Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is affiliated with the United Methodist Church but operates as an independent institution.

[3] Lycoming College traces its roots to 1812 and the founding of the "Williamsport Academy for the Education of Youth in English and other languages, in the useful arts, science and literature".

Eight spirited citizens secured the charter for the school and founded the academy to improve the educational opportunities of the community.

Attendance was by subscription, although a state grant ensured that a number of underprivileged children would be taught free of charge.

Crever is considered to be the founder of Lycoming College, as he was the one to transition the high school into its collegiate beginnings.

After turning the Williamsport Academy into an institution of higher learning, Crever moved on to serve as a chaplain in the Civil War and founded a total of four schools.

Since his arrival, the campus had been involved in a strategic planning process to continually evaluate student needs and adapt the College's programs to those needs.

Lycoming was ranked 107th among "National Liberal Arts Colleges" in 2024 U.S. News & World Report,[6] and 29th in Social Mobility.

Unique facilities include the Detwiler Planetarium, Mary L. Welch Theatre, Snowden Library, the Sylk Digital Arts Laboratory, an electronic music studio, a radio station, and a greenhouse.

[15] Athletic facilities include Lamade Gymnasium, the Keiper Recreation Center, and an outdoor intramural field.

The Lycoming College Art Gallery is located at 25 West Fourth Street in downtown Williamsport.

Lycoming was a member in the Middle Atlantic Conferences, with the baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf, softball, and volleyball teams competing in the MAC Freedom, but the athletic department accepted an invitation to move 18 of its 19 sports to the Landmark Conference, starting in 2023-24.

Lycoming College celebrated its 125th year of varsity athletics in 2015, as a baseball team was first formed at Dickinson Seminary in 1890.

In 1952, Lycoming, recently becoming an established four-year college, was invited to join the Middle Atlantic Conference.