It was founded in 1891 and is affiliated with the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The LRU football team won the NAIA National Championship in 1960 and made three trips to the title game in four years.

Recently, the Lenoir–Rhyne softball team has seen six straight trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs, and reached the Southeast Region Finals in 2010 and 2011.

Also, the Bears' women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2010 after the program's most successful season to date.

Students who are part of the Lenoir-Rhyne Honors Academy or Greek Life may choose to live in designated on campus houses.