Lincoln University is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian educational institution based in Oakland, California. It was founded in 1919 in San Francisco by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Lickey, and was chartered under the laws of California in 1926. In 1950, the University became a non-profit tax-exempt institution under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501 (c) (3).
From the school's founding in 1919, Lincoln has placed an emphasis on adult education and urban outreach, as well as keeping an international orientation. These characteristics became distinguishing marks of the institution. Lincoln University was among the first post-secondary educational institutions in California to offer programs with a focus on the needs of the working adults. The emphasis was further refined to also meet the demands of internation­al students.
Lincoln University serves the needs of the community by continuously modifying its programs, to follow the needs of the job market. Constant growth and academic development were always a characteristic of the school. In the 1960's and 1970's, the University developed a curriculum for an outstanding, well-balanced Business Adminis­tration program, which was finalized in 2009 by the approval of the Doctor of Business Administration Degree. In the 1980’s, a strong Computer Science program was developed, and in 2005, it introduced programs in Diagnostic Imaging, as well as several certificates in allied health fields. Lincoln University is always looking toward the future, making sure its curriculum is well-suited for today’s and tomorrow’s needs, and its professional faculty team can address those needs.