
Bob Jones University is a private Christian university founded in 1927 by evangelist Bob Jones Sr. It opened in Panama City, Florida, as Bob Jones College, moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1933, and relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, in 1947. It later adopted the Bob Jones University name.
Those moves helped shape the institution that exists today: a residential university where academic study is closely tied to a conservative Protestant educational mission. Its history is also relevant to applicants evaluating campus policies. The university formerly maintained racially discriminatory admissions and student-relationship rules; it ended its ban on interracial dating in 2000. Prospective students should assess the institution by its current published policies rather than assume past rules remain in effect.
Bob Jones University offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions, religion, and the performing arts. Its academic organization includes schools focused on areas such as business, education and human services, fine arts and communication, health professions, and religion, alongside arts and sciences programs.
Representative undergraduate fields include accounting, engineering, nursing, teacher education, computer science, music, and biblical studies. Graduate options include programs in education, counseling, business, and ministry-related fields. Applicants comparing majors should check the current academic catalog for the precise degree, delivery format, required courses, and any admission standards beyond general university admission. A major's availability does not by itself establish eligibility for professional licensure in every state.
Bob Jones University's main campus is in Greenville, South Carolina, in the state's Upstate region. Greenville provides access to employers, health care facilities, schools, and arts venues that may be relevant to internships or clinical and student-teaching placements.
Residential students can meet many daily needs on campus, while commuters should account for travel and parking. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is the principal nearby airport for students traveling farther afield.
Bob Jones University describes its purpose as providing a liberal arts education informed by a biblical Christian worldview and preparing students for lives of service. Its stated educational approach integrates religious commitments into academics and campus life rather than treating faith as a separate extracurricular activity.
The university is associated with conservative Protestant Christianity. Applicants of any background should review its current doctrinal statement, student handbook, chapel expectations, and conduct policies to understand what enrollment would require. These are descriptions of the university's stated priorities, not independent measures of how individual students experience them.
Name of the institution
Bob Jones UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Evangelical Christian Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1927Bob Jones University is institutionally accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.