Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) is a Christian liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with satellite locations in the surrounding area. It was founded in 1968 by the Church of the Nazarene and offers a variety of Bachelor's and Master's degrees to both traditional and non-traditional students. MVNU is also home to Cougar Athletics.

MVNU is one of eight US liberal arts colleges affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. MVNU is the college for the Nazarene East Central Region of the United States, which comprises the Northwestern Ohio, North Central Ohio, East Ohio, Southwestern Ohio, Central Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia North, and West Virginia South districts (all of Ohio, part of Kentucky, and most of West Virginia).

Enrollment in 2018 consisted of 2,222 students, 1,377 of whom were traditional and 845 non-traditional undergraduates. 15% of students represented racial minorities, 92% of students were from the state of Ohio, 23% were associated with the Church of the Nazarene, 63% were female, and 36% were male. 72% of students lived on campus.

While on campus, students participate in student-led small groups, chapel services, mission trips, and community service groups organized and directed by upperclassmen. Counseling and Career Services and Student Health Services are available to students at no cost. A student health insurance plan is also available through the university, where students can pay to have the university cover the co-payments of any doctor or hospital visits.

Mount Vernon Nazarene teams are known as the MVNU Cougars and Lady Cougars. They are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Crossroads League, formerly known as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC). The Cougars also compete as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), and formerly competed as a member of the American Mideast Conference until its dissolution during the 2011-12 academic year. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and track and field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball and track and field.