Belmont University
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Resources & Policies

First-Year Students

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Helpful Information

Understanding our admissions policies can help you navigate the application process with confidence. Below you'll find important information about application requirements, admissions standards, specific academic program requirements, and other policies that may apply to first-year applicants. If you have additional questions, your admissions counselor is here to help.

Before You Apply
Understand how Belmont's holistic admissions process evaluates your academic record, extracurricular involvement, recommendations, essays, and program-specific materials.

Belmont takes a holistic approach to admissions, considering the full picture of each applicant's academic achievements, experiences and potential for success. Competitive applicants typically complete a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, earn an above-average core GPA and rank in the top half of their graduating class.

Students who choose to submit ACT or SAT scores should demonstrate a strong correlation between their test scores and academic performance. Any college-level coursework completed during high school is also expected to reflect above-average achievement.

In addition to academics, Belmont considers essays, extracurricular involvement, recommendations and other indicators of a student's potential to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Some programs may require additional materials, such as portfolios or auditions.

Because no two applicants have the same experiences, interests or goals, every application is reviewed individually. Our goal is to identify students who are likely to succeed academically, graduate and make the most of the Belmont experience.

Belmont University considers Demonstrated Interest as part of our holistic review process. We encourage you to visit our campus, connect with your admissions counselor when they are in your area, or attend a virtual event. The more you engage with Belmont, the more we'll know how excited you are to join the Bruin community!

First-year applicants, who are best prepared to be successful at Belmont, generally will have completed, a minimum, the following course requirements as part of a rigorous college preparatory curriculum while in high school:

  • Four years of English
  • Three years of Math, including Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra II (most students will have four years)
  • Three years of lab-based Science, such as Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry or Physics
  • Two to three years of Social Studies, including U.S. History (most students will have three years)
  • Two or more years of the same Foreign Language completed while in high school (most students will have three years)

Students applying with GED or HiSET results will need to have their official scores sent from the Department of Education or ETS, respectively. Belmont accepts HiSET scores of 15 out of 20 on sub-scores and a minimum of 4/6 on the essay. Please also have official high school transcripts sent in for any coursework completed in the classroom. Please reach out to your admissions counselor with any additional questions.

Application Resources & Policies
Find answers to common questions about application requirements, fee waivers, and enrollment options.

Belmont University offers application fee waivers ($50) to qualified students, which include:
  • Those demonstrating financial need.
  • First-generation college students. We consider students first-generation if neither parent completed a bachelor’s degree. This also includes students whose parents did not complete a degree in the United States and may be unfamiliar with the U.S. college application process.
Additional fee waiver opportunities may arise throughout the year. The Office of Admissions provides fee waiver codes for special events or select campus visit opportunities. To stay informed, join our mailing list or contact your admissions counselor.

Students have the option to submit a Schoolhouse portfolio as part of their Belmont University application. If you choose to include your Schoolhouse materials, they can be submitted via email to your admissions counselor or mailed directly to our Office of Admissions. This optional addition can provide further insights into your academic journey.
 
The mailing address is:
 
Office of Admissions
1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212

When to apply: Apply during your gap year or the fall before you plan to enroll.

Student type: Students are considered a first-year student unless they completed college coursework post high school graduation.

Required items: A final high school transcript and school counselor recommendation must be submitted by the student’s high school.

Belmont does not have a formal deferral process. Admitted students withdraw and reapply for their desired entry term. Belmont will keep all documents and an application fee waiver can be requested. Please reach out to your admissions counselor with any questions.

College Credit Before You Enroll
If you've earned college-level credit during high school, Belmont may be able to award transfer credit.

Students who complete college coursework while in high school will, in most cases, receive credit for the work completed, provided it meets the following guidelines:

  1. The course work is completed through a college or university accredited by one of the accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  2. Courses may not be remedial in nature.
  3. Courses match up (are equivalent in content) with courses offered at Belmont.
  4. While any course in which the student receives a passing grade is eligible for consideration as transfer credit, a student must earn a grade of “C” or better in any course which could then be considered for equivalence to a general education, major or minor course at Belmont.
  5. For those students who enroll at Belmont, an official transcript from each college or university where work was completed must be submitted to Belmont in order for the appropriate credit to be determined and awarded.

Students who wish to transfer less than 30 hours of college credit are advised to take all math courses at Belmont. To view the general education requirements for each degree option at Belmont, visit this page and select the appropriate degree from the list of options at the top. A more detailed explanation of the credit transfer process can be found in the University catalog.

Students are welcome to use Transferology to see how their courses may transfer to Belmont. Transferology is a free tool that will show students course equivalencies. Click below to check out our Transferology page.

For a preliminary evaluation of your dual enrollment credit, fill out this form.

Access Transferology

University credit is awarded in the amount carried by the course for which the student is receiving advanced placement. This credit is recorded as “P” and is not used in calculating overall grade point average. A maximum total of 24 hours of credit may be earned through Advanced Placement, I.B., Cambridge and / or CLEP combined.

See the AP tests accepted by Belmont University.

See IB tests accepted by Belmont University. 

See Cambridge International credit accepted by Belmont University.

Additional Requirements for Academic Programs
Some academic programs require auditions, portfolios, or additional review. Explore the requirements for your intended major.

First-year applicants who wish to be considered for Belmont’s Global Honors program must submit the application for admission by December 1. Notification of Global Honors admissions decisions will be communicated on a rolling basis within four weeks of being academically admitted to Belmont. More specific details about the program, including admission requirements and curriculum offerings, can be found online on the Belmont Global Honors program page.

Admissions Requirements for the Nursing Major

  • A recommended cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • A recommended GPA of 3.5 in high school math and science courses on a 4.0 scale.
  • All applicants must submit an official high school transcript.
  • While submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional, students are encouraged to include them for consideration. Regardless of whether test scores are submitted, the admissions team will calculate the applicant's math and science GPA.
  • Students will undergo two reviews for their application. There is no separate application for the College of Nursing. Once students receive their university admission decision, they can expect a separate nursing decision within 1-2 weeks.

    For more details, please visit the nursing program page.

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio in order to be considered for admission to the Songwriting major. The portfolio will consist of the applicant’s two original songs and corresponding lyrics via Acceptd, plus a written online application portion. Portfolios will be reviewed six times annually and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on September 1, November 1, January 15, March 1, April 15 (exclusive to first-time applicants) and June 1 (exclusive to transfers), for consideration. Specific instructions regarding the portfolio process as well as general information about the major can be found online on the Songwriting program page.

Applicants to the School of Music who wish to major or minor in music are required to complete an audition. Once a student applies to the University as a music major, the student will be prompted to register for either an in-person or video audition. Those students wishing to pursue a music minor (classical study in voice or instrument) should contact the School of Music (SOM) at somauditions@belmont.edu. Applicants will not receive their School of Music decision until they complete and submit their application and receive their notification of acceptance to Belmont as a whole. 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 a major outside of the College of Music and Performing Arts. An applicant who is academically inadmissible to the University cannot be considered for admission to the College of Music and Performing Arts. Additional information, including audition dates and requirements, can be found on the undergraduate Music auditions website.

Applicants for the B.F.A. degree in Theatre are required to either complete an audition or submit a portfolio depending upon their area of emphasis (applicants pursuing the B.A. in Theatre and Drama are exempt from this requirement). Applicants for the B.F.A. program will receive an email after they submit their Belmont application with details on how to audition or submit a portfolio. Applicants who audition or submit a portfolio prior to all application materials being received will not learn of their admission to the university until their application file is complete and a decision has been mailed. 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 a major outside of the College of Music and Performing Arts. An applicant who is academically inadmissible to the University cannot be considered for admission to the College of Music and Performing Arts. Additional information, including audition and portfolio requirements, can be found on the undergraduate Theatre and Dance auditions website.

The Watkins College of Art requires all students applying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree (Studio Art, Design Communication, Illustration, Experiential Design, Animation, Photography or Art Education) to submit a portfolio as a part of the admissions process. You must first be admitted to Belmont before hearing a decision from Watkins.

Portfolios submitted before December 1 will be considered for the Watkins Merit Scholarships. Any applications submitted after December 1 will be considered for admission, but not for departmental scholarships.

View the Portfolio Guideline Requirements.

International & Global Applicants
Additional requirements may apply if you completed high school outside the United States.

Non-US Citizens include Permanent Resident, Undocumented, DACA, TPS, Refugee and Asylee students. While Belmont is test optional, Non US Citizen applicants are required to submit Proof of English Proficiency in addition to the items listed above before an admissions decision can be made. This requirement may be satisfied by meeting one of the following options:

Citizenship with one of the following countries:

  • Antigua
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom – Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales

For any questions regarding the application process, please email us at internationaladmissions@belmont.edu.

In addition to the application listed above for first-year applicants, US Citizens living abroad who have not attended a US or IB high school may also need to submit a transcript evaluation.

  • High Schools outside of the US - A formal credential evaluation of your high school transcript is required for any student who has completed their education outside of the United States. Official evaluations must be course-by-course, contain a GPA (grade point average) and be sent directly from the evaluation company to Belmont. Only evaluations from an NACES accredited evaluation company will be accepted. For high school transcript evaluation, Belmont suggests using Josef Silny & Associates, SpanTran or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

Click here to access our transcript evaluation guide for instructions and more information.

  • US High Schools - Request that official transcripts be sent from the high school directly to the Office of Admissions. For a transcript to be official, it may not be marked "Issued to Student." (remove) Electronic copies are accepted from Parchment, Clearinghouse, Naviance or SCOIR (if your school participates).

For any questions regarding the application process, please contact your admissions counselor, DeVanee Lasley-Brown.

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