Lyon College's rankings

It is Lyon College’s mission to offer a powerful and in-depth education to all students. Ranked as a “Best Southeastern College” by the Princeton Review, Lyon College is no stranger to receiving awards for its efforts in making sure students get their money’s worth. Lyon College was rated a “Top College” by Forbes.com in 2019, the No. 168 National Liberal Arts College ranked by U.S. News & World Report as of 2020, and Lyon College has ranked as a top performer in social mobility the past seven years.

Lyon College's faculty

While Lyon College has much to offer on and off campus, the treasure of our community is our faculty. Lyon College’s faculty are talented teacher-scholars who excel in the classroom, in their research programs, and as academic advisors. Every single class at Lyon College is taught by our faculty - zero classes are taught by graduate or teaching assistants. The very idea of such assistants runs counter to our philosophy of personalized, quality education; it’s important to us that your time here is valued! That is why our faculty give unparalleled time and access to students, often building lifelong friendships with them as well. Our professors are consistently recognized for their greatness, and Lyon College’s faculty boasts 14 Carnegie/CASE Arkansas Professors of the Year.

Lyon College's student activities

Here, students have an endless array of activities to attend, events to enjoy, and organizations to join. On our picturesque 136-acre campus, students have access to plenty of outdoor fun, with a regulation Disc Golf Course, a sand volleyball court, an intramural field, six lighted tennis courts, and more. 

Lyon College also has ready access to some of the nation’s best camping, canoeing, caving, rock-climbing, and hiking locations through the Lyon LEAP (Learning, Education, and Adventure Program) Office. You can take the adventure even further with one of the most robust yet inexpensive international travel options in existence - our Nichols International Studies Program.  

There are multitudes of other programs on campus, such as an active Campus Ministry Program, more than 40 student clubs and organizations, and six active Greek Chapters. Our distinctive Scottish Heritage Program allows students to explore the intricacies of Scottish culture through Highland dancing, Pipe Band, and more. 

Lyon Campus offers all of this and more, including:

• State-of-the-art Derby Center for Science and Mathematics
• Black-Box Holloway Theatre
• Lyon Business and Economics Building (modeled after Harvard Business School facilities)
• Mabee-Simpson Library, containing more than 200,000 media items and providing access to more than 20,000 periodicals
• Nine student residence halls, clustered into the three “Houses” that make up the College’s residential house system
• Digital key card access to academic buildings and residence hall for additional security
• Bryan Lake, located on the southern portion of campus, featuring a walking path and flowering trees

Lyon College's enrollment

A college is only as good as its amazing students. Hosting students from 32 states and 18 countries, Lyon College maintains a lively and diverse community. Lyon College enrolls approximately 600 students where the middle 50% of entering freshmen score between 22 and 27 on the ACT, while 72% rank in the top quartile of their high school graduating classes.

Lyon College's financial aid programs

Lyon College offers a wide range of financial aid to help all students with the cost of attendance. With more than 95% of Lyon College students receiving some form of financial assistance, students get to pursue a higher education with less financial stress. Extensive programs of merit-based scholarships, that cover up to the direct cost of attendance, as well as federal and state need-based and merit-based aid programs are offered to all eligible students. 

Lyon College's athletics

Lyon College offers plenty of opportunities for students wanting to compete. Lyon College takes part in the American Midwest Conference, is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and proudly hosts 21 sports teams across men’s, women’s and co-ed sports. If that isn’t enough, Lyon College also offers an extensive intramural program for our Scots.