Belhaven University

About Belhaven University

Belhaven University combines a traditional residential campus in Jackson with online degree options for students at different stages of their education. The institution describes every program as reflecting a Christian worldview, so faith is integrated into the educational model rather than treated only as an extracurricular feature. Prospective students should consider whether that approach aligns with how they want to study and participate in campus life. The university traces its founding to 1883 and has occupied its current Peachtree Street location since 1911. Its setting is urban but distinct from a downtown high-rise campus: the 42-acre grounds are within a historic district in the Greater Belhaven neighborhood. Academic and student services include the Warren A. Hood Library, advising, tutoring, accessibility support, registrar services, and the Center for Career & Calling. Belhaven is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The institution has authority to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, although applicants should verify the delivery format and availability of their specific program. The university also reports specialized recognition or accreditation in areas including the arts, business, education, nursing, and social work. This combination of degree levels, campus and online delivery, and explicit religious orientation makes program-level comparison especially important.

First-year undergraduates may apply through Belhaven’s application or the Common Application. The published process requires an application, a $25 fee, and a high-school transcript for preliminary review. Applicants may submit ACT, SAT, or CLT scores or seek test-optional review. Test-optional eligibility requires at least a 2.75 cumulative high-school GPA, but Education, Nursing, and potentially other programs may still require scores. Belhaven may request an interview, essay, or recommendation when an applicant does not meet its regular requirements, and the admission committee can consider conditional admission. The current undergraduate page lists December 1 for the Early Acceptance Program and June 1 as the priority date for regular admission, with applications after that date considered on a rolling basis. The page references the 2027-2028 FAFSA, indicating that these dates are aimed at a future entry cycle; applicants should confirm the applicable year before relying on them. On-campus students must provide current MMR immunization documentation before attending class. International undergraduate applicants follow a separate process. Required materials include authenticated academic records with certified English translations, English-language test results, an academic reference, proof of financial support, and health-insurance documentation. The current international page lists IELTS 6 and CAEL 70 as degree-entry thresholds and reflects the revised TOEFL scale for tests taken from January 21, 2026. International students should verify current test and visa-document rules directly with the International Student Office.

Belhaven organizes its academic offerings across broad fields that include the arts, business, education, nursing, humanities, ministry and human services, and STEM. The official program finder covers more than 80 offerings and lets students distinguish among campus, online, undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and other formats. Applicants should use that tool rather than assume every subject is available at every level or in both delivery modes. The university holds SACSCOC accreditation to award degrees from the associate through doctoral levels. Current online options span associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study, with seven-week online terms and courses delivered through Canvas. Graduate offerings documented for 2025-2026 include master’s programs in fields such as business, education, health administration, information technology, leadership, public administration, and sports administration, plus doctoral programs in business administration and educational leadership. Availability should still be confirmed for the intended entry term. Belhaven states that Christian worldview is incorporated across its programs. This can shape course framing and institutional expectations, so students should review the curriculum and catalogue alongside conventional considerations such as major requirements, professional licensure preparation, internships, and specialized accreditation. Academic support resources include advising, tutoring, accommodations, the library, and registrar services. Program-specific accreditation is reported in several professional and creative fields; students pursuing licensure should verify that the exact program satisfies requirements in the state where they plan to work.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit Christian university founded in 1883
• Institutionally accredited by SACSCOC through the doctoral level
• Traditional Jackson campus and online study options
• 42-acre campus in a Mississippi historic district

Student Life & Environment

Campus life is centered on Belhaven’s Christian identity and its residential undergraduate community. The university lists academic clubs, student ministries, intramural sports, student organizations, honor societies, fitness facilities, campus events, and intercollegiate athletics among the ways students can participate. New students entering in fall 2026 have a scheduled Welcome Week from August 13 through August 22, with move-in, peer activities, chapel, and residence-hall programming. Belhaven operates six residential facilities: three for women, two for men, and one apartment building with separate floors for men and women. Residence halls are furnished and staffed by professional resident directors and student resident assistants. Full-time freshmen and sophomores with fewer than 54 earned credits who are single and under 21 generally must live on campus. Students residing with a parent or legal guardian at their permanent nearby home may request an exception. Other off-campus requests require review. Incoming residents must pay a $150 housing deposit before selecting a room; the amount is applied to residence-life charges rather than added as a separate housing fee. Students should consult the current housing agreement and handbook for conduct rules, meal arrangements, room selection, accessibility needs, and exemption procedures before committing.

Location & Surroundings

Belhaven’s main campus is at 1500 Peachtree Street in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital. The 42-acre site lies in the Greater Belhaven neighborhood, a historic district characterized by early twentieth-century homes, tree-lined streets, green spaces, restaurants, and locally owned businesses. This setting gives students a defined campus while retaining access to an urban area. Nearby places identified by the university include the Eudora Welty House and Garden, New Stage Theatre, Belhaven Town Center, the Fondren district, and downtown Jackson. Museums, medical facilities, dining, shopping, and cultural venues are also within the surrounding city. These connections may be particularly relevant for students seeking clinical, arts, public-service, nonprofit, or business experience, although individual placements are not guaranteed. The university says Jackson’s airport is about a 15-minute drive from campus and that interstate access is nearby. Prospective students should evaluate transportation needs directly: the campus has neighborhood amenities, but reaching internships, shopping, the airport, or destinations elsewhere in the metropolitan area may require a car or another transportation plan.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026-2027, Belhaven lists full-time traditional undergraduate tuition of $30,700 for 12-18 credits, plus a $790 annual student activity fee. This is newer than the database’s supplied $29,195 tuition value, which should not be treated as the current published price. Listed annual room-and-board charges range from $9,850 for double occupancy in Caldwell, Wells, or Robertson to $12,400 for a private room in Wells. University Village costs $12,850 but does not include a meal plan. International students have a $100 annual international fee, a one-time $50 tuberculosis-testing charge, and a university estimate of $2,400 for books, supplies, health insurance, and other personal expenses. These are sticker-price components before financial aid, not a complete personalized cost of attendance. Course fees, travel, insurance, and program-specific charges can change the total. Students should use the university’s cost calculator, compare aid offers, and confirm whether scholarships carry enrollment or academic-progress conditions. Belhaven directs eligible students to submit the FAFSA using school code 002397. Career support is provided through the Center for Career & Calling. Services include career fairs, résumé and interview preparation, mock interviews, job shadowing, and access to the Blazer Career Portal for local, regional, and national job and internship listings. The center serves residential undergraduates and U.S.-based online students, but the university does not provide a verified placement rate or salary outcome on the cited page.