Â鶹¹ÙÍø

Create What Comes Next

The Â鶹¹ÙÍø Experience

Your future is full of potential—an Â鶹¹ÙÍø education helps you unlock it.

At Â鶹¹ÙÍø, you’ll never be just a number. Small class sizes mean your professors will know you by name and provide the personalized support you need to thrive. You’ll get the close-knit experience of a liberal arts college paired with the real-world preparation of a career-focused university.

You’ll learn by doing—through internships, research, service and hands-on experiences—so you graduate ready for both a meaningful career and a fulfilling life. At Â鶹¹ÙÍø, you’ll discover your calling and become the kind of leader who makes a difference in your community and beyond.

Smiling student at commencement
Start Here, Go Anywhere

No matter your ambitions, dreams or goals for the future, you’ll find your new home and path to success at Â鶹¹ÙÍø. With a wide range of degree programs, you’ll soon discover a life-changing experience at Â鶹¹ÙÍø.

Katelyn Vause

I chose Â鶹¹ÙÍø because I felt a connection to the school the first time I saw it. I liked the feel of a small campus and my scholarship made attendance affordable.

Katelyn Vause '18, English
A student conducts research in a lab
Academics Preparation & Real-World Experiences

Our intimate learning environment enables our faculty to connect deeply with each student. You aren't just a number at Â鶹¹ÙÍø. With hands-on learning, student research opportunities, internships and close faculty mentorship, you'll gain the knowledge and experience to thrive in your career and make an impact in the world.

Academics Research & Scholarship Study Abroad Advising & Student Success Internships & Careers
Group of Â鶹¹ÙÍø Outdoor Adventure Club students pose for a photo in front of a waterfall while hiking
Student Life

At Â鶹¹ÙÍø, you’ll find more than just a campus—you’ll find a community. Student life is filled with ways to engage, lead, serve and make lasting memories every step of the way.

Student Activities & Organizations Leadership & Service Religious & Spiritual Life Residence Life Health & Wellness Campus Safety
Aerial view of downtown Hickory at sunset with concert on the green by the Sails
Hickory, Our Hometown

Nestled between Charlotte and Asheville, Hickory is a vibrant small city known for its arts, food, festivals and thriving job market. With national recognition as a top place to live, it offers students big opportunities in a welcoming, creative and connected community.

Go Beyond What’s Expected

We don’t just offer a world-class education—we create a community of passionate learners to lift you up and inspire you to become your best self.

Students cheering Â鶹¹ÙÍø football in stands
Students working in lab with test tubes
Student working on canvas in art class
15:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Two students laughing while studying in hammocks on lawn
$30M
Provided in student financial aid each year
Students talking at table in coffee shop
Two students talking in fitness center
Professor talking to students from front of classroom

News & Events

Book cover of A Fever in the Heartland and Tim Egan author photo
Pulitzer Prize-Winning author Tim Egan to deliver inaugural Huffman Lecture at Â鶹¹ÙÍø

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Tim Egan will visit Â鶹¹ÙÍø in March 2027 to deliver the inaugural Huffman Lecture on Social Justice, focused on democracy and civic responsibility.

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Agnes Park Hacawa page and graduation photo
The First Arrival

After immigrating from Korea to Hawaii, Agnes Park crossed a continent to attend Â鶹¹ÙÍø. She graduated in 1924, and in 2025, her granddaughter traced the journey of one of the first international Bears.

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