Graceland University - Lamoni

Graceland University, then Graceland College, was founded in 1895 with support and land donations from the Community of Christ. Not only did this land provide the space for the college to flourish, it also inspired Graceland’s identity; Graceland was named because of the graceful slope of the hill on which the university was built. The first building – now the administration building – housed the college in its entirety. It was dedicated on January 1, 1897. The Community of Christ church president, Joseph Smith III, said on the day of dedication that the college “should be free to all irrespective of faith or creed.” Graceland College became a four-year college in 1960. Graceland College became Graceland University on June 1, 2000. 

Today, Graceland University is a private, four-year liberal arts university offering thirty-one undergraduate majors, nine pre-professional programs, three master’s degrees and a doctorate program. Recognized by the Princeton Review as a “Best in the Midwest” from 2012 to 2020, Graceland University prides itself on providing a high-quality education to a diverse group of students who share a commitment to their values of learning, wholeness, and community.

Accordingly, since 1895, Graceland University has been developing students into people who will change the world by giving them the best experience and education possible. Graceland University also believes that providing a strong liberal arts learning environment is just one piece of the puzzle, just as important are their compassionate faculty, who care about their students’ success; their on-campus activities that build forever friendships; and the powerful sense of place and belonging they cultivate every day.

Graceland University is located in the heartland of America, with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri. Graceland’s scholastic and geographic positioning offers a unique opportunity to international students to pursue studies in a university environment while enjoying the very best of the Midwest American heartland.

Lamoni Campus

Lamoni is a city in Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population of Lamoni was 1,969 at the time of the 2020 Census. Lamoni is the location of the main residential campus of Graceland University, affiliated with the Community of Christ, and the city was the church's headquarters from 1880 to 1920, when it moved to Independence, Missouri. Lamoni offers the safety, security and tranquility of small town life while still providing plenty of activities for students to enjoy. 

In Lamoni, students will find Graceland University’s sports complex, which features an artificial turf football field, an Olympic-quality outdoor track and a best-in-the-conference soccer complex. Lamoni is also home to the enviable Helene Center for the Visual Arts. The Shaw Center, a regional performing arts hub featuring a 500-seat auditorium and 100-seat recital hall, fully customizable black box theatre and a stunning outdoor amphitheatre, can also be found in Lamoni. 

Small Class Sizes: Graceland University offers a student to faculty ratio of 12:1 for all undergraduate locations; and 13:1 for the Lamoni Campus.

Athletics: Graceland University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Graceland’s men and women athletes compete in 20 varsity teams in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HEART).

Modern Facilities: Graceland University offers all modern technological amenities, as well as industry-standard equipment in the Resch Science and Technology Hall.

Community: Graceland University appreciates and welcomes diversity and, as an institution sponsored by Community of Christ, believes in the inherent worth of all persons expressed through relationships built on the foundation of unconditional love and acceptance.

Support: Graceland University has a team of experienced international admissions counselors and staff to help students during each step of their Graceland journey.