Bryan College

About Bryan College

Bryan College traces its origins to the aftermath of the 1925 Scopes Trial in Dayton. A memorial association formed following William Jennings Bryan’s death, and William Jennings Bryan University was chartered in 1930, admitting its first class that fall. The institution became William Jennings Bryan College in 1958 and adopted its present name in 1993. Today it operates as a private nonprofit Christian college at 721 Bryan Drive in Dayton. Its mission centers on educating students to serve Christ, and the college describes Scripture and the liberal arts as integrated foundations for personal and intellectual development. This identity affects more than theology courses: Bryan presents a Christian worldview as a basis for learning and community life. Applicants should examine the statement of belief and student conduct documents to decide whether that environment matches their expectations. SACSCOC’s accredited-institution list identifies Bryan as a member institution authorized to award degrees from the associate through doctorate level, with reaffirmation scheduled in the 2034 cycle. The college’s current materials show both campus-based and online routes. Its doctorate is a Doctor of Business Administration, so the database’s standardized “phd” category should be understood as doctoral level rather than a claim that Bryan awards a PhD. Bryan is best evaluated as a small, mission-driven college rather than a broad research university. Its value proposition rests on close community, Christian formation, residential engagement, and professionally oriented programs. Prospective students should compare the exact delivery format, accreditation or licensure implications, total price, and community expectations for their chosen program before committing.

Bryan publishes separate expectations for residential, transfer, online, and international applicants. For clear residential undergraduate admission, its current admissions page lists high-school graduation plus either a 2.8 high-school GPA or an ACT composite of 18, SAT score of 960, or CLT score of 55. It also identifies expected secondary-school preparation in English, science, mathematics, and social studies or humanities. Because the page permits alternative academic indicators, applicants should not assume that every listed test is universally required. Official transcripts and any required official scores must ultimately be submitted. Admissions decisions are rolling, and Bryan encourages early applications. For fall entrants, accepted students receive priority consideration when the enrollment and housing payments are made by May 1; the corresponding date for spring entry is December 1. The college warns that the enrollment deposit becomes nonrefundable after the relevant date and that the housing reservation charge is nonrefundable. The 2026–2027 catalog lists a $100 enrollment deposit and $150 housing reservation fee, superseding the older $100 housing amount still shown on parts of the admissions site. Transfer standards depend on completed postsecondary credit, and applicants must provide transcripts from every college attended. Bryan College Online has its own document and prior-credit rules. International students follow the general process plus immigration-related requirements. The 2026–2027 catalog requires evidence of resources for education and living expenses before Bryan issues an I-20. For applicants whose second language is English, it states a minimum internet-based TOEFL score of 75 with no subsection below 17, while noting possible waivers in specified circumstances. Bryan does not provide English-as-a-second-language courses.

Bryan’s 2026–2027 catalog is the controlling source for current program requirements. It documents undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across liberal-arts and professional fields. Residential undergraduate options include areas such as biblical and theological studies, biology, business, communication, criminal justice, education, engineering, English, environmental science, exercise and health science, forensic fields, history, mathematics, nursing, psychology, and worship or performing arts. Availability and delivery mode vary, so an online listing should not be assumed to represent a residential option, or vice versa. At undergraduate level, Bryan awards associate and bachelor’s credentials, including BA, BS, BSE, and BSN pathways. Graduate offerings include master’s degrees, while the doctoral offering is the DBA. This distinction matters for students seeking a research PhD: Bryan’s doctoral authorization does not mean that every subject is available at doctoral level. Students should use the current catalog and program-specific degree plan to verify prerequisites, sequencing, modality, and graduation requirements. The curriculum reflects Bryan’s Christian mission and liberal-arts framework. Students should expect faith and learning to be connected across the educational experience rather than confined to an optional campus ministry. Some programs also lead toward regulated professions or licensure; candidates in nursing, engineering, or teacher education should independently confirm current programmatic accreditation, state authorization, clinical or field-placement requirements, and eligibility in the jurisdiction where they intend to work. Academic support is available through the Academic Resource Center. Its published services include free tutoring, student-success coaching, academic advising connections, testing support, and disability accommodations. Bryan also publishes residential undergraduate degree plans, allowing applicants to inspect course-by-course requirements before enrollment.

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit Christian college founded in Dayton in 1930
• SACSCOC-accredited to award associate through doctoral degrees
• Current name adopted in 1993
• Offers both campus-based and online study

Student Life & Environment

Student life is structured around Bryan’s Christian mission. The college’s Christian Formation program incorporates chapel, spiritual development, and ENGAGE activities, while its Community Life Standards establish expectations for residential and commuter students. The 2025–2026 standards state that students from differing backgrounds are welcome but must agree to uphold the institution’s rules. Prospective students should read the complete, currently applicable standards because they extend beyond classroom conduct and may materially shape everyday life. Campus engagement includes student activities, student government, student-run clubs and teams, intramural sports, music, theatre, study abroad, and multicultural support through MOSAIC. Residence-life staff include live-in professionals and student resident assistants who organize hall activities, support students, and connect residents with academic, counseling, and campus resources. The college also provides orientation, disability services, health and fitness resources, counseling, dining, and campus security services. Housing is not simply optional for every traditional undergraduate. Bryan states that unmarried full-time students under 22 who are not living with parents or immediate relatives in the area generally must reside in college housing. Residence-hall students are enrolled as boarding students. Published accommodations include traditional halls and townhouses, with room configuration and amenities varying by building. This is therefore a particularly consequential fit decision. Students seeking an explicitly Christian residential community may value the shared framework and organized formation activities; those wanting fewer conduct or housing requirements should review the policies closely before paying nonrefundable housing charges.

Location & Surroundings

Bryan College’s main campus is at 721 Bryan Drive in Dayton, Tennessee, a small community in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The college entrance is off U.S. Highway 27, across from downtown Dayton. The setting is more small-town and outdoors-oriented than metropolitan, making it potentially attractive to students who prefer a quieter residential environment. Dayton’s identity is closely tied to the 1925 Scopes Trial, which also forms part of Bryan College’s institutional history. The surrounding region offers access to mountains, lakes, and outdoor activities. The college describes Chattanooga as reachable within roughly 30 minutes by car, expanding access to shopping, entertainment, employers, transport connections, and other urban services. Actual travel time will depend on traffic and destination. Students should plan transportation deliberately. The campus and town may meet daily needs, but a car can make regional access easier; Bryan publishes separate vehicle-registration options and charges for premium parking in 2026–2027. Applicants visiting campus can check in at the first floor of Stophel Center, and the college offers personalized visits and an online virtual tour.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Bryan lists full-time main-campus undergraduate tuition of $10,850 per semester, or $21,700 for two semesters. A traditional double room costs $2,825 per semester and the board charge is $1,950, producing a published annual tuition, room, and board subtotal of $31,250. This is not a complete cost of attendance. Full-time students also face a $750-per-semester Enhanced Student Experience Fee, and books, supplies, transport, personal expenses, insurance, and applicable course or activity charges can add to the total. Housing choices alter the budget. Published townhouse packages range from room-only arrangements to an unlimited meal plan, while a single-room surcharge is separate. Program-related fees apply in areas including laboratory science, engineering, nursing, and music. Students taking more than 17 credits pay an additional per-credit charge. The college labels its schedule as planning information subject to change, so students should obtain an individualized bill and cost-of-attendance estimate. Bryan directs students toward federal and state aid, institutional scholarships and grants, campus employment, loans, and a payment plan. Aid is not guaranteed; applicants should compare net price after confirmed grants and scholarships rather than the headline tuition alone. International applicants must demonstrate funds for educational and living costs before I-20 issuance. Calling & Career Development offers individual coaching, vocational exploration, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, internship and job-search guidance, graduate-school advice, and alumni support. Students can use Handshake for vacancies, employer connections, career fairs, and events. The office lists a fall 2026 part-time job fair and career fair. Bryan does not provide a verified salary or placement statistic on the cited page, so applicants should request program-specific outcomes rather than infer them from the available services.