Belhaven University is a Christ-centered institution of higher learning offering quality educational programs in an innovative and affordable online setting. We want to help you succeed. See answers to common questions below, or contact us with any additional questions at 601-968-8881 or onlineadmission@belhaven.edu.

Belhaven Online: Common Questions

Accreditation means that an outside inspector has surveyed our educational programs and recognized them for their quality. Colleges and universities must have this seal of approval to provide various types of federal and state aid. Additionally, without accreditation, our graduates would be unable to take many of the certification exams required for various types of work.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Belhaven University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on the SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Numerous Belhaven programs are individually accredited by organizations in their respective fields. ​​​​For example, the schools of Business, Education, and Nursing — as well as the Division of Ministry and Human Services — all have individual program accreditations.

Learn more about accreditation and its significance.

Accreditation offers a seal of approval from an outside governing body. Accredited institutions like Belhaven have passed rigorous standards and must maintain those standards to keep this recognition.

Federal and state governments only issue financial aid resources to accredited institutions. Graduates of accredited institutions are often the only ones allowed to sit for professional certification exams, too. Put simply, accreditation means “trustworthy” and “respected.”

You would ​​​​take our online classes through the easy-to-use Canvas platform. Each week, you’ll have a video lecture and assignments such as readings and discussion board posts. You can complete these class components at your convenience.

However, you’ll want to keep an eye out for deadlines, which will be clearly communicated in a syllabus given at the beginning of the term.

The best part about our online classes: Your professors care deeply about your success, and they’re always just a phone call or email away.

If you’re looking for an excellent education in a caring and Christian environment, Belhaven is perfect for you. We don’t believe in the cookie-cutter college experience. Instead, we empower our students with personal attention. You’ll never be alone in your Belhaven journey. Our faculty and staff members will care for you and ensure your success during — and after — your time here.

In addition to this personal approach to your education, you also benefit from:

  • Rigorous programs, recognized for their quality
  • Individual program accreditation by that field’s governing body
  • Faculty members who are skilled in their fields
  • Small class sizes
  • Affordable — and competitive — tuition rates
  • Comprehensive financial aid packages
  • Support services, including ​​​​​​career assistance

​​​​​Financial aid is available for those who qualify. We build customized assistance packages for every student.

Your aid amount is dependent on your academic and career achievements, your income (or your family’s income), and your classification. For example, some federal and state grants are only available to full-time undergraduate students. You may be eligible for these grants as well as scholarships and low-interest government loans.

For more information, contact our financial aid office at 601-968-5933 or email studentaid@belhaven.edu.

Your costs vary according to program and include the price of tuition and any applicable fees. You’ll never have to worry about hidden costs; we make sure you know what you’re going to pay. We help you as much as we can with various forms of financial aid. Visit our ​Costs, Discounts & Special Scholarships page to learn more or use our ​tuition cost estimator to get a general idea of what you’ll owe.

In general, undergraduate online programs can be completed in about four years, and graduate programs can be finished in about two.

However, if you’ve completed college coursework at another institution, you may be able to transfer some credits and finish your degree in less time. We’ll evaluate your transcripts and help you through this process.

For more information on transferring credits contact our online admission office at 601-968-8881 or onlineadmission@belhaven.edu.

The short answer: Most likely! We’ll work with you to transfer any previously earned college credits to your degree path at Belhaven. It all depends on the other institution and how its requirements match up to our Catalogue and program design.

For help, contact the online admission office at 601-968-8881 or onlineadmission@belhaven.edu.

Yes, it can be. Thanks to our online infrastructure, there’s no need for you to come to our physical campus*

However, we’d certainly love to see you on campus, which is a jewel in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson is the Magnolia State’s capital, and there are many things to see and do here. We encourage you to come by and see us.

*Within our doctoral programs, there are some residency requirements for classes.

You’ll be provided with a list of necessary items at the beginning of each term. These items can be purchased in person or online — at competitive prices — from our Barnes & Noble campus bookstore.

​​​​​​​Belhaven University is part of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) compact that allows us to offer online education.

NC-SARA is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs.

Recognizing the growing demand for distance education opportunities, higher education stakeholders – including state regulators and education leaders, accreditors, the U.S. Department of Education, and institutions – joined together in 2013 to establish the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), which streamline regulations around distance education programs.

In partnership with four regional compacts, NC-SARA helps states, institutions, policymakers, and students understand the purpose and benefits of participating in SARA. Today, more than 2,200 institutions in 49 member states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all voluntarily participate in SARA.

Contact Us

Office of Adult, Graduate, and Online Admission

Phone: 601-968-5940

Mailing Address:
1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202

Fax: 601-300-2932

onlineadmission@belhaven.edu

BU welcome center with balloons

Verse of the Year

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Philippians 2:13