Belhaven University

Belhaven University was ranked 376th in the 2027 U.S. News National University Rankings, recovering slightly after placing 395th in 2026. Gaining admission is relatively selective when evaluated against similar institutions. In 2025, the university admitted 49.8% of applicants, an acceptance rate higher than only 11% of peer schools in its comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private national universities. At the same time, the university draws a comparatively committed group of admitted applicants, recording an entering yield rate of 18.5%, which is higher than 70% of peer schools. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that gaining admission requires stronger preparation than at most peer institutions, though fewer than a fifth of admitted candidates ultimately decide to attend.

Belhaven University operates an admission policy where test scores are optional, considered if submitted. For the 2025 entering class, enrolled undergraduates typically presented mid-range testing marks, with the composite ACT range spanning from 19 to 24. In peer comparisons for 2025, Belhaven posted a median SAT score of 1154, which was higher than 92% of peer schools among similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. Most entering students who submitted test results opted for the ACT rather than the SAT. High school academic records from the 2023-2024 academic year show that incoming freshmen arrived with dependable preparation, most frequently clustering in the solid B to A-minus range alongside a group of top-performing students. For prospective applicants, these benchmarks indicate that admitted students generally present steady secondary school performance alongside standardized test marks that reflect the institution's typical profile.

Academic degrees at Belhaven University are moderately concentrated in professional programs, particularly across business, health, and computing. In 2025, the university conferred 315 bachelor degrees, with the top three undergraduate programs accounting for 30.8% of all graduating seniors. The largest bachelor major was Business Administration and Management, General, followed by Sport and Fitness Administration and Management. None of the university's degree programs appeared on national major ranking lists. At the master's level, degree conferrals were heavily driven by Information Technology, which produced 237 graduates and consisted almost entirely of international students. For undergraduate career outcomes, healthcare fields delivered the strongest early financial returns. According to 2023 earnings data, bachelor graduates in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing achieved a median salary of $83,780 one year after leaving school, far surpassing the median earnings reported in business and administrative fields.

Belhaven University maintains an unconventional student composition characterized by a graduate student body that significantly outnumbers undergraduate enrollment. International representation is heavily skewed toward advanced studies. In 2025, the university enrolled 705 international graduate students, who accounted for 27.1% of the entire graduate population, whereas international students constituted only a tiny presence among bachelor degree seekers. Asian students also represent a very limited proportion of the campus community across all levels. Among incoming freshmen that year, there were 4 Asian students, making up 1.7% of the entering first-year class, alongside single-digit enrollments in transfer, continuing undergraduate, and graduate programs. Domestic diversity is defined largely by substantial Black and White student communities, which together form the overwhelming majority across all academic divisions. Female students also constitute the majority across every undergraduate and graduate classification, shaping a campus environment focused predominantly on local undergraduate cohorts alongside a globally oriented graduate sector.

The age profile at Belhaven University highlights a stark division between its undergraduate and graduate populations. In 2025, the undergraduate body was overwhelmingly traditional in age, led by students aged 20 to 21 at 23.9% and those aged 18 to 19 at 23.8%. This concentration creates a conventional undergraduate atmosphere centered on young adults progressing through college immediately after secondary school. In contrast, the graduate division serves mid-career adults and working professionals. Students aged 25 to 29 formed the largest graduate bracket at 26%, while learners aged 40 to 49 made up another 19%. This pronounced age gap indicates that campus life divides into a traditional daytime undergraduate cohort and an adult-oriented graduate community pursuing career advancement.

International enrollment at Belhaven University has evolved along opposing trajectories across degree levels. At the undergraduate level, global enrollment has trended downward over the past decade, leaving international students at just 1.4% of the undergraduate population in 2025. Conversely, graduate international enrollment has experienced dramatic expansion, rising to 705 students in 2025 to represent 27.1% of all enrolled graduate students. Degree completion data clearly reflect this divergence between academic divisions. International students accounted for only a nominal share of bachelor and doctoral graduates, but they comprised nearly a third of all master's recipients. This international graduate presence is overwhelmingly concentrated within a single field: the master's program in Information Technology, where 98.3% of graduating students were international. For prospective international applicants, Belhaven primarily functions as a hub for graduate technical coursework rather than a traditional undergraduate destination.

Applicants evaluating Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, can also look at several alternative four-year institutions within the wider region. Located 112.1 kilometers away, Mississippi State University is a public institution ranked 208th among national universities in the 2027 rankings. Further south, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is located 144.4 kilometers from campus and holds a national university ranking of 202nd. Another regional option is the University of Mississippi, positioned 146.1 kilometers away and ranked 179th among national universities. In addition, Tulane University of Louisiana, situated 164.3 kilometers away in New Orleans, is ranked 59th among national universities, providing a more selective private university option in the Gulf South.

Campus safety records at Belhaven University show an environment where reported incidents remain relatively contained and consist mostly of conduct violations. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 1.5, representing a slight rise from earlier historical lows. When looking at total category numbers across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of recorded offenses were disciplinary referrals related to campus policy rather than acts of violence. Specifically, the university logged 32 alcohol disciplinary referrals and 21 drug disciplinary referrals across those years. Law enforcement interventions and property crimes occurred much less frequently, including 6 motor vehicle thefts along with small numbers of drug and weapons arrests. For families assessing campus security, these figures indicate that personal safety risks are generally low, with institutional disciplinary enforcement of substance rules constituting the primary share of documented campus activity.