University lauded for commitment to undergraduate teaching
Belmont University remained at No. 7 on U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of America’s Best Colleges. Announced today, Belmont placed in the Top 10 of the Regional Universities-South listing for the fourth consecutive year and was also lauded for the fifth year in a row as a top “Up-and-Comer.” Belmont was ranked second in the southern region in that category, indicating the university has made “the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” Moreover, Belmont was praised by its peers for its “unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching,” placing second in a regional ranking in that area.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “These annual rankings confirm what we already know: that Belmont University continues to be a highly desired destination for the best qualified students as well as for faculty devoted to student-centered learning. I’m proud that our commitment remains strong and that our peers recognize both our innovative approach to higher education and our dedication to teaching and service.”
In the Best Regional Universities-South category, Belmont is again the highest-ranked university of the 15 ranked Tennessee institutions and in the top seven of the 128 schools included from the South. Belmont has improved over the previous year in a number of areas including in its graduation rate, percentage of full-time faculty, alumni giving and freshman selectivity (percentage in the top quarter of their high school graduating class). Other regional institutions in the Top 10 include Rollins College, Elon University, Stetson University, Samford University, The Citadel and James Madison University.
At the start of the semester Belmont reached a record-breaking enrollment number for the twelfth consecutive year with approximately 6,650 students on campus. Moreover, the incoming freshmen’s credentials continue to increase in strength with an average ACT score of 26.4 for the Class of 2016. In addition, 35 percent of new freshmen at Belmont were in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, and 62 percent were in the top quarter.
