Black Student Enrollment At Bob Jones University: The Numbers

Bob Jones University is a private Christian institution in Greenville, South Carolina, with a total enrollment of around 3,000 students. The school has a history of segregationist policies and did not admit African-American students before 1971. While the university has expressed regret for these policies and strives to maintain racial and cultural diversity, it continues to have low racial diversity among its student body, with the majority of students being white. In 2022, the racial breakdown of the student population was 71.9% White, 6.95% Hispanic or Latino, 2.97% Asian, 1.74% Black or African American, 1.23% Two or More Races, 0.258% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.226% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Bob Jones University's racial history

Bob Jones University, a private Christian institution in Greenville, South Carolina, has a long history of racial segregation and discriminatory policies. The university was founded in 1926 by Bob Jones, a fundamentalist evangelist with strong racist and anti-Catholic beliefs. When the college opened its doors in 1927, admission was restricted to white students only, a policy that remained in place until 1971.

Bob Jones believed that twentieth-century black people should be grateful to whites for bringing their ancestors to the country as slaves. He also held segregationist views, stating that ""If you are against segregation and against racial separation, then you are against God Almighty." These beliefs were reflected in the university's policies, which prohibited interracial dating until 2000.

In 1971, under pressure from the federal government, Bob Jones University finally admitted unmarried black students. However, strict regulations were put in place to prevent interracial dating. This policy led to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revoking the university's tax-exempt status in 1976, with the Supreme Court ruling against the university in 1983. Despite this, it was not until 2000 that the university ended its official prohibition against interracial dating, following a media uproar over a visit by presidential candidate George W. Bush.

In recent years, the university has attempted to address its racist past. In 2008, the administration declared itself "profoundly sorry" for its racially hurtful policies and committed to fostering racial and cultural diversity. In 2022, the racial/ethnic breakdown of the student body was 71.9% White, 6.95% Hispanic or Latino, 2.97% Asian, 1.74% Black or African American, 1.23% Two or More Races, 0.258% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.226% American Indian or Alaska Native. While the university has made strides towards diversity, it still falls below average in overall diversity, racial/ethnic diversity, and male/female diversity.

Current racial demographics

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private Christian institution of higher learning located in Greenville County, South Carolina. The university has existed since 1927 and has a history of striving to achieve its goals of helping young men and women cultivate a biblical worldview, represent Christ and His Gospel to others, and glorify God in every dimension of life.

BJU's history has also been characterised by its early adherence to the segregationist ethos of American culture. In March 2000, the then-university president Bob Jones III stated that the university was wrong in not admitting African-American students before 1971. He also announced the lifting of the university's policy against interracial dating.

BJU enrols students from all 50 states and nearly 50 countries, representing various ethnicities and cultures. The administration is committed to maintaining the racial and cultural diversity and harmony characteristic of the true Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

BJU has approximately 3,029 students enrolled, with 2,295 undergraduates and 84 graduate students. The university's racial/ethnic breakdown is as follows:

• 71.9% White
• 6.95% Hispanic or Latino
• 2.97% Asian
• 1.74% Black or African American
• 1.23% Two or More Races
• 0.258% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders
• 0.226% American Indian or Alaska Native

BJU's student population is predominantly White, with a small Foreign Resident population. The school has low racial diversity, with only 23% of students being minorities or people of colour (BIPOC). This is in contrast to the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities, which is 51.2% White, 17.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% Black or African American.

BJU's faculty also demonstrates low racial/ethnic diversity, with a similar breakdown to the student population. The university does not report the racial demographics of its faculty, but it is known that there are more female teachers than male teachers.

While the university has made strides in recent years to increase its racial and cultural diversity, it still has a way to go to reach parity with the national averages for higher education institutions.

Racial diversity among faculty

Bob Jones University has a history of racial segregation. The university was founded in 1927 as a private Christian institution and did not admit African-American students until 1971. In 2000, the then-president of the university, Bob Jones III, apologised for these institutional policies, stating that they were "racially hurtful".

Today, the university has a low level of racial diversity among its faculty and students. The majority of employees are White (63%), with Black or African-American people making up 16% of employees. However, it is worth noting that the university has a high level of geographic diversity, with students from 47 countries and almost all 50 states.

The student body is slightly more diverse, with 71.9% of students identifying as White, 6.95% as Hispanic or Latino, 2.97% as Asian, 1.74% as Black or African American, 1.23% as multiracial, 0.258% as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and 0.226% as American Indian or Alaska Native. Additionally, 7.46% of students did not report their race.

While the university has made some progress in terms of racial diversity, it still has a way to go to achieve true equality and representation for people of colour.

The number of black students

Bob Jones University has existed as a private Christian institution since 1927. For a long time, the university did not admit African-American students, with this policy only changing in 1971. The university has since apologised for its past institutional racism.

In 2022, the university enrolled 3,095 students, of which 1.74% were Black or African American. This is a low percentage compared to the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities, which is 13% Black or African American. The university's total student population is approximately 3,029 students, with 2,295 undergraduates and 84 graduate students. Of these, 1,620 are female and 1,409 are male. The undergraduate population is made up of 55% women and 45% men.

The university's staff is more diverse than its student body. As of 2023, 16.5% of employees are Black or African American, while 63% are White.

The university's statement on race

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private Christian institution of higher learning that was founded in 1927. BJU is committed to helping young men and women cultivate a biblical worldview, represent Christ and His Gospel, and glorify God in every dimension of life.

BJU's history has been characterized by striving to achieve these goals, but the university acknowledges that it has also failed in some areas. For much of its early history, BJU conformed to the segregationist ethos of American culture, allowing institutional policies regarding race to be shaped more directly by that ethos than by the principles and precepts of Scripture.

BJU recognizes that these policies were racially hurtful and failed to accurately represent the Lord and fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. The university sincerely regrets these failures and is committed to exhibiting a truly Christlike spirit and biblical position on race.

BJU believes that Scripture teaches that God created the human race as one race, with the potential for great diversity. This beautiful, God-caused and sustained diversity is divinely intended to incline mankind to seek the Lord and depend on Him for salvation from sin. The true unity of humanity is found only through faith in Christ alone for salvation, erasing all sinful social, cultural, and racial barriers.

As believers, we are set free by Christ's redeeming grace to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves, regardless of their race or culture. We demonstrate our love for others by presenting Christ our Great Savior to every person, irrespective of race, culture, or national origin, and by obeying Christ's final command to proclaim the Gospel to all men.

BJU enrolls students from all 50 states and nearly 50 countries, representing various ethnicities and cultures. The administration is dedicated to maintaining the racial and cultural diversity and harmony characteristic of the true Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Frequently asked questions