“Private evangelical Christian university in Jackson, Mississippi with traditional and pre-professional programs.”
Belhaven University is a private Christian university located in the Belhaven historic neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. Its roots trace to 1883 through the merger of the Mississippi Synodical College and the McComb Female Institute, and the current campus was chartered in 1894 as Belhaven College for Young Ladies. Long affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — and later the Presbyterian Church in America — the institution has been independently run by a Board of Trustees since 1972 while retaining an overtly Christian worldview in its mission, curriculum, and community life. Academically, Belhaven is distinctive for its dual identity as a liberal-arts-and-sciences college AND a nationally recognized arts conservatory. It is one of only about 36 U.S. institutions accredited in all four major arts areas — the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Music, Dance, and Theater — a rare credential that puts its fine-arts programs on par with far larger conservatories. Alongside these signature arts programs, Belhaven offers 27 bachelor's and 8 master's programs spanning business, nursing, biology, psychology, ministry, education, and computer science. Total enrollment is approximately 4,500 across traditional undergraduate, adult, online, and graduate divisions, with roughly 1,500 traditional undergraduates on the main Jackson campus. Campus life centers on the compact 42-acre Belhaven neighborhood campus, a leafy historic district near downtown Jackson featuring original Georgian-style buildings. The student body is small (student-faculty ratio around 11:1) and the culture is explicitly Christian — daily chapel, integrated faith and learning, and a required biblical worldview course thread through the curriculum. Athletics compete in NCAA Division III (USA South Conference) and the institution supports the Kennedy Chamber Orchestra, a professional student ensemble, as well as annual arts showcases in dance, theater, and music. International students enroll from more than 25 countries, and Belhaven maintains an international student office in Jackson supporting both on-campus and hybrid international students.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling
Belhaven accepts applications on a rolling basis. International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply 3–4 months before their intended start date to allow for I-20 issuance and visa processing.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$30,250
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Belhaven's signature college, accredited by all four major U.S. arts accreditors (NASM, NASAD, NASD, NAST). Offers performance, education, and design tracks with active performing seasons.
Undergraduate and graduate business programs including BBA, MBA, DBA, and a dual MBA/MSITM — available on campus and via online/international-hybrid formats.
Pre-health and STEM pathways including biology, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics — strong pre-med and pre-PT feeder programs.
BSN and accelerated nursing tracks with clinical rotations across Jackson-area hospitals including the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Biblical studies, ministry, English, history, and intercultural studies — aligned with Belhaven's Christian mission.
4 years
One of Belhaven's flagship programs since 1927 — performance, composition, and music education tracks with conservatory-level training in a Christian liberal arts setting.
4 years
Rare dance degree program with NASD accreditation; includes ballet, modern, and jazz training plus choreography and dance education.
4 years
Traditional four-year BSN with clinical placements across Jackson-area hospitals; small cohorts and strong NCLEX pass rates.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $30,250
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
