Belhaven University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Jackson, Mississippi. It enrolls 1,471 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes27
Value60
Affordability77
Selectivity59
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 49.8%, Belhaven University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
49.8%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1298
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Belhaven University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Belhaven University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,676 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,676
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
68%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$30,250
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,320
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,793
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,551
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,820
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,967
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,476
Over $110,000
$20,928
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,45710%percentile
$6,39825%percentile
$26,333Medianpercentile
$29,91675%percentile
$40,71890%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,471
↓ $5,862
No Pell $12,417
↓ $13,916
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $11,333
Independent students $20,241
↓ $6,092
Female students $18,750
↓ $7,583
Male students $16,961
↓ $9,372
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,333), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Belhaven University graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Belhaven University earn a median of $46,440 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,440
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,700, about 25% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Belhaven University is home to 1,471 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,471
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 46.8%689
White 35.8%526
Other 5.6%82
Hispanic 3.9%58
International 1.6%23
Asian 0.7%10
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Belhaven University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityJackson, Mississippi
Housing
Mostly residential672 beds on campus
Adult Learners
31%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Belhaven University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Belhaven University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$64M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,385
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
77 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
29
38%
$56,104
Associate Professors
20
26%
$52,390
Assistant Professors
19
25%
$48,168
Instructors
9
12%
$32,185
Pros & Cons of Belhaven University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Belhaven University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Best for:
Based on the data, Belhaven University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Belhaven University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Belhaven University.
Is Belhaven University hard to get into?
Belhaven University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 49.8%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Belhaven University?
Belhaven University has an acceptance rate of 49.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Belhaven University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Belhaven University scored between 1010 and 1298 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Belhaven University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Belhaven University scored between 19 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Belhaven University cost?
The average net price after aid at Belhaven University is $15,676 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Belhaven University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,440 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,676 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Belhaven University known for?
Belhaven University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Education, General, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Belhaven University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Belhaven University are $46,440, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Belhaven University accredited?
Yes. Belhaven University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Belhaven University?
Belhaven University enrolls 1,471 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Belhaven University?
Belhaven University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Belhaven University a public or private college?
Belhaven University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Belhaven University located?
Belhaven University is located in Jackson, Mississippi.
What programs does Belhaven University offer?
Belhaven University offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Education, General, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Belhaven University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Belhaven University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Mississippi
Other colleges in Mississippi share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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