Admit rate has ranged 80%–99% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Belmont Abbey College is a small, Benedictine liberal arts college where faith and academics intersect—think tight-knit community, a 75% acceptance rate, and a curriculum steeped in Catholic tradition. With business and sport management as its most popular majors, it attracts students who want a values-driven education just outside Charlotte. The graduation rate lags at 46%, but the school compensates with a lively campus culture and merit aid that brings net costs down to $23,463 for many.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,276
In-state tuition
$19,500
Out-of-state tuition
$19,500
Acceptance Rate
75-90%
Most Popular Majors
Business, Sport Management, Liberal Arts
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
Graduation Rate (6-year)
46%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$47,937
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.9×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
47%
First-year retention
70%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
42%
Pell (lower-income) share
55%
First-generation share
27%
Endowment / student
$10,811
Financial health
1.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,790
Accounting and Related Services$43,519
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$35,416
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$31,670
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$29,685
Education, General
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
3
Per 1,000 students
2.35
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
106
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
37°F
Annual rain
44"
Annual snow
1.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
22
Scholarly works
274
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
30%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Belmont Abbey College?
Belmont Abbey College's acceptance rate is approximately 75% (Belmont, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Belmont Abbey College?
Admitted students at Belmont Abbey College typically score 960–1200 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Belmont Abbey College cost?
At Belmont Abbey College, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,639 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Belmont Abbey College?
Belmont Abbey College enrolls approximately 1,276 undergraduate students.
Where is Belmont Abbey College located?
Belmont Abbey College is located in Belmont, NC.
Admissions
Belmont Abbey’s admissions process is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 75% (per U.S. News) and 90% (per Niche and PrepScholar). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 950 and 1200 on the SAT or 20-26 on the ACT. Fall 2025 saw a record-breaking enrollment of 1,741 students, including 741 new admits—a sign of growing interest in its Benedictine liberal arts model. The college welcomes transfer, international, and veteran applicants with tailored processes.
The college offers over 60 majors, with business (60 graduates in 2024), sport and fitness management (38), and liberal arts (36) as the most popular. Programs like business management emphasize critical thinking and internships, while the curriculum is infused with Catholic intellectual tradition. Smaller departments—like bioethics and Christianity and Culture—highlight the school’s Benedictine identity. Class sizes are intimate, with no mention of graduate programs, keeping the focus squarely on undergraduate teaching.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$26,739
Criminal Justice and Corrections$26,585
English Language and Literature, General$25,194
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
With 1,580 undergraduates (55% male, 45% female), Belmont Abbey fosters a 'family-like atmosphere'—partly due to its location 30 minutes from Charlotte, which offers internships and weekend diversions. Campus life balances academics and community events, though students note room for more clubs and weekend programming. Residence life and campus ministry organize activities, from jam-packed welcome weeks to spiritual retreats. The vibe is decidedly communal, with athletics (NCAA Division II) as a major social anchor.
Graduation rates are a weak spot: just 46% of students finish within six years (per U.S. Department of Education data), though some reports peg the four-year rate at 42%. Early-career earnings average $35,000—on par with the mix of majors. The college emphasizes 'persistence' in its mission, but outcomes lag behind national averages for private colleges. That said, its Benedictine focus appeals to students prioritizing values-aligned education over prestige metrics.
Tuition runs $21,500, with total direct costs (housing, food) hitting ~$34,674. Merit scholarships ($2,500–$6,000) and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. ($11,978 average for first-years) help: 50% of freshmen receive grants, bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $23,463. The college promotes its Net Price Calculator, and awards like the Trustees Scholarship stack with honors funding. It’s a relative bargain for a private college, especially for students who qualify for Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need..
Belmont Abbey carves a niche as one of the few Benedictine colleges in the South, blending Catholic intellectual tradition with practical programs like business and cybersecurity. Its 10:1 student-faculty ratio and Charlotte-adjacent location offer both intimacy and opportunity. While graduation rates are subpar, the community’s focus on faith and character—plus robust Merit aidScholarship money awarded for achievements like grades, talents, or test scores — not based on your family's financial need.—makes it a compelling choice for students seeking a values-centered alternative to secular liberal arts colleges.
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