Fast Facts

Nationally ranked and consistently recognized as a “Most Innovative” university by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University is home to nearly 8,500 students who come from every state and more than 36 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 100 areas of undergraduate study, more than 27 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual’s horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Belmont University Fast Facts

MISSION & OVERVIEW

Mission

Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.

Overview

Campus sits on 93 historic acres two miles southwest of downtown Nashville, TN
Founded in 1890
Largest Christian university in Tennessee
Fall 2019 Enrollment: 8,400+
Students hail from every state and more than 36 counties
Second-largest private university in Tennessee

Academics

More than 100 undergraduate areas of study, 27 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees

Average 2020 Freshmen ACT Score: 27

Student to faculty ratio: 14 to 1

University consists of 11 distinct colleges and one school along with adult degree programs, global education and interdisciplinary studies:

O’More College of Architecture & Design
Watkins College of Art
Jack C. Massey College of Business
Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing
College of Law
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
College of Pharmacy
College of Sciences & Mathematics
College of Theology & Christian Ministry
College of Music & Performing Arts
School of Education

Awards & Accolades

Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report and praised in the following categories:

12th consecutive year on the “Most Innovative Schools” list
Ranked 17th in the nation for “Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching”
Ranked 14th nationally for “First Year Experience” programming
Ranked 7th nationally for “Learning Communities”
One of only 56 colleges in the country recognized for robust Study Abroad programs
One of only 34 schools recognized for “Senior Capstone” culminating experience
One of only 35 schools recognized for “Service Learning”
Named a Best College for Veterans
Named as a Best Value

Other Awards & Accolades:

On Princeton Review’s 2020 “Best Colleges in the Southeast” List
Recognized among the “50 Most Beautiful Colleges in America” by Architectural Digest
Served as Host of the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate and named an alternative site for the 2016 Presidential Debates
Five Belmont professors have been chosen as Tennessee Professor of the Year by CASE/Carnegie Foundation since 2000.
The University has won its athletic conference’s All Academic Trophy 16 of the last 18 years, an unprecedented accomplishment
The University’s ENACTUS team won the 2012 National Championship and international World Cup for social enterprise ventures
Motion Pictures program featured on Variety’s “Best Film Schools for 2019”
Ranked No. 12 Christian college in the country by The Edvocate
Praised by Billboard Magazine as a “2019 Top Music Business School”
Ranked No. 24 undergraduate school for Entrepreneurship studies by Princeton Review
Received prestigious Gold rating in the 2019 Sustainable Campus Index

Notable Alumni

Brad Paisley
Trisha Yearwood
Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, Florida Georgia Line
Josh Turner
Lee Ann Womack
Chris Lee, Chicago “Hamilton” cast
Judah Akers, Brian Macdonald & Nate Zuercher, Judah and the Lion
Sarah Cannon, Minnie Pearl
Trevor Terndrup, Spencer Thompson, Tommy Putnam, Wes Bailey & Tyler Ritter, Moon Taxi
Clifton Forbis, tenor, leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, and Teatro alla Scala
Tamara “Taj” Johnson George, member of R&B group SWV and Survivor contestant
Gordon Kennedy, Grammy-winning songwriter
Levi Kreis, Tony Award-winning artist
Rachel Smith, Miss USA 2007 and ABC pop news correspondent
Larry Stewart, Restless Heart
R. Milton Johnson, retired Chairman and CEO, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
Dylan Windler, NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers
Cindy Mabe, President, Universal Music Group Nashville
Ben Vaughn, CEO of Nashville music publishing operation, Warner/Chappell Music
Judson Aikens, Netflix
Rusty Gaston, CEO Sony/ATV Nashville
Carla Wallace, partner/CEO, Big Yellow Dog Music
Ashley Gorley, 6-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year

Belmont University Images

Nashville Fast Facts

About Nashville

Without question, one of Belmont’s greatest assets is our hometown, Nashville. The rare place that combines small-town charm with big city possibilities. A city that thrives on creativity, community, authenticity and music. A town that’s known for its friendliness and Southern hospitality. Nashville drew nearly 16 million visitors in 2018-19, a number that’s only anticipated to grow as more people discover its appeal.

Home to all genres of music, Nashville offers distinctive venues that appeal to every taste, from the grandeur of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the historical holy ground of the Ryman Auditorium to the honky tonks on Lower Broadway and the rock, jazz, and blues clubs throughout the city. But if you really want to know what makes Music City sing, spend an evening experiencing “songwriters in-the-round.” Nashville reveres its songwriters and the craft of songwriting as much as the superstars who bring the music to life.

But music is far from the only thing Nashville has to offer. Chefs, makers, designers and entrepreneurs add to the city’s creative spirit. Major industries in the Tennessee capital include finance, health care, higher education, insurance, publishing, technology, manufacturing and tourism. And since more than half of the nation’s population lives within 650 miles of Nashville, the city make an ideal location for business and travel.

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp can offer more information and details at VisitMusicCity.com.

Overview

Nashville was founded on Christmas Day 1779 on the banks of the Cumberland River.
Nashville’s population = Approximately 693,000 in Davidson County (2015), and 1.9 million MSA.
Time Zone: Central Standard (CST) early November – mid-March; Central Daylight (CDT): mid-March – November.
Elevation: 550 feet (168 meters) at the lowest point; 1,100 feet (336 meters) at the highest point of the rim around the Nashville basin.
2017 Nashville Median Household Income: $63,939.
Nashville MSA Unemployment Rate (as of June 2019): 2.6%.
Major industries in Nashville include: Health Care Management, Automobile Production, Finance, Higher Education, Insurance, Music Production, Printing & Publishing, Technology Manufacturing, and Tourism.
71,000+ jobs are directly related to the hospitality industry.
Nashville hosted 15.8 million visitors in FY 2018-19. Up 7% over the previous FY.
Overall cost of living is 3.3% less than the national average.
Common nicknames include Music City, Athens of the South and Songwriting Capital of the World.
Nashville has more than 180 live music venues throughout the city.

Awards & Accolades

Travel & Leisure recognized Nashville in the “Top 15 Cities in the U.S.” (July 2019)
Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards ranked Nashville in multiple lists including No. 1 Best Leisure Destination in the United States and No. 6 Best Weekend Destination in North America (May 2019)
Nashville hit No. 6 on Cvent’s “Top 50 Meeting Destinations in the U.S.” (July 2019)
Forbes placed Nashville in their list of “Top 10 American Cities for Family-Friendly Travel” (June 2019)
Nashville ranked No. 15 on U.S. News & World Report’s 125 Best Places to live in the USA (April 2019)
Named by TripAdivsor as one 10 Best Foodie Vacations in America (Dec. 2018)
Conde Nast Traveler’s The Best Cities in the US: 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards ranked Nashville No. 13 (Oct. 2018)
Named by Southern Living among The South’s Best Cities, Friendliest Cities and Best Food Cities (March 2018)

Nashville Images

Select Media Photos of Nashville