Admissions

Entering Belmont University

Belmont provides undergraduate admission opportunities in two categories: degree seeking and non-degree seeking. Within these categories, there are several different programs. Belmont University does not discriminate in admission on the basis of race, color, nationality, handicaps, religion, or sex. Each application is considered on an individual basis. No two applicants will present the same credentials or the same degree of “fit” with the university. Our desire is to work with each student to determine the likelihood for that student to enroll, graduate and benefit from the Belmont educational experience.

Degree Seeking Admissions

Admissions Consideration

Applications for admission to Belmont are for a particular term of enrollment. Requirements of materials may change from one term to another. Acceptance for one term does not necessarily indicate that admission will be granted for any other term. Admission to Belmont University is competitive. Applications for admission are considered on a rolling basis, pending space available, so early submission of all application materials is strongly encouraged. Many programs including nursing, music, and songwriting are limited in terms of the number of spaces available. Applicants will be notified of a decision within 1 week of completing the application. The application deadlines are July 1 for entry in the fall term, November 1 for entry in the spring term, and May 1 for entry in the summer term. The application for admission also serves as the merit scholarship application. Applications for admission completed via the paper or online Common Application™ are accepted and processed with equal consideration to Belmont’s paper application. An incomplete application cannot be considered. High school seniors are encouraged to apply to Belmont during the early fall months of the senior year. Transfer applicants should apply to Belmont as soon as possible during the term preceding the term for which they are applying. 

Applicants are considered on the total picture that a student’s credentials present. High school students will be considered competitive for admission if they present a rigorous course of college-preparatory academic studies. Transfer work should likewise be strongly related to the chosen field of study. Students should have an above-average academic and cumulative grade point average and rank in the top half of their graduating classes. Any college-level work is also expected to be at the above-average level. A strong correlation between high school grades and entrance examinations scores is expected. The personal supplement information, resume of activities and recommendations are also strongly considered as positive indicators of success at Belmont. Additional requirements such as portfolios or auditions are considered in conjunction with the academic credentials for those programs which require them. International students should also refer to the specific requirements outlined in this catalog. Each application is considered on an individual basis. No two applicants will present the same credentials or the same degree of “fit” with the university. Our desire is to work with each student to determine the likelihood for that student to enroll, graduate and benefit from the Belmont educational experience.

All materials and inquiries should be directed to:

Belmont University
Office of Admissions
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
615-460-6785

Application Process

High school seniors and high school graduates who have never before attended college should apply for freshman admission to Belmont. Students currently attending another college or university and those with previous college credit post high school should apply for transfer admission. Students who have attended Belmont previously should apply for readmission.

Applicants to the Department of Art, School of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, Major in Songwriting, School of Nursing, and Honors Program should reference the catalog section titled “Special Program Admission Requirements” regarding additional documents required for admissions consideration to these programs.

Application Process for Freshman Admission

1. Complete the entire degree seeking application for undergraduate admission.
2. Submit the application and nonrefundable $50.00 application fee. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Belmont University.
3. Request that an official transcript be sent from the high school directly to Belmont University.
4. Submit the Counselor recommendation form to the guidance office for completion and have it sent with the transcript directly from the high school.
5. Request that score reports from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT) be sent to Belmont.

Application Process for Transfer Admission

1. Complete the entire degree seeking application for undergraduate admission, including the essay question. Submit the nonrefundable $50.00 application fee. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Belmont University.
2. Request that official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be sent directly to Belmont, including courses taken as dual enrollment. If you are currently enrolled in your first term at an institution, a “Letter of Good Standing” or “Enrollment Certification Letter” should be submitted in lieu of a transcript.
3. Transfer applicants who have earned fewer than 24* transferable semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited institution at the time of application must request that an official high school transcript and official scores from SAT or ACT be sent directly to Belmont.
4. All Nursing applicants, with the exception of licensed registered nurses or those with a previous bachelor’s degree, must request official scores from SAT or ACT be sent directly to Belmont.
5. Applicants with college level course work from foreign institutions must have their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services, www.wes.org or Joseph Silny & Associates, www.jsilny.com.

* Not including credit from CLEP, IB, AP exams, institutional credit by examination, remedial or developmental course work, or non-academic orientation course.

Application Process for Early Admission

Students may apply for early admission to Belmont after the junior year in high school. In addition to the application requirements for Freshman Admission, Early Admission candidates must have completed, with grade of “C” or higher, three English courses and three math courses. The Admissions Committee expects a minimum SAT of 1110 (composite score of Critical Reading and Math) or ACT composite of 24 and a minimum high school GPA of 3.00 on academic subjects. In addition, the prospective student should outline the reason for requesting early admission and include letters of support from parents and the high school principal or counselor.

Special Program Admission Requirements

Admission to Programs That Require An Audition or Portfolio

An audition or portfolio review is required for admission to a particular major within the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Songwriting major. Applicants who wish to pursue a major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (School of Music, Department of Art, Department of Theatre and Dance) or the Songwriting major will be considered for admission to the university after all application materials are received. All application materials must be received before an admissions decision is made; applicants who audition or submit a portfolio prior to all application materials being received will not learn of an ad¬missions decision until their application materials are received. An applicant must be academically admissible to the university in order to be considered for admission to these programs. Applicants who are academically admissible to the university but do not have a successful audition or portfolio review may choose to enroll at Belmont in another major. An applicant who is academically inadmissible to the university cannot be considered for admission to the College of Visual and Performing Arts or the Songwriting major.

Admission to the Songwriting Major

Applicants are required to submit an online portfolio consisting of 2 songs, corresponding lyrics, and supplemental questions. Portfolio details can be found online at www.belmont.edu/cemb/songwriting. Portfolios will be reviewed four times annually and must be completed by 11:59pm (CST) on November 1st, January 15th, March 15th or May 1st for consideration. The Songwriting portfolio will be reviewed once the applicant’s admissions file is complete in the Office of Admissions. Portfolios will be reviewed by the Songwriting Steering Committee and approved by the Songwriting Program Chair. Applicants will be notified of an admissions decision into the program within four weeks of the respective portfolio deadline providing the University has made a general admission decision into Belmont.

Admission to the School of Music

Applicants to the School of Music who wish to major or minor in music are required to complete an audition. Plans for an audition should be indicated on the Academic Program Supplement. While video auditions are accepted in certain circumstances, live auditions are strongly encouraged. Audition requirements and guidelines can be found online at www.belmont.edu/music.

Admission to the Department of Art

Applicants for Art Education, Design Communication, and Studio Art majors are required to submit a CD portfolio with 20 jpeg images of your best and most recent work. This portfolio may include examples of various media that emphasize your artistic strengths. Mail the CD directly to the Department of Art (DO NOT SUBMIT ORIGINAL PIECES). Incoming freshmen who wish to be considered for Leu Art Scholarships should submit the portfolio by the December 1 priority deadline. Applicants wishing to pursue the Art History major are exempt from the portfolio requirement. For further information, please call 615.460.6770 or visit www.belmont.edu/art.

Admission to the Bachelor of Fine Arts In Theatre

Applicants are required to either complete an audition or submit a portfolio. Call 615.460.6012 or email paul.gatrell@belmont.edu to make arrangements. Applicants who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Drama are exempt from the audition or portfolio requirement. Audition and portfolio requirements can be found online at www.belmont.edu/theatre.

Admission to the School of Nursing

All applicants (whether freshman or transfer) to the School of Nursing must submit an official high school transcript and official test scores from either SAT or ACT. A nursing applicant must be a licensed registered nurse or have a previous bachelor’s degree to be exempt from this requirement.

Admission to the Honors Program

Applicants for freshman admission may be considered for admission to the Honors Program if they have outstanding academic records in high school. Freshman applicants are invited to apply to the Honors program with an unweighted high school grade point average of 3.75 (4.0 scale) or higher and an ACT composite score of 30 (or SAT Critical Reading and Math composite of 1330) or higher. The application for Honors is included in the freshman application and must be submitted by December 1st.

Readmission

Students applying for readmission to Belmont are considered on the same basis as new applicants to the university for that particular term. If a student has attended any other college or university since the last term of enrollment at Belmont, official transcripts must be sent. Recommendations previously sent to Belmont may be used if they are less than two years old. Applicants should contact the Office of Admissions to determine what particular requirements may be needed. Readmission cannot be considered if the student has any unsettled business with Belmont University or any other institution attended, whether in the form of a financial, disciplinary or academic obligation. Once those issues have been resolved and the Office of Admissions has been notified of the resolution in writing by that institution, the application will be considered. The university reserves the right to refuse readmission to a student on any grounds deemed sufficient by the Belmont University administration.

A student who receives his/her first academic suspension from Belmont University may petition for readmission to the university after one semester. Any student who receives two academic suspensions may appeal for readmission after one year from the date of the last suspension. Any appeal for reinstatement from suspension is made to the Admissions Committee and is subject to full review. In no case is reinstatement guaranteed. A third suspension results in permanent dismissal from the university.

Enrollment Process

1. Obtain and complete the degree seeking application for admission. Indicate the desired term of enrollment and desired major. Submit the application and appropriate fee to the Office of Admissions. Submit all supporting materials as outlined in this catalog to the Office of Admissions.
2. After all application materials have been received by the Office of Admissions, they will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee after which notification of a decision or the need for additional materials will be sent. Acceptance to the university may be granted with stipulations that must be met for continued enrollment. These stipulations supercede any progression requirements outlined in the bulletin or other university documents.
3. A link to the Enrollment Confirmation Form will be included with the student’s acceptance letter to the university. The form should be completed with a $250* non-refundable enrollment deposit. This deposit ensures a space for the student in the term for which they have been admitted. The Enrollment Confirmation and deposit are due by May 1st for incoming freshmen. If requested in writing, a deferment may be granted for up to one calendar year. * International students must submit a $3000 enrollment deposit.
4. Once the Enrollment Confirmation Form is submitted, information about housing will be emailed. If a new student requests housing, $100 of the Enrollment Deposit will be set aside to cover the housing deposit. Should a new student cancel a housing assignment prior to matriculation, the deposit is non refundable.
5. After Belmont has received the completed Enrollment Confirmation Form and enrollment deposit, the student may create their MyBelmont Account and register to attend New Student Orientation

International Student Admissions

Belmont welcomes international students into its undergraduate programs and is authorized to issue F-1 (student) and J-1 (exchange visitor) documentation for obtaining visas.

International Applicants Seeking Non-immigrant Visas [F-1 student visa]

International students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree from Belmont University should follow these steps in addition to the steps outlined in the catalog for Degree Seeking Admission.

1. Submit the $50 application fee.
2. International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting any ONE of the following: minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based test (PBT) or 80 internet-based test (iBT); minimum IELTS score of 6.5; minimum SAT Critical Reading score of 530 or ACT English subscore of 23; successful completion of ELS Language Center Level 112.
3. All applicants with college level coursework from a foreign institution, must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved foreign credential evaluation organization, such as World Education Services (WES) or Joseph Silny and Associates or an evaluation service currently listed as a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Other evaluation services will not be accepted.
4. In order to be issued an I-20 for the desired entry term, international applicants must be admitted and pay their $3,000 enrollment deposit by October 1, March 1, or June 1 in order to enroll for the spring, summer, or fall terms respectively.

International students are required to submit the notarized Sponsor Statement indicating the individual responsible for financing the student’s education. (Note: A bank statement is NOT sufficient.) After being offered admission to Belmont, the student must submit a nonrefundable enrollment deposit of $3,000* which will be applied to the cost of first semester. At this point, the Director of International Student Services will issue an I-20 and provide the student with instructions for obtaining a Visa.

*Students who do not enroll as scheduled, due to failure to obtain a visa, may request a $2,900 refund of the tuition deposit, if requested within 30 days after the close of registration.

International Students Seeking Exchange Visitor Visas [J-1 Exchange/Visitor visa]

International students interested in attending Belmont through one of its established exchange programs (for one semester or one year) must be nominated by their home institution in order to apply to Belmont and be issued a J-1 visa.

International English Competency for Resident Aliens or Permanent Residents

Applicants who are permanent residents or resident aliens may follow the application instructions for domestic students with one exception. Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (written), or 80 (internet based), minimum IELTS score of 6.5; minimum SAT Critical Reading score of 530 or ACT English subscore of 23; or through successful completion of ELS Language Centers Level 112.

Non-Degree-Seeking Admission

Students who do not plan to earn a degree from Belmont may apply for admission through any of the following programs and may take one or many courses at Belmont. Non-degree seeking status is not automatic and is usually granted for one term only except in special circumstances. Non-degree seeking students are prohibited by federal regulations from receiving federal financial assistance. The application fee for any non-degree seeking program is $15.00. The application deadline for non-degree seeking admission is the Friday prior to the beginning of the term of entry.  All application materials must be received by the application deadline.

Audit Admission

Individuals wishing to attend class presentations as a non-participant in a non-credit, non-degree seeking status may apply to audit a course. Audit is non-credit in all cases and regular tuition fees apply. Since all classes are not open for audit, students must have prior approval of the Dean of the college or school in which the course is to be offered before being admitted. Students taking courses for credit have priority over audit students for class entry. Therefore, audit students may register on a space-available basis only. Students may not audit private music lessons.

Cross Admission

Students from an institution with whom University has a cross-town agreement who wish to take courses at Belmont under that agreement must complete the application and submit a Letter of Good Standing from their home institution. Please contact the office of the Registrar at your home institution for requirements related to your particular school’s agreement with Belmont.

Early Admission

Students may apply for early admission to Belmont after the junior year in high school. The student may be planning to skip the senior year, take courses during the summer only and return to high school as a senior, or take courses at Belmont concurrent with the high school senior year (Dual enrollment). The requirements for consideration are: completion, with grade of “C” or higher, three English courses and three math courses, SAT of 1110 (composite score of Critical Reading and Math) or ACT composite of 24, and a minimum high school GPA of 3.00 on academic subjects. In addition, the prospective student should outline the reason for requesting early admission and include letters of support from parents and the high school principal or counselor.

Irregular Post-Graduate Admission

The Irregular Post-Graduate status (IPG) is for students who hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and would like to take additional undergraduate courses at Belmont. In addition to the application and fee, a student must submit an official copy of the college transcript with degree and graduation date posted.

Transient Admission

Admission as a transient student is granted on the basis of a completed application and a Transient Student Permission Form completed by an appropriate official at the student’s current university. A student coming directly from high school to summer school at Belmont needs to supply a high school transcript, test scores, application, fee and letter of acceptance from the university they will attend during the fall semester.

Regular Non-Degree Admission

Students who do not wish to earn a degree, but otherwise would normally fall into the freshman or transfer admission category, may apply as a non-degree seeking student. The application fee is $15.00, but all other admission requirements are the same as those for degree-seeking students.

Senior Citizen Audit

Senior citizens 60 years or older may audit a course, pending space available for $25 per course. Proof of age is required.

Guidelines for Official Documents

Transcripts

A high school or college transcript is considered official when received via U.S. Mail or an approved online transcript provider. The transcript should be stamped/signed and dated by the sending institution.

Test Scores

Test scores are considered official if they are sent directly from the respective testing agency or if the scores are included on an official high school transcript.*

   * Test Scores such as AP or IB must be sent directly from the testing agency in order to be applied toward the Belmont University degree provided the score meets published standards under “Academic Policies.”