About Us
Shaping Servant Leaders to Make an Impact
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a community in which students can discern a true vocation - a path that brings together their God given gifts and skills and the needs of the world around them.
Here, they deepen the roots of their faith and cultivate their own sense of identity as they grow alongside their peers. Through diverse learning experiences on and off campus, they widen their understanding of the world and develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to challenge the status quo. We equip our students to succeed in life - wherever God may lead them.
Our Nazarene Tradition
As an institution of the Church of the Nazarene, MVNU stands in the Wesleyan evangelical tradition and incorporates those ideals into every aspect of our community.
What is Nazarene?
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that believes education coupled with evangelism, compassion, working for justice and bearing witness to the Kingdom of God are all essential aspects of the mission to make disciples in the nations.
Why Christian Education?
Our framework for whole-person education is rooted in God's love, the source from which all our University-level educational goals flow. This framework includes three primary elements: scholarship, character and service.
5 Pillars of Growth
At Mount Vernon Nazarene University, whether students are learning on campus or online, they engage in a holistic experience shaped by five pillars of growth:
Meaning and Momentum
Students cultivate meaning and momentum for their lives driven by a deepening faith in Christ and desire to serve Him.
Lifelong Learning
Our graduates continue to pursue knowledge to serve others more effectively — through leadership, compassion, and informed action.
Character in Christ
Our Christian worldview is at the heart of every course, conversation, and connection — forming character and cultivating spiritual growth in  every setting.
Service for Impact
Students are encouraged to serve others with intentionality, living out Christlike leadership through year-round opportunities both locally and globally.
Connection in Community
From campus gatherings to virtual classrooms, MVNU fosters a vibrant, authentic community where students are known, supported, and encouraged in faith.