Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca Nazarene University offers accessible admission while demonstrating a solid draw among accepted students compared to similar private institutions. In the US News rankings, the university stood at 230 in 2019 before sliding in subsequent cycles, reaching rank 353 in 2027. Gaining admission is relatively straightforward, as the university recorded an overall acceptance rate of 69.4% in 2025. Once admitted, students matriculate at a notable frequency relative to peers: the university achieved an enrollment yield rate of 26.8%, which was higher than 81% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. Although fewer than half of accepted students enroll, this yield shows that Trevecca converts offers of admission into enrollments far more effectively than most peer institutions. For families planning college applications, these trends indicate that the university is an accessible target with predictable admissions outcomes, where entry barriers remain moderate while the institution maintains a steady appeal for its incoming cohorts.

Trevecca Nazarene University follows an admission test policy where scores are optional, considered if submitted. For prospective students assessing their fit, testing records from 2025 reflect an accessible admissions standard. The middle half of enrolled students in 2025 earned ACT composite scores between 18 and 24, with test submissions heavily favoring the ACT over the SAT among incoming freshmen. When compared with peer institutions, the university's median SAT score of 1095 in 2025 was higher than 42% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. These figures indicate that applicants with solid high school performance and mid-range standardized testing results are competitive for admission. For families navigating college selection, meeting these score bands signals academic preparation that aligns comfortably with the university's undergraduate expectations without requiring top-tier test results.

Academic degrees at Trevecca Nazarene University show notable concentration at the undergraduate level, where the top three bachelor programs accounted for 41% of all bachelor degrees awarded in 2025. The single largest undergraduate program is Business Administration and Management, General, which produced 99 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, and Theology and Religious Vocations. However, the largest programs do not hold leading national ranks; undergraduate psychology was ranked 570 by U.S. News in 2027, and graduate education ranked 238 in 2026. At the graduate level, degrees center heavily around business administration, physician assistant studies, and educational administration. According to 2023 earnings data, median pay one year after graduation varied widely across disciplines, led by health and medical administrative services at $76,219, while business administration graduates earned $50,816. International students represent modest shares across most fields, appearing in sport management, information technology, and business. For prospective applicants, the academic portfolio emphasizes practical career preparation in healthcare, business, and education rather than nationally ranked research specialties.

Trevecca Nazarene University serves a student body distributed across undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in 2025. The campus population is predominantly White, alongside notable representations of Black and Hispanic students. Within the entering undergraduate freshman class, international students numbered 43, accounting for 9.4% of the group. Asian representation in the freshman class stood at 6 students, representing 1.3%. Continuing undergraduates maintain similar demographic patterns with small Asian enrollments and an established group of international students, whereas graduate programs feature much smaller shares of both groups. Female students make up a majority across undergraduate classes and an even larger share of the graduate division. For incoming students, the university offers an environment centered on regional domestic students, complemented by a distinct cohort of international peers.

Undergraduate and graduate populations at Trevecca Nazarene University present contrasting age profiles that shape campus life. In 2025, undergraduate enrollment was heavily centered on traditional college-age students, with those aged 18 to 19 making up 34.1% of undergraduates and those aged 20 to 21 accounting for 29.9%. This concentration of young adults anchors undergraduate student life around standard residential and campus-based activities. In contrast, the graduate student body reflects an older, mid-career population. The largest graduate group consists of students aged 40 to 49, representing 22.6% of all graduate enrollees, followed by students in their late twenties and fifties. Consequently, graduate programs function largely for working professionals balancing coursework with career commitments, resulting in distinct daytime and evening campus rhythms.

International student enrollment at Trevecca Nazarene University has expanded notably at the undergraduate level while remaining limited in graduate programs. By 2025, undergraduate international students comprised 11.4% of the undergraduate student body, up from a minimal share a decade earlier. This proportion was higher than 97% of peer schools in a comparison group of private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. In contrast, graduate international enrollment stood at 1.5% in 2025. Among degree recipients in 2025, international students earned 7% of bachelor degrees, while accounting for small fractions of master degrees and doctorates. At the undergraduate level, international graduates concentrated in fields such as sport and fitness administration, information technology, and business administration. In graduate studies, international completions were centered primarily in business administration. For prospective international applicants, the university presents a growing undergraduate peer community with distinct concentrations in business and sports administration, alongside predominantly domestic graduate cohorts.

Applicants evaluating Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville have several nearby four-year options in the same metropolitan area. Just 2.3 kilometers away lies Belmont University, a private national university ranked 208 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Also in central Nashville, Vanderbilt University is located 2.8 kilometers from campus and holds a national university rank of 16. Another immediate local choice is Lipscomb University, situated 3.5 kilometers away with a national university rank of 250. Further out in Cookeville, approximately 69.8 kilometers away, Tennessee Technological University provides a public option ranked 299 among national universities.

Campus safety records at Trevecca Nazarene University demonstrate a low and declining incident rate over recent years. Forward Pathway's crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 4 in 2016 to 0.8 in 2025. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, campus security records indicate that offenses were primarily disciplinary infractions and property crimes. The largest category was liquor law disciplinary referrals, which totaled 10 incidents across those years, followed by 5 motor vehicle thefts. Other recorded incidents during this timeframe included low counts of general theft, weapon-related arrests, rape, and drug law arrests. The figures reflect an overall low incidence of major offenses on campus grounds, with non-violent disciplinary referrals forming the bulk of documented reports. For families and prospective students evaluating campus security, the environment shows manageable safety conditions consistent with a small, private university campus in an urban setting.