Belmont University (BU)

Located in the heart of thriving Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont University consists of over 9,000 students who come from every state and 33 countries. The University is nationally recognized for its innovative approach as well as its commitment to undergraduate teaching (U.S. News & World Report). As a leading Christ-centered, student-focused community, Belmonts mission is to develop diverse leaders of purpose, character and wisdom who possess a transformational mindset and are eager and equipped to make the world a better place. With more than 127 areas of undergraduate study, 37 masters programs and seven doctoral degrees, Belmont University aims to be the leading Christ-centered university in the world, producing leaders who will radically champion the pursuit of life abundant for all people.

Find Your Fit

Belmont's campus life offers 180+ clubs and organizations. The popular intramurals program includes everything from flag football and basketball to wiffleball and dodgeball. With more than half of Belmont's undergrads living on campus there's always something going on from socials, movie nights and concerts to the annual Fall Follies and Curb College Showcase Series.

And in terms of student activities, there's a club or group for nearly every interest. Belmont is home to nationally recognized sororities and fraternities representing NPC, IFC and NPHC. The Bruins are big on giving back, too, logging more than 200,000 hours of community service annually.

Athletics
In addition to celebrating academic excellence and phenomenal growth, Belmont boasts 17 intercollegiate sports teams. The Belmont Bruins men's and womens basketball team have made appearances in the NCAA National Tournament in recent years. Baseball, both cross country teams, and the volleyball team have earned recent conference titles. Belmont student-athletes excel in the classroom, too, as Belmont has won the conference's All-Academic Trophy multiple times. The award is given annually to the conference school with the greatest percentage of student-athletes who earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

“Anything that would stand out at a major state university is basically the norm” at Belmont, where the typical student is a “hip,” “Jesus-loving,” “music business major”---a cool Christian kid who is “most likely in a band or working with one.” The ambitious “music junkies” are “very culturally aware” and “know exactly how they’re going to get where they want to be.” Ethnically, Belmont is “not a very diverse school,” but “individuality” reigns “in ideas, styles of dress, taste in music, [and] philosophies.” One student jokes that “the campus looks like an indie band concert.” Students are “very friendly” and “accepting to atypical students.” One happy undergrad says, “Everyone here is their own animal, and we all love the Zoo.”

The stereotypical college party, with its keg stands and top 40 soundtrack, is definitely not the norm on Belmont’s “dry campus,” located “a block or two from [Nashville’s] Music Row.” Instead of partying, “People think about what they are going to do with the rest of their lives using the talents they have acquired. For fun, people play instruments, eat, and just watch movies or attend concerts” with performers “ranging from small, unsigned artists to major recording artists.” “Everyone has music on their mind”; students “go downtown to the Wildhorse Saloon, The Bluebird Cafe,” or the “Grand Ole Opry.” The same goes on campus, where “At any given moment, you can hear someone practicing or performing.” Belmont’s predominantly religious students appreciate the option to attend “a Bible Study every night of the week.” Nontraditional students report little involvement in college life: “The working adults have full-time jobs during the day that they have to mold class schedules around, and they pretty much stick to themselves.”