Admit rate has ranged 95%–100% over the last 5 years, though the latest figure above (53%) falls outside that window. 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.
Manna University isn't your typical liberal arts college. It's a small, intensely focused biblical higher education institution in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where every academic program is designed to 'educate, equip, and empower emerging leaders to change the world' through faith. The vibe is deeply committed and practical, with a student body dedicated to ministry and religious vocations, supported by an intimate 10:1 student-faculty ratio. While its acceptance rate suggests an accessible gateway, its reported 100% freshman retention rate hints at a uniquely supportive and mission-aligned community.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Considered (not required)
Demonstrated competencies
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
183
In-state tuition
$9,105
Out-of-state tuition
$9,105
Top Majors
Divinity, Ministry, Pre-Theology
Mission Focus
Biblical Higher Education
Graduation Rate
80%
Program Delivery
100% Online & In-Person
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
First-Year Retention Rate
100%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median debt at graduation
$13,450
Graduation rate
80%
First-year retention
100%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
Endowment / student
$162
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.
Financial health
2.0 / 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.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
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
109
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
39°F
Annual rain
47.7"
Annual snow
1.4"
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Manna University?
Manna University's acceptance rate is approximately 53% (Fayetteville, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Manna University cost?
At Manna University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,210 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Manna University?
Manna University enrolls approximately 183 undergraduate students.
Where is Manna University located?
Manna University is located in Fayetteville, NC.
Admissions
Manna University operates with a selective but accessible admissions process. The is consistently reported at 53%, indicating that just over half of all applicants are admitted. Notably, the university employs a policy; neither SAT nor ACT scores are considered for admission, placing greater emphasis on other components of the application. The is the standardized source for this kind of detailed admissions data, including factors like demonstrated interest, though Manna's specific CDS priorities are not detailed in the provided sources. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported at 32.7%, which is a key metric for understanding the university's draw after admission.
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Test Policy: Test-optional; SAT/ACT scores are not considered.
The academic experience at Manna is singularly focused on biblical higher education and ministry preparation. The institution describes its mission as 'dedicated to educating, equipping, and empowering emerging leaders to change the world.' This is not a school with a sprawling list of majors; it is a specialist institution. The most popular majors are overwhelmingly in the fields of divinity, ministry, pre-theology, and religious vocations. A significant recent academic expansion is the new A.A. and B.A. in Ministry programs, which offer substantial elective credit (24 and 51 semester hours, respectively), providing notable flexibility within the ministry-focused curriculum.
The learning environment is characterized by close mentorship, with a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. Programs are designed to combine classroom instruction from experienced faculty with practical ministry application. Furthermore, the university has earned external recognition for its online offerings, having been ranked the #1 online Bible College in the country by ChristianColleges.com, a ranking that weighed academics and affordability heavily.
Life at Manna University is intimate, faith-based, and closely integrated with the institution's spiritual mission. The campus is located at 5117 Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Student life resources are explicitly geared toward spiritual support, offering connections to local churches, pastoral care, and Christian counseling. The community is described by students as 'small but profound' and a 'life giving and faith based' environment.
A distinctive feature of Manna's model is its heavy investment in online education; 100% of its degree programs are available online, with several courses also offered in person at the main campus. This creates a blended community of residential and distance learners. The university maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage and connect its student body, reflecting a modern approach to building community among a faith-oriented cohort.
Manna University reports strong outcomes in student persistence and completion, particularly for a small, specialized institution. Most notably, it boasts a 100% freshman retention rate, suggesting students who enroll find the mission and community highly engaging from the start. The six-year graduation rate is 80%, a solid figure that indicates a majority of students see their programs through to completion.
Graduation timelines show that 50% of students complete their program within the 'normal time' (e.g., 4 years for a 4-year degree). The university's outcomes are framed by its core mission: producing graduates who are 'equipped and empowered' for leadership roles in ministry and religious vocations, thereby 'chang[ing] the world.'
Manna University positions itself as an affordable option within biblical higher education. The average —what students pay after scholarships and grants—is $15,210 per year. The university provides a Net Price Calculator on its website to help families estimate their individual cost. Financial aid options include federal grants, state grants, institutional grant aid, Pell Grants, loans, and work-study programs.
Key statistics on aid awards show that the average federal grant aid is $5,146, state grant aid averages $2,900, and institutional grant aid averages $2,474. Approximately 33% of students receive grant aid. The university's sticker price (total ) is reported as $42,574. Its ranking as the #1 online Bible College notably considered affordability as a key factor.
Manna University stands out for its uncompromising, singular focus. This is not a college that dabbles in ministry studies; it is an institution built entirely around the mission of 'biblical higher education.' Its identity is crystal clear: every program, from its most popular majors in divinity to its new flexible ministry degrees, is designed to prepare students for religious leadership. This creates an intensely purposeful academic and social environment, reflected in its remarkable 100% freshman retention rate.
Its blend of intimate, on-campus instruction (with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio) and a fully-developed online program suite makes it accessible to both local and distant students. Furthermore, its recognition as the #1 online Bible College underscores a commitment to quality and affordability in a niche market. For a student seeking a tight-knit, faith-driven community wholly dedicated to equipping them for ministry, Manna offers a rare and focused path.
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