For the second year in a row, Butler University has been named the No. 1 Regional University in the Midwest, according to 2020 US News & World Report Best College Rankings released today.
Butler was also ranked as the No. 1 most innovative school for the fifth year in a row, the No. 1 best college for veterans and among the top-10 schools for undergraduate teaching among Midwest regional universities.
“I am pleased that our ranking reflects the high quality of education we provide at Butler University,” says President James Danko. “In addition to a highly engaged educational experience, thanks to our outstanding faculty, we continue to emphasize the importance of innovation, which creates an environment that supports our students and challenges them to succeed.”
In addition to its strong position in the Midwest, Butler was ranked in the top-20 among nationally ranked schools (such as Harvard, Duke and Stanford universities) in three key areas determined by US news as critical to providing students with the best possible undergraduate experience: first-year experience (No. 13), senior experience (No. 18), and study abroad opportunities (No. 19).
“We are especially honored that this year's rankings recognize Butler University as one of the most prestigious in the nation,” says Danko. “I am so proud of our students, faculty and staff, whose dedication to excellence has led us to earn this great recognition.”
The US news The Freshman Experience category recognizes schools that help new students feel connected well beyond orientation week. the butler First Year Seminar required of all new students and taken in a two-semester sequence. There are no exceptions, as all young students reflect on questions about self, community, and the world.
Senior experiences give students nearing the end of their college years the opportunity to create a capstone project based on what they have learned over many years, such as collaborative research between Butler students and faculty or recitals by graduate art students.
And the study abroad category highlights universities that allow students to complete a significant amount of credit hours outside the US while immersing themselves in new cultures. At Butler, approximately 40 percent of students travel abroad by the time they graduate, making the University ninth in the nation for undergraduate participation.
Butler also ranked just outside the top-20 nationally for its focus on co-ops and internships (No. 21) and service learning (No. 23). Schools in the internship category either require or encourage students to apply what they learn in the classroom in a real-world setting, such as the 90 percent of Butler students who complete at least one internship before graduation.
Universities in the service learning category require students to volunteer in the community as part of their coursework. Through Butler's Indianapolis Community Requirement (ICR), all students take at least one course that involves active engagement with the Indianapolis area.
For undergraduate research and creative projects, Butler was ranked No. 59 in the nation for the opportunities it provides students to complete self-directed, formal research, often under the guidance of a faculty member.
For each of these national categories, US news surveyed higher education leaders from across the country, asking college presidents, chief academic officers and deans of admissions to name up to 15 schools that they felt best embraced each type of program. The final ranking includes the 20 universities that received the most nominations in each category.
“It is very gratifying that our peer academic leaders recognize the quality of a Butler education that is distinguished by the teaching and learning that takes place inside our classrooms and is further enhanced by the rich experiences offered outside,” says Professor Kate Morris. “I am proud of the high-quality education and experience our students receive thanks to our outstanding faculty and staff.”
Media contact:
Rachel Stern
Director of Strategic Communications
rstern@butler.edu
914-815-5656
