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Bellarmine University was recognized in the latest Washington Monthly college rankings as one of the nation’s top 75 universities for public service, reflecting a commitment to civic engagement, service learning, and mission-driven education. 

Bellarmine’s service ranking of 74 was the highest for any university in Kentucky.  

 

In addition to its strong service rank, Bellarmine was listed at number 557 overall in the magazine’s 2025 “Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars” guide. The rankings evaluate more than 1,400 leading U.S. institutions on criteria including access, affordability, outcomes, and service. 

Community engagement is interwoven into the fabric of the Bellarmine experience. Last month, Bellarmine celebrated the 15th anniversary of Knights in Action, a tradition in which all first-year students complete a day of service during their Week of Welcome. Annually, Bellarmine students log more than 20,000 hours of community engagement in the region.  

Last fall, the university launched a new core curriculum that gives students the opportunity to engage with the community through their coursework throughout all four years of their undergraduate experience. Graduating students take a capstone seminar where they partner with a local organization to help meet community needs for data analysis, research, or project development. Bellarmine also supports community work study positions, free community language cafes, Alternative Spring Break service trips, the MLK Week of Social Responsibility, and a Dare to Care food pantry and clothing closet.  

 

Bellarmine’s service rank reflects its Catholic mission to educate the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – while preparing students for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, and ethical leadership. 

 

“This recognition reinforces Bellarmine’s commitment to shaping students who are ethical leaders pursuing meaningful careers that emphasize service to improve the human condition,” said Dr. Liz Todd Byron, executive director of experiential learning and community engagement. “As a metro university, we seek to meet the needs of our local area by working in trusting relationships with the good people of our city. As a Catholic institution, we practice Catholic social teachings, standing in solidarity with our human family to uphold the dignity of all.”  

In 2024, Bellarmine became one of just 368 colleges in the U.S. to earn the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, for institutions that provide robust support for high-quality community engagement experiences connecting with classroom learning. These results must deliver measurable outcomes for both students and the community. 

Washington Monthly's overall Bellarmine ranking builds on Bellarmine’s 2025 “Opportunity Colleges and Universities – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” Carnegie Classification, which places Bellarmine among just 16 percent of U.S. colleges and universities nationally recognized for fostering both college access and strong post-graduation earnings.  

Six months after graduation, 99% of Bellarmine graduates are working or continuing their education, an outcome that is 16% higher than the average for all U.S. colleges. Over a 40-year career, a Bellarmine education delivers a $1.93 million return on investment. Learn more about Bellarmine student outcomes.