Overview of Birmingham-Southern College

Situated three miles from downtown Birmingham, Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) is a highly rated private liberal arts institution associated with the United Methodist Church. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to choose from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations. Because of its accomplishments in STEM and the liberal arts, Phi Beta Kappa granted the university membership. BSC Panthers play in the NCAA Division III, within the Southern Athletic Association.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 1,268 (all undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 48% Male/52% Female
• 99% Full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $18,238
• Books: $1,260
• Room and Board: $12,402
• Other Expenses: $2,990
• Total Cost: $34,890

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 100%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 100%
  • Loans: 54%
• Mean Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $26,406
  • Loans: $6,936

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Business Administration and Management, General; Psychology, General; Mathematics, General; and Fine/Studio Arts, General

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 80%
• Transfer-out Rate: 24%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 63%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 68%

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
• Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Overview of Birmingham-Southern College Admissions

BSC admits just around half of the students who apply. The institution is test-optional, meaning that students can choose whether to submit scores from the SAT or ACT. This institution has a robust admissions process that involves a multitude of academic measures. A persuasive essay and glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. It also requires at least one supplemental essay. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the next steps of the application process. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data

• Birmingham-Southern College Acceptance Rate: 57%
• Test Scores — 25th/75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 520/620
  • SAT Math: 520/600
  • SAT Writing: -/-
  • ACT Overall: 23/29
  • ACT English: 22/31
  • ACT Math: 20/26

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Birmingham-Southern College, then it should be easy for you to gain admissions to the schools below. If Birmingham-Southern College is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Pace University, University of North Texas, San Jose State University, California State University Long Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University, Washington State University, Texas State University

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Birmingham-Southern College, then you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

Seton Hall University, University of Houston, University of California, Riverside, University of Arizona, University of Oregon, Florida International University, Colorado State University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will Be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Birmingham-Southern College. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

University of Texas at Dallas, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Syracuse University, University of Cincinnati, Penn State University Park, United States Military Academy

Applying to Birmingham-Southern College

Application Deadline: Rolling

Undergraduate Admissions Website: https://www.bsc.edu/admission/index.html

Undergraduate Application Link(s): https://www.bsc.edu/admission/apply.html