Bellarmine University’s graduate degrees in education and business are among the nation’s best, according to new rankings released this week by U.S. News & World Report.
 
These Bellarmine University programs were recognized: 
Additionally, Bellarmine University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program remains one of the nation’s 100 best, based on the most recent rankings published by U.S. News & World Report for that field in 2020. 
 
The publication’s Best Graduate Schools rankings are based on two types of data: expert opinions about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school's faculty, research and students. 
 
The data for the U.S. News & World Report rankings came from statistical surveys of more than 2,125 programs and from reputation surveys sent to more than 23,000 academics and professionals, conducted in fall 2020 and early 2021. 
 
Learn more about Bellarmine’s graduate programs in healthcare, education, business, communication and digital media at www.bellarmine.edu/admissions/graduate/.  
 
W. Fielding Rubel School of Business 
“The Rubel School’s vision is to be a hub for transformative business education,” said Dr. Natasha Munshi, dean of the Rubel School of Business. “The quality of curriculum to affordability ratio offers an unbeatable return on investment for students who benefit from the inclusive, student-centered liberal arts education that Bellarmine offers.” 
 
The Rubel School of Business’s flagship MBA and Executive MBA programs are practice-oriented and offer a flexible and innovative curriculum, with concentrations in Analytics, Finance, Marketing and Innovation. Undergraduate degrees are available in accounting, business administration, economics and finance. Additionally, the school offers credit-bearing graduate certificates, such as the Applied Business Analytics and Accounting Certificate, as well as a non-credit Women of Color Entrepreneurs–Leadership Certificate, which was launched in 2021 under its new Executive Education initiative.   
 
The Rubel School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite business schools in the nation. Not only is Bellarmine the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation, but fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved this distinction. 
 
Last month, the school released a new strategic plan centered on excellence in teaching; student learning; curricular and co-curricular innovation; new program development; and community engagement. 
 
Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education 
"This recognition by U.S. News is great to hear, but our students are the real measure of our success," said Dr. Elizabeth Dinkins, dean of the School of Education. "They are in high demand as teachers and leaders in K-12 and college education. We hear continual feedback about the excellence of Bellarmine-trained educators. This ranking demonstrates the work of our dedicated faculty in preparing students for successful careers in our region and – increasingly – throughout the world." 
 
In another recent mark of excellence, the School of Education was a 2020 recipient of the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This recognition signifies accreditation with no stipulations or areas of improvement, demonstrating "commitment to equity and excellence in educator preparation through the effective use of self-study procedures and evidence-based reporting." Fewer than 10% of educator-preparation providers met these standards in 2020. 
 
The School of Education offers doctoral degrees in Education and Social Change, Leadership in Higher Education and K-12 District Leadership. Master’s degrees are available in Teaching, Education, and Higher Education Leadership and Social Justice, along with Rank I programs. The school also offers undergraduate education degrees in various disciplines at the elementary, middle grades and secondary levels.