Belmont University
Belmont University is a private, Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, best known for music, entertainment, and the performing arts through its Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business. Admission is broadly accessible: Belmont admitted about 94% of roughly 9,100 applicants for its most recent class, and enrolled first-years posted an average high school GPA near 3.89 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1160–1360. Visual and performing arts is by far the largest field at about 35% of bachelor's degrees, well ahead of business and the health professions. Belmont is test-optional and enrolls roughly 7,200 undergraduates in the heart of Music City.
See how Belmont compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Belmont admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
Belmont does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Belmont is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Belmont's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 18.97% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Belmont does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Belmont weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Belmont's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency. Books and personal expenses aren't itemized in this Common Data Set.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Belmont application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Belmont and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Belmont admissions
Is it hard to get into Belmont University?＋
No — Belmont is not very selective. It admitted about 94% of applicants in the most recent cycle, roughly 8,561 offers out of 9,140 applications, with about 1,787 students enrolling. The bigger factor is academic fit: admitted first-years average around a 3.89 GPA, and the rigor of your course load and your grades are the two most heavily weighted parts of the review.
What GPA do you need to get into Belmont?＋
Enrolled first-years at Belmont average about a 3.89 high school GPA, so a strong A-/A record is the norm. Among the 19% who reported a class rank, roughly 36% were in the top tenth and 64% in the top quarter of their graduating class. There is no hard cutoff, and both academic GPA and the rigor of your courses are weighed as very important factors.
Does Belmont require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — Belmont is test-optional, so you can apply without scores and decide whether to send them. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1160–1360 on the SAT and 24–30 on the ACT. Scores are only 'considered' when submitted, behind grades and course rigor in the review.
Is a 1260 SAT good enough for Belmont?＋
Yes — a 1260 sits right at the median for Belmont. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years who submitted scores ranged from 1160 to 1360 on the SAT (24–30 ACT), so a 1260 lands squarely in the middle. Because Belmont is test-optional, you only need to send a score if it strengthens your application.
How hard is it to get into Belmont's music and performing arts programs?＋
Getting admitted to the university is broadly accessible at about a 94% acceptance rate, and the academic application is the main bar. Visual and performing arts is Belmont's signature strength and its single largest field, accounting for roughly 35% of all bachelor's degrees. Many of its music and theatre tracks add a separate audition or portfolio review on top of the general application, so plan to prepare for that step if you're targeting a performance program.
How much does Belmont University cost, and how much financial aid does it give?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $45,200 per year, with food and housing adding roughly $16,130 on top. About 61% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average need-based package near $37,665, and Belmont meets about 78% of demonstrated financial need on average.
What are the most popular majors at Belmont?＋
Visual and performing arts is by far the most popular field at about 35% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting Belmont's identity in Music City. Business and marketing (about 11%), interdisciplinary studies (8%), the health professions (8%), and communication technologies (7%) round out the largest areas.
Does the application essay matter at Belmont?＋
Yes, though it sits below grades in the review. Belmont rates the application essay as a 'considered' factor, while academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record are weighed as very important and recommendations as important. With a test-optional policy and an academics-first review, a specific, well-revised essay is a clear place to show fit beyond your transcript.
Source: Belmont University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Belmont. Banner photo by Lahti213, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).