Christian School CompassTrue north for Christian families.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Christian college

#24 Christian colleges with the strongest worship and chapel in America

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Church of the Nazarene

Mount Vernon Nazarene University, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, holds chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel, including a student-led worship service on Tuesday evenings. Its general education curriculum includes a Christian Beliefs course and a Bible course. The Office of Spiritual Life runs small groups, service ministries and service-learning trips.

Faith life at a glance

A week at Mount Vernon Nazarene University

  1. MonToday

    • 10:20AMChapel

  2. TueToday

    • 9:00PMWorship night

  3. WedToday

    No set time

  4. ThuToday

    No set time

  5. FriToday

    • 10:20AMChapel

  6. SatToday

    No set time

  7. SunToday

    No set time

No set time: Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun

Times as the college publishes them. Check before you plan a visit.

In the college’s own words

  • “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”

    Source: mvnu.edu

  • “Chapel is the heartbeat of our campus.”

    Source: mvnu.edu

  • “FaithWorks provides meaningful ways to serve others and live out your faith.”

    Source: mvnu.edu

Questions students ask

What's a normal week?

Chapel meets three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel, and Tuesday evenings offer student-led worship.

Source: mvnu.edu
Where do I find community?

Small groups are an essential part of community life, and the Justice Together program is a service of the Office of Spiritual Life.

Source: mvnu.edu
Can I serve or go on mission trips?

FaithWorks offers ways to serve others, and Service Learning Trips take students into local and global communities.

Source: mvnu.edu

Rankings

Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our faith research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list

In America

Academic Excellence

B+Academic Excellence: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
68 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.68%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.79%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,131 · ACT 21.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$7,665

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Faith scorecard

Each area’s grade and what we found. Tap an area to see the findings and their sources.

BWorship and chapel: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Worship and chapel

85 of 100 points · 6 of 7 found

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Chapel services during the week3 or more a week (Three chapel services a week: Monday and Friday at 10:20 a.m. and a student-led Tuesday evening service.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”
      Students gather for chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Chapel attendance expected of studentsRequired, with a set number of services each term (Required: 24 spiritual formation credits per semester (2026-27 parent handbook).)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2026-27 Parent Handbook | Mount Vernon Nazarene Universitymvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-27-NSO-Parent-Handbook-edit-.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “All Students will be required to earn 24 Spiritual Formation Credits per semester.”
      Every student, commuter and residential, must earn 24 spiritual formation credits each semester (required, set number each term).
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Student worship nights or praise servicesEvery week (Student-led worship on Tuesday evenings, every week.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Tuesday evenings offer a space for student-led worship.”
      Student-led worship is held on Tuesday evenings each week.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Prayer opportunities (prayer rooms, prayer groups, days or weeks of prayer)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus pastors or chaplains serving studentsPart-time (Rev. Vince LoPrinzi is named as Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship; the page does not present a full-time campus chaplain role.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Discipleship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/discipleship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Rev. Vince LoPrinzi”
      Rev. Vince LoPrinzi is named as Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    A chapel or worship space on campusYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”
      Students gather for chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of chapel, worship and prayer3 or 4 times a week (3 weekly times documented: 2 chapel, 1 worship night, 0 prayer.)Computed from the verified chapel services, worship nights and prayer times listed on the college's page (each day a time is offered counts once).
BBible and theology: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Bible and theology

81 of 100 points · 5 of 6 found

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Bible or theology courses required of all bachelor's students2 courses (Minimum for every student: THE-3003G Christian Beliefs and Convictions plus one Bible course (BIB-1023G, or BIB-1003G and BIB-1013G).)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 MVNU College of Arts and Sciences Catalogmvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-2026-MVNU-College-of-Arts-and-Sciences-Catalog.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “THE-3003G Christian Beliefs and Convictions”
      THE-3003G Christian Beliefs and Convictions is a general education requirement for traditional students.
      “BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture”
      Students take BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture, or both Old and New Testament History courses, in general education.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Required courses include study of the Old and New TestamentsOne choice among others (Students take BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture or both Old Testament and New Testament courses; the single course does not explicitly cover both testaments.)
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 MVNU College of Arts and Sciences Catalogmvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-2026-MVNU-College-of-Arts-and-Sciences-Catalog.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture”
      Students take BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture, or both Old and New Testament History courses, in general education.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Christian worldview or faith-and-learning courses requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in academic or faculty policy)Yes (Faculty policy in the 2025-26 faculty handbook.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty Handbook 2025-2026 | Mount Vernon Nazarene Universitymvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/25-26-Faculty-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Faculty are entrusted to teach with intellectual honesty and vocational purposes that strengthen the integration of faith and learning.”
      The faculty handbook's academic-freedom policy asks faculty to teach so as to strengthen the integration of faith and learning.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Bible, theology or ministry major offeredYes
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 MVNU College of Arts and Sciences Catalogmvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-2026-MVNU-College-of-Arts-and-Sciences-Catalog.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Bible and Theology”
      Bible and Theology is offered as a Religion program at the Bachelor of Arts level.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    A published statement of faithYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty Handbook 2025-2026 | Mount Vernon Nazarene Universitymvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/25-26-Faculty-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “As a university of the Church of the Nazarene, the University stands in the Wesleyan evangelical tradition”
      The university publishes a statement of faith (section 1.3.1 of the faculty handbook).
N/AChristian community: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Christian community

Not enough information · 4 of 7 found

  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Spiritual life staff (pastors, ministers and professional staff)1 to 2 (Two professional ministry staff named on official pages.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Service”
      Chelsea Porter is Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Service.
    2. Discipleship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/discipleship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Rev. Vince LoPrinzi”
      Rev. Vince LoPrinzi is named as Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Retreats or spiritual emphasis weeks each yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Bible studies, small groups and Christian student organizationsMany (Small groups, Belong groups for first-year students, Life groups, and CoSMO service groups.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Discipleship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/discipleship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “At MVNU, small groups are an essential part of building authentic community”
      Small groups, including Belong groups for first-year students and Life groups, are offered.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faculty affirm the college's statement of faithAll faculty (Applies to all faculty (2025-26 faculty handbook).)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faculty Handbook 2025-2026 | Mount Vernon Nazarene Universitymvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/25-26-Faculty-Handbook.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “all faculty are required to sign a statement of faith, lifestyle agreement, and commit to the standards outlined in the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene”
      All faculty are required to sign the university's statement of faith.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith life in residence halls (hall Bible studies, resident ministry leaders)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Help finding a local church (church fairs, rides, partner churches)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Office or senior leader for spiritual life or Christian missionYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “The Justice Together program is a service of the Office of Spiritual Life.”
      Service and justice programs are run by the Office of Spiritual Life.
CMissions and service: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Missions and service

68 of 100 points · 6 of 6 found

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Service or outreach officeYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “The Justice Together program is a service of the Office of Spiritual Life.”
      Service and justice programs are run by the Office of Spiritual Life.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Service hours or service-learning in the curriculumAvailable
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Our Service Learning Trips offer students the chance to immerse themselves in local and global communities”
      Service-learning trips, local and global, are offered to students.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Missions trips offered to studentsSome
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Our Service Learning Trips offer students the chance to immerse themselves in local and global communities”
      Service-learning trips, local and global, are offered to students.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Partnerships with local churches and ministries for serviceSome
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “FaithWorks provides meaningful ways to serve others and live out your faith.”
      FaithWorks service ministry connects service with Christian faith; ministries and organizations are partners.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Cross-cultural or global ministry programsSome
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Our Service Learning Trips offer students the chance to immerse themselves in local and global communities”
      Service-learning trips, local and global, are offered to students.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Service explicitly rooted in the Christian missionYes
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “FaithWorks provides meaningful ways to serve others and live out your faith.”
      FaithWorks service ministry connects service with Christian faith; ministries and organizations are partners.

Strengths

  • Chapel is held three times a week, including a student-led worship service on Tuesday evenings.
    Sources (1)
    1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”
      Students gather for chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel.
      “Tuesday evenings offer a space for student-led worship.”
      Student-led worship is held on Tuesday evenings each week.
  • Students take a required Christian Beliefs and Convictions course and a Bible course in general education.
    Sources (1)
    1. 2025-2026 MVNU College of Arts and Sciences Catalogmvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-2026-MVNU-College-of-Arts-and-Sciences-Catalog.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “THE-3003G Christian Beliefs and Convictions”
      THE-3003G Christian Beliefs and Convictions is a general education requirement for traditional students.
      “BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture”
      Students take BIB-1023G The Narrative of Scripture, or both Old and New Testament History courses, in general education.
  • Small groups, including Belong groups for first-year students, are offered.
    Sources (1)
    1. Discipleship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/discipleship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “At MVNU, small groups are an essential part of building authentic community”
      Small groups, including Belong groups for first-year students and Life groups, are offered.
  • FaithWorks service ministry and service-learning trips are offered, local and global.
    Sources (1)
    1. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Our Service Learning Trips offer students the chance to immerse themselves in local and global communities”
      Service-learning trips, local and global, are offered to students.
      “FaithWorks provides meaningful ways to serve others and live out your faith.”
      FaithWorks service ministry connects service with Christian faith; ministries and organizations are partners.

Concerns

  • No official page found says whether chapel attendance is required, or how often prayer groups meet.
    Sources (1)
    1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
      “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”
      Students gather for chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Campus ministry home

Office of Spiritual Life, R.R. Hodges Chapel

  • Address: 800 Martinsburg Road, Mount Vernon, OH
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: R.R. Hodges Chapel

Source: mvnu.edu, verified Oct. 20, 2026, mvnu.edu, verified Oct. 20, 2026

Campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Corporate Worship | Spiritual Formation | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/corporate-worship · verified Oct. 20, 2026
    “Three times a week, students come together to grow spiritually and build community in the R.R. Hodges Chapel.”
    Students gather for chapel three times a week in R.R. Hodges Chapel.
  2. Service | MVNUmvnu.edu/life-at-mvnu/campus-life/spiritual-life/service · verified Oct. 20, 2026
    “The Justice Together program is a service of the Office of Spiritual Life.”
    Service and justice programs are run by the Office of Spiritual Life.

Christian clubs and student life

3 groups and regular activities · 2 on campus, 1 off campus

Service 1

  • FaithWorks service tripsOff campus
    Local and global service and service-learning trips.
    mvnu.edu, mvnu.edu

Faith formation 1

  • Small groups (Belong and Life groups)On campus
    Peer, staff or faculty led small groups for prayer, Scripture study and accountability.
    mvnu.edu

Worship and prayer 1

  • Tuesday student-led worshipOn campus
    Tuesdays 9 p.m.
    Student-led worship in chapel.
    mvnu.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the church. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Chapel, worship and prayer

Confirm with the campus ministry

Chapel 1

  • Monday, Friday10:20 AMR.R. Hodges Chapel · Chapel service; 2026-27 parent handbook: Monday 10:20 AM and Friday 10:20 AM.

Worship night 1

  • Tuesday9:00 PMR.R. Hodges Chapel · Tuesday student-led service (2026-27 parent handbook).

Times come only from official campus ministry, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 20, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. 2026-27 Parent Handbook | Mount Vernon Nazarene Universitymvnu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-27-NSO-Parent-Handbook-edit-.pdf · verified Oct. 20, 2026
    “These services are on Monday at 10:20 AM, Tuesday at 9:00 PM, and Friday at 10:20 AM.”
    Chapel services meet on Monday, Tuesday and Friday each week; Tuesday is a student-led service.
    “These services are on Monday at 10:20 AM, Tuesday at 9:00 PM, and Friday at 10:20 AM.”
    Chapel services meet on Monday, Tuesday and Friday each week; Tuesday is a student-led service.

Plan a campus visit Chapel and worship times for your dates, questions to ask, and a calendar button.

What families pay, by income

Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.

Family incomePrice after aid
Up to $30,000$22,358
$30,001–$48,000$20,508
$48,001–$75,000$18,116
$75,001–$110,000$21,486
Over $110,000$26,271

Full cost of attendance before aid: $49,858 a year.

Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
1,631
Total students1,845
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$22,421
Cost of attendance (per year)$49,858
Median federal debt at graduation$25,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
68%
First-year retention79%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$49,555
Admission rate84%
Students receiving Pell grants30%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1046–1315ACT 18–25
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1131
SAT reading & writing528–645
SAT math518–670
ACT composite18–25
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 59 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Earnings by major

Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).

MajorMedian earnings
Nursing$74,527
Business administration$63,714
Biology$59,219
Social work$51,766
Design$40,641
Secondary education$38,069
Teacher education$38,001

Also offered (no earnings published yet): Accounting, Bible/Biblical Studies, Business operations, Chemistry, Communication studies, Computer engineering, Computing and information science, Criminal justice, Education (general), Electrical engineering, English, Finance, Fine arts, Health sciences, History, Homeland Security, Human resources, Journalism, Kinesiology and exercise science, Management information systems, Marketing, Mathematics, Mechanical engineering, Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, Music, Networking, Other education, Philosophy, Political science, Programming, Psychology, Public administration, Public relations, Religious Education, Religious Music and Worship, Religious studies, Romance languages, Software and media applications, Special education, Speech-language pathology, Theatre, Theology.

Campus facts

School colors
SettingTown
Part-time undergraduates1%
Undergraduates aged 25 and older16%
On-campus room and board (per year)$10,394
SportsNAIA · Crossroads League
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member13 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors. None of this changes the faith grades.

Questions families ask

Is Mount Vernon Nazarene University a Christian college?
Yes. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a Christian college.
What is Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Compass Score?
76 out of 100 (grade B). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.
Where is chapel held at Mount Vernon Nazarene University?
Chapel is listed at R.R. Hodges Chapel. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the college’s spiritual life office before you go.

Ask the school

Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.

Sign in to ask a question

Reviews

Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

No reviews yet.

Sign in to write a review.

Reach out

Contact details for Rev. Vince LoPrinzi (Assistant Director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

Sign in Create a free account

We keep campus ministers’ emails behind sign-in to protect them from spam.

My rating and notes

Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.

About this school’s data

Colleges like this one

The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.

Compass ScoreNorthwestern CollegeOrange City, IASimilar size and costCompass ScoreNorthwest UniversityKirkland, WASimilar size and costCompass ScoreAshland UniversityAshland, OHSimilar size and costCompass ScoreCornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MISimilar size and cost

More in Ohio · Ohio rankings

0 school selectedCompare

What would it cost your family?

Pick your family’s yearly income. Each college then shows what families like yours paid on average after grants and scholarships (federal data).

Reach, Target or Likely?

Enter an SAT or ACT to sort every college in this search.

Will you get in?

Enter your SAT or ACT. We compare it with the middle range of students the college admitted.