Belmont Abbey College (BAC)

Belmont Abbey College is “a small, Catholic, liberal arts college� that boasts a broad and “challenging� core curriculum and intimate classes. Evidence of the school’s Benedictine tradition is all over the place. Belmont Abbey is “very focused on the Catholic faith� and on “trying to teach Catholic principles.� The administration and the professors “are very capable and genuinely care.� “I love all of my professors,� gushes one enthusiastic student. “Unlike at large institutions, you can really get to know your teachers, and your teachers can really get to know you.� If you fall behind, one-on-one tutoring is available in a number of subjects. BAC was the first school in the country to offer a Motorsports Management concentration in the business degree program. The program includes courses in sports marketing and racing management in addition to traditional business-related course work. Belmont Abbey is also one of the few Catholic colleges in the U.S. that is connected to a monastery. Having “a monastery full of monks� on campus is “really cool� and “pretty handy.� They celebrate Mass “every day� and the “daily common prayer of the monks� is “open to all students.�

“Everyone is friendly and easygoing� at Abbey and “It’s easy to find a close-knit group of friends.� Virtually everyone knows everyone else, too, which can cause “a lot of drama.� Obviously, many students are Catholic. However, a substantial proportion of students aren’t Catholic, and BAC’s ethnic diversity is noteworthy. There are “traditional and nontraditional students� here. “All the students seem to meld together and work well with each other; it doesn’t matter if they are old or young, male or female, [or of any] race and religious belief.� Typical Abbey students have “attended some type of private school� their whole lives. Many are “from small high schools.� There is a large group of “athletes here on scholarships to play a sport.� Overall, “Students are generally happy about being here and very welcoming to all. The ones that are really active in the school’s politics and [extracurricular] groups are really interested in creating an environment where students can grow into healthy, proactive, successful adults---spiritually, mentally, and physically.�

The campus here is “very peaceful� and “especially beautiful.� “The view of the Gothic spires of St. Leo’s Hall breaking through the evergreens is enough to take your breath away,� enthuses one student. Schoolwork keeps students busy, as do intercollegiate and intramural sports. “There are always sporting events to attend around campus.� “Soccer is a huge part of Abbey life in the fall, and just as it winds down, basketball season begins, and lacrosse and baseball after that.� Concerts and theater performances are a big hit as well. “It’s fun to watch your fellow student friends compete and perform, because you know everyone on a personal level,� says one student. Students say Abbey offers “partying,� but sometimes “There isn’t much of a social life on campus.� “Most of the time we rent movies from Blockbuster,� says a first-year student, or “play board games.� “For those who like to go clubbing, there’s a party bus that picks people up [off campus] a few times a week and takes them to Charlotte.� Students appreciate their “close proximity to Charlotte�---“only a short, 10-minute drive�---making it easy “for students to sample the nightlife, go out for dinner at a nice restaurant, or shop.�