, physician assistant studies, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Together, these programs prepare highly skilled practitioners for a region that has long faced shortages of health care providers and other essential professionals.
“Record enrollment gives us an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine how students learn across disciplines,” said Dr. Jay Stubblefield, executive vice president for academic affairs. “Our priority is to create an academic environment where students are challenged, supported and connected through strong mentorship, collaborative learning and real-world experiences. We want every graduate to leave LMU with the knowledge, judgment and confidence to lead in a rapidly changing world.”
LMU is also expanding the ways students can earn a degree. Beginning this fall, the University has launched a 90-credit-hour bachelor’s degree pathway following approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The new pathway adds another option for students seeking a focused route to a bachelor’s degree as LMU continues responding to changing student and workforce needs.
