Bellarmine Ranks Among Best Southern Universities
By: Mason Sedelmeier
Bellarmine University has received recognition by national publications for its prestige and reputation.
U.S. News & World Report has named Bellarmine as the 26th-ranked university in the South in its 2027 Best Colleges rankings. This makes Bellarmine the highest-ranked private institution in Kentucky. The Princeton Review has also named the university to its Best 392 Colleges for 2027 list, placing Bellarmine among the approximately 14% of America’s 2,800 four-year colleges featured in the guidebook.
U.S. News & World Report highlighted Bellarmine in several categories among Southern regional universities, including being ranked No. 10 for Best Value and No. 14 among Top Private Colleges.
Bellarmine’s academic programs saw notable year-to-year improvements in the U.S. News national rankings. Psychology climbed 132 places, from No. 568 to No. 436 in the nation. Nursing rose 49 places, from No. 385 to No. 336. Business improved 25 places, from No. 370 to No. 345, tying the largest year-over-year improvement among Kentucky institutions appearing in the undergraduate Business ranking.
“It gives a lot of credit to the faculty and leadership of those schools and departments to be getting that kind of recognition,” Mark Wiegand, vice president for academic affairs and provost, said. “I think it’s a good recognition of what we’re doing at Bellarmine, recognizing not only the faculty we have but the student outcomes of high employment and engagement in the community.”
Also, Bellarmine is ranked No. 11 among Best Colleges for Veterans in the South. Wiegand calls it one of the hidden findings of the study.
“That’s a real big move,” Wiegand said. “Right now, 8% of students are military-affiliated, and we have a goal to move that up to at least 10%. That’s really an emphasis for us and our commitment to the whole students.”
The numbers also point to measures related to Bellarmine’s emphasis on student success and career readiness. The university has a 71% six-year graduation rate, the highest among Kentucky institutions. That figure is four percentage points higher than the 67% predicted graduation rate by U.S. News. Bellarmine also ranked No. 20 in the South for earnings by major, which looks at earnings outcomes associated with graduates’ fields of study.
“The university has a multi-pronged approach to student success, beginning pre-matriculation all the way through graduation,” Helen Grace Ryan, vice president for student affairs, said. “Ninety percent of our students complete internships or experiential learning before they graduate, and we are also very proud of our 99% placement rate of students six months post graduation.
While career preparation and student success are important parts of the university experience, students also benefit from the intimate environment on campus. The relationships they build with faculty, staff, and classmates provide connection and support throughout their time at Bellarmine, something students say contributes to their overall experience.
“I feel really welcomed by everybody, not just the faculty and staff, but also the students and my peers,” freshman nursing major Sarah McLaughlin said. “Bellarmine’s a really close-knit community that cares about everyone’s success and trying to encourage everyone to do better.”
Students attest to the size and sense of community that exists across campus, one of the qualities that makes Bellarmine stand out.
“I like how small the school is and the size of the campus,” sophomore business major Anthony Gallego said. “It’s like you can’t go two minutes without seeing one of your friends. I’m grateful and appreciative to be here.”
For Ryan, those affirmations reflect what makes Bellarmine a special place for students.
“We are really dedicated to meeting students where they are and making them a part of the Bellarmine community,” Ryan said. “You’re at a great place. I think we already know that but it doesn’t hurt for folks outside of the institution to remind us of that fact.”