Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Belhaven University #830 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 20.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #1143 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Belhaven University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across access, mobility, and return on investment. The institution's earnings advantage for graduates anchors its position among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #830 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Jackson, MS, Belhaven University enrolls roughly 1,471 undergraduates. Retention is 67.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.5%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through degree completion. Where Belhaven University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #1143 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,795. The institution's dominant program family, Business, anchors strong career outcomes and aligns with regional labor-market demand in Mississippi. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Belhaven University sits in the 80.9 percentile for access and the 64.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 48.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.5% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes sit in the 16.2 percentile, indicating that the institution's low-income and first-generation graduates achieve earnings and career progression at rates comparable to or modestly below peer institutions.
Belhaven University's published cost of attendance is $39,793. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,551, middle-income families pay around $16,967, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,928. Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #512 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid covers a portion of cost for most students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,333, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at Belhaven University's median four-year earnings of $51,795, median federal debt of $26,333 projects to a monthly payment of about $298 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $39,863 would shift the real affordability picture substantially. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Belhaven University is a good fit for students interested in Business and other applied fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in MS. With an admission rate of 49.8%, the application process is accessible to most qualified applicants. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,795, placing Belhaven University in the 11.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 20.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 48.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.5% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Belhaven University in the 6.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors Business and other applied-professional fields, and the published cost of attendance is $20,928. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the cost structure will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Belhaven University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Belhaven University's published cost of attendance is $39,793. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,551, middle-income families pay around $16,967, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,928.
Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #512 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Need-based aid covers a portion of cost for most students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,333, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $12,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
For the typical graduate at Belhaven University's median four-year earnings of $51,795, median federal debt of $26,333 projects to a monthly payment of about $298 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $39,863 would shift the real affordability picture substantially.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Belhaven University earn median 4-year earnings of $51,795, placing Belhaven University in the 11.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,017 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Belhaven University in the 20.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Belhaven University #1143 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Belhaven University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 152 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,042, and Azimuth ranks the program among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology program graduates 42 students with median 4-year earnings of $45,213.
Education, General and Kinesiology round out the largest programs, with Kinesiology graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $48,349. These programs align with regional labor-market demand in Mississippi and the broader Southeast, supporting graduates into stable professional roles.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
24 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
152 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
14 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
25 graduates
Bible/Biblical Studies
18 graduates
Belhaven University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied-career orientation. Business Administration is the largest program with 152 graduates, followed by Clinical, Counseling and Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Education, General, Kinesiology, and Health Administration.
Across 22 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned to regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects Business as the institution's economic anchor.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $79,098 four years after enrollment from 24 graduates, followed by Business Administration with $62,042 from 152 graduates and Accounting with $60,247. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately and earnings reflect regional labor-market outcomes in Mississippi and surrounding states.
Belhaven University concentrates its degree output in Business at 35%, Arts at 9%, and Education at 8%, a distribution that aligns with the institution's positioning as a career-focused private university in Jackson. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Southern Mississippi Higher acceptance rate (46.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 84 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MS | 99% | $44,140 | Compare |
William Peace University Higher acceptance rate (44.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 97% | $46,643 | Compare |
Greensboro College Higher acceptance rate (38.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 92% | $46,566 | Compare |
University Of Southern Mississippi Same state (84 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus | MS | 99% | $44,140 | Compare |
Mississippi College Same state (9 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | MS | 49% | $47,485 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Union College Similar quality tier (#25964 ranked) | NY | 44% | $88,604 | #25964 | Compare |
Midamerica Nazarene University Similar quality tier (#25967 ranked) | KS | 79% | $62,972 | #25967 | Compare |
Edgewood College Similar quality tier (#25963 ranked) | WI | 76% | $59,728 | #25963 | Compare |
Walsh University Similar quality tier (#25969 ranked) | OH | 71% | $59,764 | #25969 | Compare |
Macalester College Similar quality tier (#25970 ranked) | MN | 29% | $63,878 | #25970 | Compare |
