BELMONT, N.C. (September 9, 2019) Today U.S. News & World Report recognizes Belmont Abbey College as one of the Best Regional Colleges in the South, one of the Best Values, and one of the Best in Undergraduate Teaching in the 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges. The recognition places it among the best colleges in the nation.
The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings measure academic quality by assessing a number of categories, including graduation and retention of first year students, student selectivity, faculty resources, peer institutional assessment, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance.
“To be recognized for excellence in all three categories is extraordinary and a tribute to our outstanding faculty, staff, monks, and students. It is all the more remarkable considering that we have been able to provide this high quality private education for less than it costs to attend many state universities,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College.
Indicators used by the Best Colleges guide include input measures, which reflect the quality of students, faculty and other resources used in education; and outcome measures, such as graduation and freshman retention rates and graduation rate performance, which signal how well the institution educates its student body.
“The excellence of our faculty and staff is reflected in this recognition,” said Dr. Linda Delene, Provost. “Their dedication to educating the whole student is central to our mission and their daily engagement with our students.”
In addition to being one of the Best Regional Colleges, U.S. News also distinguished Belmont Abbey College as the #6 college for undergraduate teaching in our region. The student teacher relationship is at the core of Belmont Abbey College’s daily life so it should come as no surprise that our peers at other Colleges named Belmont Abbey College as an example of excellent undergraduate teaching.
The Abbey’s great value was also recognized reflecting the College’s commitment to affordable, high quality education. Belmont Abbey College lowered its tuition by 33% in 2013 and has not raised it or room and board since. In addition, Belmont Abbey College was recognized as a top performer in social mobility an acknowledgement of our dedication to helping disadvantaged students who qualify for the Pell Grant.
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic, baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit zarchive.bac.edu.