Brenau University

Brenau University is a private, nonprofit university based in Gainesville, Georgia, with four campuses and online programs. Its historic Gainesville campus includes both the Women’s College and coeducational undergraduate programs, while its graduate schools serve students across business, education, health sciences and the arts. This mix gives applicants more than one kind of college experience under the Brenau name: compare the school, campus and delivery format for the exact program you want before weighing tuition or planning a commute.

Find the right academic route

Brenau lists more than 80 degree programs. Undergraduate options span business, communication and media, education, fine arts and humanities, interior design, science, psychology, nursing and health science. Graduate and professional choices include master’s programs in accounting, business, education, counseling psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies and interior design, along with doctoral programs in education, clinical psychology, nursing practice, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Students can also pursue certificates, endorsements and pre-professional preparation for fields such as medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

Health programs have distinct entry points and locations. Nursing pathways include a traditional BSN, RN-to-BSN, an accelerated BSN and graduate nursing programs; the accelerated BSN and entry-level MSN are intended for people who already hold college degrees or substantial transferable credit. Occupational therapy, physician assistant and physical therapy programs have their own graduate admissions and clinical requirements. In the arts, students can explore dance, theatre, studio art, fashion and interior design. Business students can choose undergraduate majors such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, logistics, hospitality and healthcare management, with MBA and accounting options at graduate level.

Some programs are available only at a particular location or in a particular format, and a program directory may include a mix of on-campus, hybrid and online offerings. Check the school’s program directory for the full current list and follow each degree page for curriculum, prerequisites and campus. The university posts 2026–27 program plans; use the plan for your catalog year to see required courses and ask an adviser how accepted transfer credit changes your sequence.

Four campuses, four practical destinations

The historic Gainesville campus at 500 Washington Street SE, Gainesville, GA 30501, is home to most Women’s College and coeducational undergraduate programs and some graduate programs. The Gainesville Downtown Campus, at 301 Main Street SW, is on the town square and includes the Downtown Center and Gainesville Renaissance building. The Gainesville East Campus, at 1001 Chestnut Street SE, houses the Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing and the School of Occupational Therapy, including simulation labs. Brenau’s North Atlanta Campus is at 3139 Campus Drive, Norcross, GA 30071; selected nursing, occupational therapy and clinical counseling psychology programs are based there. Use Brenau’s campus directory and map to confirm where a particular class or service meets.

2026–27 tuition and the real cost of attendance

Brenau’s 2026–27 schedule lists full-time undergraduate residential tuition at $16,936 per semester; the $24,884 base amount includes tuition, food and housing, the Women’s College comprehensive fee when applicable, university services and the institutional and instructional development fee. For undergraduate commuters in the Gainesville day program, the listed full-time rate is also $16,936 per semester; part-time daytime study is $1,129 per credit hour. Evening, North Atlanta and online bachelor’s programs are listed at $823 per hour, associate programs at $731 per hour, and accelerated BSN at $823 per hour. Online business rates change to $450 per hour for bachelor’s study and $575 for master’s and certificates beginning Spring 2027.

Graduate rates vary by field: the schedule lists many business, education, arts and humanities master’s programs at $896 per hour, direct-entry MSN at $939 per hour, and clinical psychology doctorate at $1,044 per hour. Doctoral schedules include $1,090 per hour for the Ed.D., $1,425 for the D.N.P., $1,343 for the occupational therapy doctorate, and per-semester rates for physical therapy and entry-level occupational therapy. As an example of the added costs in a clinical program, the university’s 2026–27 occupational therapy estimate totals $102,276 across tuition, fees, books and supplies, and projected student health insurance; transportation, housing and other personal expenses are separate. The full 2026–27 tuition schedule explains fees, program-specific rates and the undergraduate net-price calculator. Use that calculator and request a written estimate for your exact degree and campus before comparing awards.

Scholarships and financial aid

For 2024–25, Brenau reports that 95% of undergraduate students received some form of financial assistance. The university offers academic merit awards for eligible incoming students in full-time day programs; published annual amounts vary by program and residency status, with current pages listing ranges from $6,400 up to $17,500. Online students are not eligible for those day-program merit scholarships. Other options include competitive awards such as the Presidential Award, scholarships for fine arts auditions or portfolios, athletic grants for eligible Women’s College athletes, and Georgia’s HOPE, Zell Miller and Tuition Equalization Grant for students who meet state requirements.

The Brenau Promise may cover remaining tuition and the institutional and instructional development fee for eligible Georgia residents who are first-time, full-time on-ground freshmen and receive both Pell and HOPE or Zell Miller aid; it does not cover housing, meals, books, transportation or other fees. File the FAFSA, apply for state aid where eligible, and ask the Financial Aid Office which awards can be combined and renewed. The university’s undergraduate aid guide and scholarship page give the current eligibility rules and next steps. Award amounts depend on the student and available funding, so compare your written aid offer with the complete cost rather than assuming a scholarship applies automatically.

What student comments can help you assess

Student comments frequently describe small classes, approachable faculty and a close community, while some also raise concerns about tuition, limited campus activities, aging facilities or the speed of administrative responses. Experiences differ by program and campus. Health-sciences applicants should ask about clinical placements, equipment and support outside class; online learners should clarify expected instructor response times, technology access and who resolves advising or registration issues. A sample of current and past student reviews of Brenau can help you prepare questions for an admissions or program adviser.

Apply, visit and contact the university

Students can apply to Brenau online or request information through the university’s admissions team. Undergraduates may use either the Brenau Application or Common App; graduate applicants select the process for their intended program. Ask about entry requirements, deadlines, transfer credit, clinical or audition requirements, and the campus where required courses are taught. The main university address is 500 Washington Street SE, Gainesville, GA 30501. The official site lists the general phone as (770) 534-6100; admissions can also be reached at (800) 252-5119, extension 6100. Google’s listing for the main campus shows Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Saturday and Sunday; confirm the hours of the specific office before travelling.

Brenau’s combination of a women-centered undergraduate college, coeducational programs and professional health-science degrees makes it important to compare academic unit as carefully as degree title. Start with the campus and 2026–27 program plan for your intended major, then calculate the cost after housing, fees and aid. A campus visit can help you assess the historic Gainesville community, while online and Norcross applicants should ask how much of their program requires attendance at another location.