“A small Anabaptist-Mennonite liberal arts university in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, internationally recognized for peacebuilding, justice, and cross-cultural education.”
Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) is a private Christian liberal arts university founded in 1917 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Set on a 93-acre campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, EMU is a small, tight-knit community of about 1,300 students - roughly 790 undergraduates and 500 graduate/seminary students - drawn from 37 U.S. states and more than 50 countries of citizenship. With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio and a median class size of 14, EMU emphasizes personal mentorship, hands-on learning, and a distinctive commitment to peace, justice, and service. EMU is best known globally for its Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP), one of the most respected peace and conflict studies programs in the world, where graduate students and practitioners from dozens of countries study alongside leaders who have shaped reconciliation processes after civil wars and genocides. Leymah Gbowee, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Liberia, is among EMU's most celebrated alumni, as is Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a former president of Somalia. Undergraduates benefit from EMU's signature cross-cultural study requirement - every student completes a semester-length intercultural experience, often abroad - as well as strong programs in nursing, biology, business, education, environmental sustainability, and applied social sciences. Student life at EMU blends a faith-rooted Anabaptist ethos with progressive values around service, creation care, and nonviolence. The Royals compete in 17 NCAA Division III varsity sports in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, and 35+ clubs - from the Black Student Union to the Creation Care Council and international student cultural groups - keep campus active year-round. Harrisonburg itself is a diverse, food-loving college town in the Blue Ridge foothills, known for its refugee and immigrant community, farm-to-table restaurants, and easy access to Shenandoah National Park.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceRolling Admission (Domestic)
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Complete by March 1 for maximum scholarship consideration and FAFSA priority.
International - Fall Entry
International applicants for fall semester (August) should apply by June 1 to allow time for I-20 issuance and visa processing.
International - Spring Entry
International applicants for spring semester (January) should apply by October 1.
Yoder/Webb Full-Tuition Scholarship
Separate scholarship application required by Feb 1, 11:59 pm Eastern.
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$43,920 – $46,081
/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.
EMU's undergraduate liberal arts core, housing majors across biology, chemistry, psychology, history, literature, visual and performing arts, and language studies. Small seminars and undergraduate research with faculty are central to the experience.
Offers bachelor's and master's programs in business administration, accounting, leadership, social work, and applied sociology - with a distinctive emphasis on ethical leadership, sustainability, and community development.
Home to EMU's flagship Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Nursing is EMU's most popular major by volume, with strong NCLEX pass rates and clinical partnerships across the Shenandoah Valley.
One of the world's leading graduate centers for conflict transformation, restorative justice, trauma healing, and peace practice. Draws students and practitioners from 50+ countries; offers the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) and a Graduate Certificate in Trauma Awareness & Resilience.
An Anabaptist theological seminary offering the Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Religion, and graduate certificates. Integrates biblical studies with peacebuilding, pastoral care, and cross-cultural ministry.
Prepares teachers and counselors with programs rooted in social justice, inclusion, and reflective practice. Offers 16 teacher-education certification pathways and a nationally respected MA in Counseling.
2 years
EMU's signature graduate program through the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. Students from 50+ countries - including Nobel laureates and senior diplomats - train together in mediation, restorative justice, trauma-informed practice, and strategic peacebuilding. Flexible pacing from 2 years full-time to 5+ years part-time.
4 years
EMU's most-enrolled undergraduate major. A four-year, CCNE-accredited BSN combining a liberal-arts foundation, hands-on simulation, and clinicals across Sentara RMH and Valley Health facilities. Strong NCLEX pass rates and pipelines into DNP/NP programs.
4 years
One of only a handful of undergraduate peacebuilding majors in the United States, designed for students who want to work in humanitarian response, community organizing, international development, or restorative justice. Includes a required cross-cultural semester abroad.
4 years
Interdisciplinary major combining ecology, policy, and faith-rooted creation care. Field-based learning in the Shenandoah Valley, partnerships with regional farms and land trusts, and a senior capstone project.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $43,920
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.
