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September 23, 2025 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Named #2 in Undergraduate Teaching in Region by U.S. News & World Report

Belmont, N.C. (September 23, 2025) – Belmont Abbey College earns national recognition for academic excellence, securing the No. 2 spot for Best Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Colleges in the South in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings—for the second year in a row. The college also rose ten places to No. 12 in the Regional Colleges–South category, placing the college in the top 10 percent, affirming its continued growth and impact in the region.

These achievements coincide with a period of remarkable growth at the College, as Belmont Abbey celebrates its largest total enrollment in history and welcomes its second-largest incoming class. This growth underscores Belmont Abbey’s reputation as one of the top-ranked independent colleges in North Carolina.

The Best Undergraduate Teaching ranking highlights institutions where faculty and administrators are especially committed to high-quality undergraduate education. This recognition is based on a peer assessment survey in which college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans nominate up to 15 schools within their category that they believe are making exceptional efforts in undergraduate teaching.

“Our faculty do more than teach—they guide and support our students, helping to form them into individuals who will be a blessing to themselves and to the world around them,” said Interim President Dr. Joseph Wysocki. “Much of our recent growth aligns with the expansion of our academic offerings—now more than 30 majors and 50 minors—designed to meet the evolving needs of our community and the region.”

Belmont Abbey College added to its accolades by claiming the No. 15 spot in Best Value Schools for Regional Colleges–South and also achieved a Peer Assessment Rank of No. 4, reflecting strong recognition from academic peers.

Belmont Abbey College is also recognized as an authentically Catholic institution by The Cardinal Newman Society, a distinction that highlights the college’s unwavering commitment to providing a faithful, Catholic education. Rooted in the Benedictine tradition, Belmont Abbey fosters intellectual and spiritual growth, forming students not only for academic success but also for lives of virtue and purpose.

The college also continues to see significant growth in its Premier Scholarships, with programs like the Honors College, the Hintemeyer Catholic Leadership Scholarship, the St. Thomas More Civic Integrity Scholarship, and the Fr. Oetgen Theatre and Dance Scholarship. These programs also emphasize the development of the whole person, ensuring students are not only equipped for a successful career but also for a joyful life.

These rankings reflect Belmont Abbey’s enduring commitment to academic quality, student support, and holistic formation. As a Catholic, Benedictine institution, the college strives to educate students in mind, body, and soul, preparing them not only for successful careers but for lives of meaning and purpose.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its programs, visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

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 belmontabbeycollege.edu.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

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September 9, 2025 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Celebrates Record-Breaking Enrollment for Fall 2025

Belmont, N.C. (September 9, 2025) – Belmont Abbey College announces the highest total enrollment in its history, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s continued growth and academic expansion. For the Fall 2025 semester, the college has welcomed its second-largest incoming class of new students, making a new record of total enrollment of 1,741 students—an unprecedented milestone that represents a 3.2% increase over last year.

The total enrollment includes students from a variety of academic tracks: traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate, dual-enrolled, non-degree seeking, and graduate programs. Among the 1,741 enrolled, 741 are new admissions—a strong indicator of the growing interest in the college’s Benedictine liberal arts tradition and superior academic offerings—with students representing 48 states and 26 countries.

“We are gratified to see so many students and families connecting with our academic, student, and faith experiences,” said Dr. Jesse Dorman, Vice Provost of Enrollment at Belmont Abbey College. “We are thrilled to welcome this highly engaged incoming class, with their unique talents, skills, and abilities that will enrich the Belmont Abbey College community and extend far beyond our campus.”

A key contributor to this growth is the record number of 134 graduate students—the highest in Belmont Abbey’s history—enrolled across eight graduate programs. This surge is driven in part by the launch of two new graduate degrees: the Master of Arts in Motorsport Management and the Master of Sport Management, both of which began this fall.

The MA in Motorsport Management is especially groundbreaking—it is the first program of its kind in the United States, establishing Belmont Abbey as a national leader in motorsports education. With Charlotte and Concord serving as hubs of NASCAR and other motorsports industries, the college is uniquely positioned to offer students direct access to internship opportunities, industry leaders, and real-world experiences in a dynamic, fast-growing field.

The college also recently redesigned its Master of Science in Nursing to address the growing need of educators in the healthcare industry. The new MSN—Educator program enables experienced nursing to pass on their expertise to the next generation of caregivers.

Interim President Dr. Joseph Wysocki attributed this year’s success to the dedication of the entire Belmont Abbey community. “This community—so passionately committed to the College’s mission and so dedicated to fulfilling the Abbey promise to our students—is the reason we’ve come this far. Congratulations to every one of our faculty, staff, and the monks who work every day to make the promise of the Abbey a reality for our students.”

While many regional and rural colleges are facing demographic pressures and enrollment declines, Belmont Abbey continues to grow while remaining true to its Catholic mission of forming students in mind, body, and spirit. As Belmont Abbey looks to the future, it remains committed to cultivating a community where academic excellence, faith, and service intersect.

For more information about Belmont Abbey College and its programs, visit www.belmontabbeycollege.edu.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Bolton

P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu

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September 24, 2024 By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Celebrates Enrollment Growth and Enhanced National Standing

Belmont Abbey College Celebrates Enrollment Growth and Enhanced National Standing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (September 24, 2024) – Today Belmont Abbey College announces its fourth highest total enrollment in college history, with a 2% increase over last year. Cumulating at a total of 1,687 enrolled students, this includes the traditional undergraduate, online undergraduate, dual-enrolled, non-degree seeking, and graduate populations. Aside from growth in overall enrollment, the college notes growth in the undergraduate online space, resulting in a 25% increase from last year. This is attributed to the growing popularity of online degrees, coupled with the launch of three new in-demand majors – Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Digital Marketing. These new degree programs align with Belmont Abbey’s efforts to prepare students for fulfilling, prosperous lives after college.

Classes began on August 19th, and Belmont Abbey College welcomed 660 new students. Dr. Jesse Dorman, Vice Provost of Enrollment at Belmont Abbey College, expressed his enthusiasm about the new class. “We are thrilled to welcome this highly engaged incoming class, with their unique talents, skills, and abilities that will enrich the Belmont Abbey College community and extend far beyond our campus. These students have so much to offer, and we look forward to supporting their growth as they embark on a journey of holistic development by seeking the true, the good, and the beautiful throughout their college journey,” Dorman said. Within the new student population, the college welcomed 69 new graduate students across 7 programs, including the new Master of Arts in Communication and Master of Arts in Classical and Liberal Education. In August of 2024, Belmont Abbey celebrated the inaugural commencement celebration for 83 graduates across the MBA, MHA, MSN, MS in Data Analytics, and MA in Leadership programs. Dr. Brad Frazier, Director of the Graduate Programs at Belmont Abbey College, remarked on this momentous occasion. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our graduating master’s students. Their graduation ceremony was a moving tribute to their academic journey and a reminder of the positive impact they will make in their professions and communities,” Frazier said. Further growth is expected in the graduate space as current programs gain momentum and new programs take launch in the fall of 2025.

The college’s encouraging enrollment report comes at the same time as the release of the 2024-2025 US News & World Report rankings. The Catholic, liberal arts institution is thrilled to announce its ranking as #2 in Undergraduate Teaching for the 2024-2025 academic year. Over the last decade, the college has consistently held a top position in this category due to the holistic teaching approach that relies on exceptional faculty who serve not only as teachers but as supportive cheerleaders and mentors for Belmont Abbey students. Belmont Abbey’s additional rankings for the current year are #16 in Best Value Schools in the South and #22 in Overall Best Colleges in the Southern Region. These rankings are a reflection of the college’s Benedictine hallmarks that include stability, stewardship, and community, which lie at the heart of every action and decision. Through the hallmarks, Belmont Abbey strives to provide a high-quality, Catholic liberal arts education for a diverse group of students at a manageable price point.

In a time when many collegiate institutions are struggling, Belmont Abbey is thankful for the blessing of positive enrollment and rankings that reflect the good work happening at the college. Dr. Joseph Wysocki, Provost at Belmont Abbey College, reflected on welcoming a new class of Crusaders to the college community. “We know that God has called each one of these students to Belmont Abbey College, and we’re filled with hope at what they’ll learn, question, and ultimately, accomplish. We’re honored to be part of God’s calling on their lives, and are committed to do all we can to support them. This includes guidance from our nationally ranked value and our commitment to affordable education, but also facility enhancements and programmatic expansion on the Graduate side,” said Wysocki. To stay up to date on happenings at Belmont Abbey College, visit our website at www.bac.edu/.

Press Inquiry Contact: Sarah Bolton, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

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