Kentucky Wesleyan earns Top 15 Ranking from U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report released its annual list of college rankings on Tuesday, Sept. 13.  Kentucky Wesleyan College’s appearance on three separate lists includes a #13 ranking in the South as a Best Regional College, out-performing all other colleges throughout the Commonwealth.  Wesleyan jumped 14 places over last year’s rank of #27. 

“We are, of course, quite honored to be recognized as the 13th best college in the southern United States,” said President Barton D. Darrell. “We are also very pleased to have moved up 14 places in the rankings in just one year.  This, as with our recently announced high rankings, is great confirmation of the high level college education delivered at Kentucky Wesleyan by top level faculty and a committed administration and staff.  We are attracting outstanding students who will, as these high rankings make clear, be uniquely prepared for great careers and lives after graduation.  Owensboro should also take great pride in this latest ranking as Kentucky Wesleyan recognizes it has a great community to call ‘home’ and our students benefit greatly from Owensboro-Daviess County and its people.”

Regional colleges focus almost entirely on a student’s undergraduate experience and offer a broad range of programs in the liberal arts, as well as fields such as business, nursing and education. These institutions grant few graduate degrees. The 334 prestigious colleges ranked are listed by region: North, South, Midwest and West.

Wesleyan was the only Regional College in Kentucky also ranked as a Best Value School, taking into account a school’s academic quality, its U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the annual net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. Only schools in or near the top half of their U.S. News ranking categories are included because the publication considers the most significant values to be among colleges that perform well academically.

Kentucky Wesleyan was also the only Kentucky institution ranked as a Regional Best College for Veterans. These rankings include schools who appear in the top half of their U.S. News ranking category, are certified for the G.I. Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

In August, Kentucky Wesleyan was recognized by Washington Monthly as the top institution for a bachelor’s degree in Kentucky, and No. 33 in the nation, based on the institution’s contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research and service. Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as among its “Best in the Southeast” schools.

Kentucky Wesleyan College is a United Methodist-related four-year institution in Owensboro with a strong reputation for a rigorous academic environment and vibrant campus life experience.