Exploring Bob Jones University's Student Population

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private Christian liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. It was founded in 1927 by Christian evangelist Bob Jones, who was concerned about the secularisation of higher education. The university has around 3,000 students and is known for its conservative and evangelical cultural and religious positions.

Student body demographics

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private, Christian liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. It has an approximate total student population of 3,000, with a full-time enrolment of 2,339 and a part-time enrolment of 756. The student body is predominantly white (71.9%), with Hispanic or Latino students forming the second-largest demographic (6.95%). Other ethnicities include Asian (2.97%), Black or African American (1.74%), Two or More Races (1.23%), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (0.258%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (0.226%). The student body is almost evenly split between men and women, with 57.5% of degrees awarded to women and 42.5% to men.

The student body is largely residential, with 70% to 72% living on campus. A significant proportion of students (34% to 35%) were homeschooled. The university offers 92 bachelor's degrees and 14 associate degree programs, with popular majors including Business Administration, Interior Architecture & Design, and Registered Nursing. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 12:1 and an average graduation rate of 69%.

BJU has a conservative and evangelical cultural and religious stance, which influences campus life and student rules. Students are expected to abide by strict rules regarding dress codes, entertainment choices, and moral conduct. The university also previously had a ban on interracial dating, which was lifted in 2000.

Student accommodation

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private, evangelical Christian university in Greenville, South Carolina, with approximately 3,000 students, 70% of whom live on campus in residence halls. The university offers a unique community experience, with a total of eight residence halls—four for men and four for women. Each residence hall is equipped with a prayer room, study lounge, and vending room, and each floor has two community bathrooms. Typically, three students share a residence room, which includes drawer space, closets, overhead bins, desks, and shelves.

The residence halls also offer free laundry facilities and music rooms for practising piano, voice, or other instruments. There is a supervisor and student mentors in each residence hall, as well as resident assistants who provide spiritual support and guidance. BJU's Public Safety team operates 24/7 patrol and dispatch services, and the residence halls close at 11 p.m., with card access required for entrance.

BJU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students with documented needs. To qualify for these housing accommodations, students must complete the Housing Accommodations Request and provide the necessary medical documentation.

In addition to residence halls, BJU offers various dining options on campus, including the Dixon-McKenzie Dining Common, which serves a variety of American, pizza, pasta, and international dishes, as well as made-without-gluten options. Other dining options include The Den, Cuppa Jones, The POD, and Boba Jones, which offer a range of drinks, snacks, and meals to suit different tastes and preferences.

Academic programs

Bob Jones University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in five schools, a college, and a seminary. The university comprises seven colleges and schools offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, including 14 associate degree programs and 92 bachelor's degrees.

The top ten academic programs at the university include Business Administration, Elementary Education, and Interior Architecture & Design. The university's nursing major is approved by the South Carolina State Board of Nursing, and a BJU graduate with a BSN is eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination to become a registered nurse. The BJU engineering program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

BJU's School of Religion includes majors for both men and women, although only men train as ministerial students. Many of these students go on to a seminary after completing their undergraduate education, while others take up ministry positions straight from college. The School of Religion also offers a church internship program for juniors to prepare them for pastoral ministry.

The Division of Fine Arts has the largest faculty of the university's six undergraduate schools. The Film and Digital Storytelling program provides professional training in motion picture production, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience in various areas, including directing, editing, and cinematography. Seniors in this program produce high-definition short films which they write, direct, and edit.

BJU's pre-college programs include Bob Jones Academy, enrolling students from preschool through 12th grade.

Tuition fees and financial aid

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private Christian liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina, with around 3,000 students.

The tuition fees and financial aid available at BJU are outlined below.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for Bob Jones University are $24,470 for the 2024-25 academic year. This figure includes both tuition and fees, otherwise known as the sticker price. The total cost, including food, housing, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses, is $38,200.

Financial Aid

BJU offers various grants and scholarships to help students finance their education. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students is $18,504, with 69% of first-year students receiving this type of financial aid. Additionally, the average non-need-based scholarship or grant for first-year students, excluding athletic scholarships, is $10,267.

BJU also offers need-based self-help aid, which includes federal loans and work-study programs. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students is $3,194.

BJU's website provides a Net Price Calculator to help students estimate the cost of attending the university after aid and scholarship funds are taken into account. The net price for the average student receiving need-based aid is $21,475.

Furthermore, 39% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students. The university also accepts Advance Placement (AP) credits, which can help reduce the overall cost of a student's degree.

Additional Fees

Students taking more than 18 credits per semester will be charged $500 per additional credit. There are also fees for auditing courses, taking fewer than 12 credits as a resident hall student, and various program-specific fees.

Scholarships and Grants

Grants and scholarships are an important way to help pay for college, as they do not need to be paid back. These can come from the federal or state government, BJU, or private sources. Merit-based scholarships are awarded for academic or athletic achievement, while need-based scholarships take into account a student's financial status.

Work-Study Programs

Work-study programs provide students with the opportunity to work part-time to help pay for their education. BJU offers work-study positions and campus jobs to its students.

Student life and rules

Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private Christian university in Greenville, South Carolina, with a student population of around 3,000. BJU is known for its conservative and evangelical cultural and religious positions, and its strict rules for student life.

BJU has approximately 40 rules that govern student life, which have evolved over time to reflect societal changes while maintaining the university's founding principles. The rules cover various aspects of student life, including dress code, social interactions, and behavioural expectations. Here are some of the rules and regulations that students at BJU must follow:

• Dress Code: Women were previously required to wear skirts and dresses, but as of 2018, they are allowed to wear pants as long as they are not too tight. Men are expected to wear pants, jeans, shirts, and other elements of a business casual wardrobe. Clothing should be neat and modest, and students should not see each other's underwear. Additionally, men are not allowed to wear sleeveless shirts during outdoor activities, and their hair must be neatly trimmed and no longer than ear-length.
• Entertainment and Media: Students are restricted in their entertainment choices and are prohibited from attending parties, concerts, and sports events. They are also not allowed to watch movies rated above "G" or play video games rated above "E10". The university handbook states that students should avoid any type of entertainment that contains profanity, sexual perversion, lurid violence, or false philosophical or religious assumptions. Students are also restricted from listening to certain genres of music, such as rock, pop, country, and jazz.
• Internet and Social Media: The university monitors and filters internet usage on campus. Students are not allowed to access certain websites, including celebrity home pages, sites containing secular music lyrics, or humour sites. Students with smartphones or tablets must use filtered internet and are not permitted to use unfiltered internet.
• Relationships and Interactions: Men and women are not allowed to be alone together in the same classroom or meet without the dean's approval. They are also not allowed to go to bars together. All relationships are monitored by the university. Additionally, students under 25 years old must shave their faces every morning.
• Curfew and Lights Out: Resident hall students have a curfew of 11:00 pm on weekdays and 12:00 am on weekends. They must stay in their rooms between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am and turn off the lights and be in bed by midnight.
• Attendance and Chapel Services: Students are required to attend chapel services three days a week and at least two services per week at an approved "local fundamental church".
• Dating and Marriage: Male students must obtain the dean's approval to date a female day student or non-student. Students who get married at 20 years old or younger are not permitted to continue their education at BJU.
• Academic Expectations: Students are expected to display orderliness and concern for others by being punctual and not disrupting classes by arriving late.

These rules aim to uphold the university's religious and moral values and create a controlled and conservative environment for students. However, some people may view these rules as restrictive and overly controlling, impacting the cultural experience of students.

Frequently asked questions