Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Jackson, MS · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A Social Mobility B+ Selectivity B- Diversity
Graduation Rate
50% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$46,440 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$15,676 C+
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
50% B+
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +14% vs avg
Graduation -13% vs avg
Net Price +-9% vs avg
Mobility Top 8%

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Mathematics.

18.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $18.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,087,853.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Social mobility rate of 3.20% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $18.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Belhaven University Matters

Belhaven University is a private doctoral / professional university in Jackson, MS and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
1,471
Setting
Urban
Designations
66
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions, Psychology

Why students choose Belhaven University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 35% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,440 median
C+
Value
3.0× net price
C+
Affordability
$15,676/yr net
C-
Graduation
50% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.2% climb Q1→Q5
B+
Selectivity
50% admit rate
B-
Diversity
0.65 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Belhaven University is a solid choice for students who appreciate a close-knit community and a personalized approach to education. With an enrollment of around 1,471 students, the university is large enough to offer diverse programs but small enough that you won’t feel lost in the crowd. Popular areas of study include Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions, Psychology, and Computer Science & IT. This variety means students can find their passion while being part of a supportive academic environment.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $46,440 within ten years. That’s a respectable figure, especially considering the investment in education. The affordability is noteworthy too; with a net price of $15,676 after aid, it makes pursuing a degree more accessible. Nearly half of the students here receive Pell Grants, underlining the university's commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds.

In terms of financial outcomes, students graduate with a median debt of $26,333. While that’s a significant amount, many find that the supportive atmosphere of Belhaven helps them succeed after college. Students who thrive here often value community and personalized attention, which can be crucial for navigating both their education and future careers.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Belhaven University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Belhaven University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Jackson, Mississippi, Belhaven University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 50%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,124. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

Acceptance Rate
50%
Retention Rate
68%
SAT Average
1124
ACT Midpoint
22
SAT Range
1010–1298
ACT Range
19–24
Full-Time Faculty
16%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,643
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.65
First-Gen Students
40%
Applicants
2,589
Admitted
1,103

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Belhaven University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Belhaven University is $30,250, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,676. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,551 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,333 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$30,250
Out-of-State
$30,250
Avg Net Price
$15,676
Median Debt
$26,333
Pell Grant Rate
49%
Federal Loan Rate
68%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,551
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,820
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,967
Family Income $110K+
$20,928

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Belhaven University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Belhaven University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Belhaven University earn a median of $46,440, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$38,987
8 Years
$42,414
10 Years
$46,440
Debt-to-Earnings
0.57x
Earning > $25K
65%

Earnings Trajectory

$38,987 6yr $42,414 8yr $46,440 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (98)
35%
100% (98)
35%
100% (98)
35%
100% (98)
35%

How Belhaven Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation50%Earnings 10yr$46KNet Price$16KRetention68%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate49%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$13K$30-48K$17K$48-75K$21K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%12.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%25.2%MOBILITY3.20%

College ROI Calculator

Is Belhaven University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Belhaven University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,676/year ($62,704 total). Graduates earn $46,440 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,150,557 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,087,853 (18.3× your investment). The median debt is $26,333, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 50% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$62,704
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,150,557
Net Return
$1,087,853
ROI Multiple
18.3×
Cost Per Year
$15,676
Median Debt
$26,333
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
50%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Belhaven University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Belhaven University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.20%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.20%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
25.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
12.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$105,024
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Belhaven University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Belhaven University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.40
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.0%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$6,552,352
Federal Grants
$7,669,340
Investment Income
$-2,618,878

Top Programs

The fields Belhaven University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Belhaven University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Jackson, Mississippi, Belhaven University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 50%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,124. The graduation rate is roughly 50%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Belhaven University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Belhaven University is $30,250, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $15,676. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,551 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,333 in federal student loans.

Is Belhaven University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Belhaven University earn a median of $46,440, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Belhaven University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Belhaven University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.20%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Belhaven University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Belhaven University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Belhaven University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys