Declare a Double Major and Your 5th Year is Free!

Taking on two majors means extra work — but it can also bring greater reward. At Belhaven University, we make it easier to make the most of your education. Don’t miss this $28,000 Value!

Our Promise

  • To first-time, full-time, Belhaven freshmen,
  • Who remain continuously enrolled for 4 years,
  • Declare a double major, and
  • The 5th year of tuition is free!

Really — It’s True!

In fact, Belhaven is the only university in America that offers you the chance to earn a double major with free tuition in your fifth year of study! It’s all part of the Belhaven Advantage — talk to your admissions advisor today about this unique opportunity.

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The Double Major Promise: What You Need to Know

Combinations of majors are limited only by your imagination, but here are a few examples of how you can craft your own degree path:

  • Pairing a business degree and a STEM major is the most lucrative combination according to the National Survey of College Graduates.
  • Double majors in two arts, or any arts combined with English, psychology, business, or public relations can dramatically expand your career choices.
  • Almost any major combined with international studies gives you immediate options for full-time employment after college.

With careful planning, you can complete most double major options in four years. But if you need additional time, your fifth year of tuition is FREE.

Want to earn a double degree? We will apply the same 5th year tuition free promise for double degrees too!

To be eligible for the Double Major Promise, there are a few requirements and responsibilities.

You must …

  • Enroll as a freshman. This program is only offered to those who begin their full-time college education at Belhaven University.
  • Remain enrolled full-time for four continuous years (8 semesters).
  • Apply for all eligible state and federal grants, and Belhaven will fund the tuition difference.
  • Cover the costs of books, fees, and room and board charges.
  • Declare your double major or degree with the registrar before submitting a graduation application and be in good academic standing.

Belhaven will …

  • Provide free tuition if you need a 5th year of study (9th and 10th semesters).
  • Apply the 5th year tuition free promise to the completion of a double degree (B.A. + B.S.).

The Double Major Promise: What You Need to Know

Combinations of majors are limited only by your imagination, but here are a few examples of how you can craft your own degree path:

  • Pairing a business degree and a STEM major is the most lucrative combination according to the National Survey of College Graduates.
  • Double majors in two arts, or any arts combined with English, psychology, business, or public relations can dramatically expand your career choices.
  • Almost any major combined with international studies gives you immediate options for full-time employment after college.

With careful planning, you can complete most double major options in four years. But if you need additional time, your fifth year of tuition is FREE.

Want to earn a double degree? We will apply the same 5th year tuition free promise for double degrees too!

To be eligible for the Double Major Promise, there are a few requirements and responsibilities.

You must …

  • Enroll as a freshman. This program is only offered to those who begin their full-time college education at Belhaven University.
  • Remain enrolled full-time for four continuous years (8 semesters).
  • Apply for all eligible state and federal grants, and Belhaven will fund the tuition difference.
  • Cover the costs of books, fees, and room and board charges.
  • Declare your double major or degree with the registrar before submitting a graduation application and be in good academic standing.

Belhaven will …

  • Provide free tuition if you need a 5th year of study (9th and 10th semesters).
  • Apply the 5th year tuition free promise to the completion of a double degree (B.A. + B.S.).

Double Major 5th Year Free Allows Me to Pursue Other Interests

"Belhaven places such a high emphasis and appreciation for the arts that is rare to find in other schools. The fifth-year free promise for double majors is an added perk that I knew I wanted to take advantage of and allows me to pursue other interests. Because of my degree from Belhaven I feel prepared to take on a career in the arts while focusing on my values."

— Mandi, Theatre Major from West Lafayette, Ind

Frequently Asked Questions About the Double Major Promise

No. Transfer students are not eligible to take advantage of the Belhaven Promise because we didn’t guide your course planning and monitor your progress from the beginning.

If you earned more than 12 credit hours after graduating high school at a community college or four-year college, you are a transfer student.

Yes. You’re eligible if you earned alternative credits, and you did not earn more than 12 hours of credits at a two- or four-year college after graduating from high school.

You’re eligible! You qualify if you earned dual credit while in high school even if you were classified as a sophomore when you enroll at Belhaven.

If you’ve earned a significant amount of dual enrollment credit, the double degree may be an excellent option for you.

An example of a double degree is someone pursuing a BFA in Dance and a B.S. in Business Administration.

To earn a double degree, you must earn a minimum of 155 hours:

  • A minimum of 124 hours for one degree; AND
  • An additional 31 unique hours for the second degree.

This is required to meet the residency rule for each degree. The residency rule is defined as the number of credits you must complete through the university in order to graduate.

You must also earn:

  • 18 unique hours in each major; AND
  • 31 hours unique to each degree.

You may be able to complete both majors with a minimum of 124 credit hours. This depends on the number of hours required for each major. Both majors will have the same degree, e.g., Bachelor of Science degrees in Sports Medicine & Elementary Education.

Yes. You must submit the FAFSA and apply for any federal or state grants to be applied to your student bill. Once those grants and scholarships are applied, Belhaven will provide scholarships for the remaining cost of tuition.

If you want to take out loans, you could use that money for room/board, living, books, fees, or any other university related expense. Those loans would not be applied to your tuition.

To meet the requirements for the 5th year free program, your 5th year must be verified by the Registrar’s Office and you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will receive institutional aid to cover the balance of your 5th year tuition after all federal and state grants for which you are eligible have been applied.  All fees, books, and room and board will still be your responsibility during your 5th year.

Yes. You are still responsible for the activity fee, room and board costs, course fees, books, or any charges outside of the full-time tuition costs.

In most cases, no. You may take a semester of only online courses when experiencing documented extenuating medical circumstances.

The registrar will review the request along with the documentation to determine eligibility for continuous enrollment.

Preferably as soon as you enroll in Belhaven as a freshman, but it can be done later in your academic career.

  • You must apply for the Double Major Promise option in BlazeNet as soon as you determine you want a double major or double degree, and before you submit a graduation application.
  • You’ll also need to submit your application again just before starting your 9th term (for financial purposes).
  • The registrar’s office will set up your degree plan in BlazeNet to allow you and both advisors to meet and plan out degree completion.

You will receive two diplomas for double degree only. Diplomas are issued on the degree earned; a double major under the same degree will receive the diploma for the one degree. On your resume, you would list both majors under the same degree.

Contact Us

Office of Admission

Phone: 601-968-5940

Mailing Address:
1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202

For campus visit:
Jimmy Hood Welcome Center
855 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS 39202

Fax: 601-300-2932

admission@belhaven.edu

BU letters displayed outside admission office

Verse of the Year

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Philippians 2:13