Undergraduate Studies Programs: Information for Prospective Students

• Admission Requirements and Procedures
• Degree-Seeking, Freshman Application Process
• Admission by Examination
• Special Admission Application Process
• Readmission
• Transfer Application Process
• Transfer Credits
• International Application Process
• Non-degree seeking, Special Student Application Process
• Auditor Application Process
• Part-Time Student Admission

Admission Requirements and Procedures 

All communication regarding entrance to the University should be addressed to the Office of Admission, 1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153, Jackson, MS 39202-1789. Eligibility for admission will be determined when the application, application fee, the American College Test (ACT), the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or Classic Learning Test (CLT) score (if required), and transcripts have been received by the University. 

Belhaven University seeks students who desire an excellent education combined with a meaningful student life experience and who will have a reasonable chance of academic success at Belhaven University. Applicants providing evidence of completion of an accredited academic high school curriculum, scholastic achievement, acceptable entrance examination scores, and sound moral character conducive to contributing to the total premium of the University are admitted. 

Belhaven University does not discriminate in the administration of its education policies, applications for admission, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic and extracurricular programs. The rights, privileges, programs, and activities at Belhaven University are made available to all students who are enrolled regardless of sex, religion, color, national origin, handicap, or age. 

College immunization requirements are established by the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning. Belhaven University requires a Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (MMR) Immunization Certificate. One immunization in the past ten years or two in a lifetime are required for all first-time entrants and transfer students. 

International Students should also submit a Mumps, Measles, and Rubella immunization certificate. Arrangements will be made for tuberculosis testing prior to registration. 

Degree-Seeking, Freshman Application Process 

1. All freshmen should complete an application for admission and submit the nonrefundable $25 application fee to the office of admission at Belhaven University. 

2. The school counselor should send an official transcript directly to the University indicating at least six semesters of high school work and listing senior subjects. If the 12th grade schedule is not included, it will be requested by Admission. 

3. Freshmen are required to submit results of either the American College Test (ACT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), or the Classic Learning Test (CLT), unless these scores appear on the student’s official high school transcript. A minimum ACT composite score of 18, SAT combined score of 960 on the critical reading and math tests, or a 55 on the CLT and a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale are required for automatic admission. 
   *Students who choose not to submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores as part of their admission application will need to indicate that they are applying as “Test Optional” on their admission application. If you are considering this option, we encourage you to speak with your admission counselor. Test scores assist in class placement. Please note that some academic majors such as Education, Engineering, and Nursing require test scores for admission and/or for program admission. Students must have a minimum of a 2.75 high school cumulative GPA to be eligible for acceptance as Test Optional. 

4.  An essay, interview, and academic letter of recommendation may be requested by the admission office if the student does not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance. 

5. Final admission to Belhaven University for freshman standing is contingent upon the successful completion of the senior year, graduation from an accredited high school, and receipt of an *official copy of the final high school transcript stating the date of graduation. (*An official copy is one that is either mailed directly to the University from the high school and that is signed by a school official, stamped with the official seal of the high school on it and delivered in a sealed envelope or delivered via a secure online electronic platform such as Parchment or Clearinghouse.) Of the 16 units required, eight are prescribed and eight are electives. The prescribed units are four in English, two in mathematics, (Algebra I, or higher), one in history, and one in natural science. The elective units may be chosen entirely from Group I or from both groups, provided not more than four units are counted from Group II. 
     

*Belhaven University recommends that two units in foreign language be offered for entrance. 

6. A student who has been educated at home (homeschooled) must submit a transcript outlining courses taken, dates of attendance, credits, quality points earned, and cumulative GPA. Official ACT, CLT or SAT scores must be sent directly from ACT, CLT or SAT. OR student may meet the requirements by submitting GED results. The applicant may be required to provide proof that their homeschool meets their State of residence’s requirements for homeschooling.  For States requiring certification of homeschools, the applicant will need to provide the certificate/letter of recognition. 

7. If an unofficial or in-progress copy of the transcript is submitted, the student will be given until the last day to add a class for the official transcript to be received in the office of admission. The official final transcripts must be received before the student is considered officially registered and eligible to receive financial aid. It is understood by all parties that if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student. 

8. Freshmen who have graduated and been out of high school for five years or more will not be required to submit an ACT or SAT score, but their applications must be reviewed by the admission committee. 

9. To be eligible for federal aid, a student must be admitted to Belhaven University with a valid high school transcript or an equivalent that is recognized by the Education Department (ED). 

Admission by Examination 

A student who has earned the General Education Development (GED) certificate may be admitted. An official GED transcript must be provided from the State Department of Education of the state that issued the certificate. Students will need to reach a score of at least 145 on each subject and a total score of 580 or higher across all four subjects to be considered for admission. 

Students may also be admitted based on the receipt of official HiSET scores from ETS which meet all the following: 

• achieve a score of at least 8 on each of the five individual tests 

• score at least 2 out of 6 on the essay portion of the Writing test 

• have a total combined score on all five tests of at least 45 

Special Admission Application Process 

Requirements for DUAL ENROLLMENT: To be dually enrolled, the applicant must secure a letter of recommendation from his or her high school counselor and must have a minimum composite score of 21 on the ACT or SAT combined score of 1080 on the critical reading and math tests and a GPA of 3.0. This program offers highly qualified high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while they are enrolled in high school. Students may take one course per semester at the University, provided that the course does not interfere with their high school curricula. Additional credits require Provost approval. 

Readmission 

A student whose study at Belhaven University has been interrupted for two or more consecutive semesters must apply for readmission. The requirements for degrees in effect at the time of readmission must be completed. Students who are out for less than two semesters must complete a reinstatement form. 

Transfer Application Process 

1. Transfer students must submit a completed application form, the nonrefundable application fee of $25, and a final official transcript from the last college/university attended to be “Final Accept.” Students who misrepresent information in filling out the admission application form or who find after admission or enrollment that they are ineligible for academic reasons or any other reason to return to their last institution and who fail to report this immediately to the office of admission will be subject to disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from the University. 

1. Student Athletes: the NCAA requires students competing in intercollegiate athletics to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended. 

2. Nursing Majors: State and national accrediting bodies require students in nursing to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended. 

3. Education Majors: State and national accrediting agencies require candidates making an application to the School of Education Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TEPP) to submit final official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended. 

2. If an unofficial or in-progress copy of the transcript is submitted, the student will be given until the last day to add a class for the official transcript to be received in the office of admission. The official final transcripts must be received before the student is considered officially registered and eligible to receive financial aid. It is understood by all parties that if for some reason a student is denied admission as a result of not having all documentation at the appropriate offices by the deadline stated, Belhaven University is not liable for any losses incurred to the student.  

3. A transfer student who is applying with fewer than 12 attempted semester hours of college credit must submit a college transcript as well as a final official high school transcript and ACT, SAT, or CLT score (if test scores are required). See Freshmen requirements above.  

4. A transfer student is automatically accepted with a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Nonacademic elective credits such as health and physical education, intermediate, remedial, and orientation courses are excluded from grade point average (GPA) calculation. 

5. In cases where an applicant is required to submit a high school transcript for admission purposes, the transcript must meet the Education Department’s standard for high school diplomas or one of its approved equivalents to be eligible for federal aid. 

6. A student under academic suspension from another college or university may not enter Belhaven for one fall or spring semester following his/her suspension. A student who has been permanently dismissed from another college or university will not be eligible for admission to Belhaven University unless they can provide a letter from the dismissing institution stating they are eligible to return 

Transfer Credits 

1. Transfer credits may be accepted from other institutions of higher learning only when the program of the transferring institution is acceptable to the receiving institution. 

2. Belhaven University usually allows full credit to transferring students for work completed at other accredited institutions; however, some courses that are not regarded as consistent with a liberal arts curriculum (to be determined by the provost) may not be credited toward a degree. Also, remedial courses are not transferable. A grade of D will be accepted for credit if the student has a general average of C on all courses transferred from that school. Only grades of C or better can be accepted for transfer credit in English Composition I. In the case of transcripts submitted from more than one institution, each transcript is evaluated as a separate unit in chronological order. Credits in dance, applied music and art must be validated by satisfactory work in advanced courses at Belhaven University. 

3. After a student has earned a total of 64 semester hours of credit, from a junior/community college, no additional junior/community college hours will be accepted toward a degree at Belhaven University. The last 60 hours of credit applied toward a degree at Belhaven University must be earned at a senior college. (Also see residence requirement discussed in “Requirements for Degrees.”) 

4. A minimum of six semester hours (the exact amount to be determined by the chairman of the major department) must be taken at Belhaven University in the student’s major or minor, but not more than 45 semester hours may be transferred for credit in any major toward a bachelor’s degree. 

5. Belhaven University requires candidates for a degree to have a minimum residence of one year. Please see residence requirement discussed in “Requirements for Degrees.” 

International Application Process 

1. All international students should complete an application for admission and submit the nonrefundable $25 application fee to the office of admission at Belhaven University. 

2. An English translation and evaluation of all course work is required by Belhaven University. We recommend the following companies: 

World Education Services, Inc. 
P.O. Box 745 
Old Chelsea Station 
New York, NY 10113-0745 
Phone: 212-966-6311 or 800-937-3895 
www.wes.org 
E-mail: info@wes.org 

Evaluation Company (TEC)- SpanTran 

SpanTran Application 

3. International freshmen are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from high school. Transfer students are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale from prior college/university work. 

4. To be accepted to a degree program at Belhaven University as an international student, you must score at least a 71iBT, 6 IELTS, or 100 Duolingo. For final acceptance, students must submit official scores from the testing service. In registering for the TOEFL, note the Belhaven TOEFL code number is 1055. 

5. All international students must submit an academic reference that has been completed by a counselor, teacher, or employer.   

6. All international students must submit Belhaven’s affidavit of support, signed estimate of expenses, and an official guarantee of funds (in the form of an official bank statement showing funds available for the first academic year of attendance). 

7. International students are required to have medical insurance that meets the requirements of the University. Students will be allowed to purchase medical insurance prior to registration. 

Non-degree seeking, Special Student Application Process 

1. Complete an application for admission and pay a $25 nonrefundable application fee. 

2. Non-degree seeking students, after attempting six semester hours, must either apply for admission as a degree seeking student or make a request to be continued as a non-degree seeking student (maximum of 12 hours). 

3. Non-degree seeking students must submit a letter of good standing or an official transcript from the last college attended.  

Auditor Application Process 

By special permission, a person not enrolled at Belhaven University may audit one or more courses with the permission of the registrar. All auditors must apply for admission and must pay a $25 application fee. Semester hour credit and quality points will not be awarded for courses that are audited; however, the course(s) will be recorded on a permanent record as an audit. For auditing fee, see “General Fees” listing. 

Part-Time Student Admission 

Students enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours are considered part time. An application form must be completed, and an application fee of $25 is required. The student would follow the standard requirements for admission.