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Hannibal–LaGrange University

Coordinates: 39°43′50″N 91°23′31″W / 39.73048°N 91.39196°W / 39.73048; -91.39196
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Hannibal-LaGrange University
Hannibal-LaGrange University Logo
Former names
LaGrange Male and Female Seminary (1858–1928)
Hannibal College (????–1928)
Hannibal–LaGrange College (1928–2010)
MottoScientia ad serviendum ("Knowledge for Service")
TypePrivate university
Established1858
Religious affiliation
Baptist
Students494 (2022)[1]
Location
Hannibal
,
Missouri
,
United States

39°43′50″N 91°23′31″W / 39.73048°N 91.39196°W / 39.73048; -91.39196
ColorsScarlet & Navy Blue
   
NicknameTrojans
Sporting affiliations
NAIA – American Midwest
MascotTrojan
Websitehlg.edu

Hannibal–LaGrange University (HLGU), formerly Hannibal–LaGrange College, is a private Christian university in Hannibal, Missouri. It is affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention, which is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. As of 2022, 494 students are enrolled, and 29 majors are offered.[2][3] The university is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[4]

Mid-1870s sketch of La Grange College

History

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Hannibal–LaGrange University was created as the result of the 1928 merger of LaGrange College (founded in 1858 as the LaGrange Male and Female Seminary) in LaGrange, Missouri, and Hannibal College in Hannibal.[5] In October 2022, the trustees at Hannibal–LaGrange University elected Robert Matz as the 18th president of the university. Living former presidents include Anthony W. Allen (17th president), Woodrow Burt (16th president), Paul Brown (15th president), and Larry Lewis (14th president), a graduate of Luther Rice Seminary, who left HLGU to be the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board), one of the largest mission agencies in the world.

In 2010, the Missouri Baptist Convention voted to change the institution's name to Hannibal–LaGrange University after a bid to change the name to "University of Hannibal" was voted down.[6]

As a Christian school, the university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2015 which allows it to legally discriminate against protected classes (religion, sexual orientation, gender identity).[7]

Following several years of declining enrollment, Hannibal–LaGrange University experienced severe financial challenges in 2021 and 2022. These challenges were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic with enrollment declining to 780 students in 2021, down from over 1,000 students a decade prior.[8] The institution raised $1.5 million in the span of a few months in early 2022 but needed $2.2 million to pay outstanding debts. As a result, numerous faculty and staff were fired, salaries reduced, retirement matching eliminated and programs closed. All faculty contracts were terminated as a result of the institution's declaration of financial exigency.[9][10] Faculty contacts were restored in August 2022.[11]

Academics

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The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In November 2022, the commission placed HLGU on probation because it determined that the institution was out of compliance with HLC requirements as a result of its financial issues, lack of autonomy of its governing board, and issues related to sufficiency of faculty and staff.[12] Probation was removed and full accreditation was reinstated on October 31, 2024 based on HLGU's ability to demonstrate that it was in full compliance with HLC requirements.[4]

Hannibal–LaGrange University offers undergraduate programs and two fully online graduate programs, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Education and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Leadership. HLGU's ADVANCE Degree Completion program is designed for working adults with an associate degree who want to complete their bachelor's degree in as little as 18 months.

In 2025, Hannibal–LaGrange University was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 53rd best Midwest college in the regional colleges category and the 17th best in the social mobility category.[13]

Athletics

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Roland Fine Arts Center beyond a campus athletic area

The Hannibal–LaGrange athletic teams are called the Trojans. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) since the 1986–87 academic year. They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the North-Central Region of the Division I level.

Hannibal–LaGrange competes in 8 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include shotgun sports. Former sports include men's and women's golf, wrestling, swimming, and men's volleyball.

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Hannibal-LaGrange University". Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Overview. Semester based academic calender Archived 2023-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Undergraduate Majors – Hannibal-LaGrange University". 9 November 2016. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Public Disclosure Notice" (PDF). hlcommission.org. November 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Hannibal LaGrange Charter (On file) http://www.lagrangemo.com/cityoflagrangemo/LAHIST.HTM Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Introducing Hannibal–LaGrange University" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  7. ^ Anderson, Nice (December 18, 2015). "Religious colleges get exemptions to anti-bias law; critics denounce 'hidden discrimination' against LGBT students". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  8. ^ Whitford, Emma (March 29, 2022). "Fundraising Its Way Out of Financial Trouble". Inside Higher Ed. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  9. ^ Knox, Liam (May 26, 2022). "A Financial Collapse Averted—but at What Cost?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  10. ^ McDonald, Trevor (June 1, 2022). "Hannibal-LaGrange will open for next year after finances improve". Hannibal Courier-Post. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  11. ^ McDonald, Trevor (August 5, 2022). "HLGU Announces Balanced Budget Encouraging News For 2022–2023 School Year". Hannibal Courier-Post. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Public disclosure Archived 2023-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Hannibal–LaGrange University". U.S. News & World Report.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1903–1904,' Biographical Sketch of Jefferson R. Boulware, pg. 365
  15. ^ "Ashleigh Spencer, Basketball Player, News, Stats – australiabasket".
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