Student feedback and graduate outcomes earn national recognition
Bellarmine University has been named one of The Princeton Review's Best 392 Colleges for 2027, placing it among the approximately 14% of America’s nearly 2,800 four-year colleges featured in the guidebook
The Princeton Review's list of top colleges is based on data it collects from colleges as well as surveys of enrolled students who rated their schools on dozens of topics. Surveys of 172,000 students – about 439 per school on average – were tallied for the rankings. The Princeton Review does not rank the schools hierarchically on a single list from 1 to 392.
“We are delighted to name Bellarmine University one of our Best Colleges for 2027 and we recommend it to students searching for their 'best-fit' college,” said Rob Franek, editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 392 Colleges. “Bellarmine University has outstanding academic programs. We also took into account the candid feedback we received about it from its very own customers – its enrolled students.”
Bellarmine's profile in the guide highlights a campus where students feel "academically challenged but not overwhelmed," thanks in large part to professors who "take the time to offer extra help, provide mentorship, and connect course material to real-world applications."
There are "support systems everywhere…as one of Bellarmine's goals is to provide a holistic education." Overall, students "feel seen, valued, and encouraged to grow…[with] a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students not just for careers, but for life beyond college."
The profile also notes that internships are widely available, the university has a great library, and the student population includes a substantial number of "nontraditional students – parents, caregivers, first-generation college students, and career-changers – who bring resilience, maturity, and purpose into the classroom."
“At Bellarmine, students are supported one-on-one by an engaged faculty and challenged to think broadly across the liberal arts and sciences,” said Dr. Mark Wiegand, vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This recognition from The Princeton Review affirms what our students experience every day – rigorous classroom academics, community-based experiential learning, meaningful relationships, and a supportive learning environment that prepares Bellarmine graduates for purpose-driven lives.”
Bellarmine's outcomes underscore the student feedback that was included in Bellarmine’s Princeton Review profile. Ninety-nine percent of Bellarmine graduates find employment or pursue an advanced degree within six months of graduating, an outcome that is 16% above the national average, and 97% of those employed graduates are already working in their career field of interest. Measured over a lifetime, a Bellarmine degree generates a $1.93 million return on investment. The university is also designated an "Opportunity College – Higher Access, Higher Earnings" by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, placing it among just 16% of institutions nationally recognized for fostering student success and creating upward economic mobility.