Alumni News

Belmont Abbey College Earns Higher National Rankings While Maintaining Strong Enrollment Belmont, N.C. (September 25th, 2026) – Belmont Abbey College has earned national recognition for academic excellence, rising two places to the No. 10 spot in the Regional Colleges-South category in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, affirming its continued growth and impact in the region. Ranked No. 8 among top private regional southern colleges, Belmont Abbey remains committed to providing an education that meets the needs of today’s students while preparing them to contribute meaningfully in their professions and in the world around them.  U.S. News & World Report also named Belmont Abbey College the 3rd-highest-ranked regional college in North Carolina, underscoring its growing national recognition and distinction within the state. Belmont Abbey is the highest-ranked Newman Guide college in the region, and maintains strong enrollment for Fall 2026, with 1,693 students enrolled, the second largest enrollment in ten years. “These rankings affirm what we hear consistently from our students and families: Belmont Abbey’s greatest strength is the quality of the education and formation students receive here,” said Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley, President of Belmont Abbey College. “Our faculty are deeply invested in their students, and our community challenges them to pursue excellence while preparing them to lead lives of purpose and service.” This national recognition comes as Belmont Abbey maintains stable overall enrollment and welcomes its largest class of traditional non-athlete students in 8 years, highlighting continued interest in the college’s high-quality academic program offerings as well as its distinctive approach to Catholic higher education. The fall 2026 incoming freshmen cohort comes to Belmont Abbey with an impressive academic record and strong ties to leadership, Catholic identity, and civic engagement.  “This recognition in the U.S. News rankings validates what we see every day: that more students and...