Butler University is the No. 1 Regional University in the Midwest for the seventh consecutive year, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, released today. Butler also ranked as the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest for the 10th consecutive year. Rankings are based on peer assessment surveys sent to university presidents, provosts, and admissions deans. 

In addition to its strong position among Midwest Regional Universities, Butler continued to rank high nationally in two key areas identified by U.S. News as being critical to providing students with the best possible undergraduate experience: Study Abroad Opportunities (tied for No. 24) and First-Year Experiences (tied for No. 30). Butler has moved up 13 spots in the national Study Abroad rankings over the past two years. 

“This recognition highlights the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, who consistently strive for excellence in education,” Butler University President James Danko said. “At Butler, we are committed to cultivating a learning environment that empowers our students to become thoughtful, forward-thinking, and engaged leaders. I extend my gratitude to the entire Butler community for their collective contributions to this remarkable achievement.” 

The Study Abroad category highlights universities that allow students to complete a substantial amount of credit hours outside the United States, immersing themselves in new cultures. Butler offers more than 300 study abroad programs in over 50 countries, and nearly 40 percent of Butler University students study abroad prior to graduation. Nationally, Butler has the second most students participating in faculty-led study abroad courses; the University’s number of faculty-led courses abroad has grown nearly seven-fold over the past 10 years. 

The U.S. News First-Year Experiences category recognizes schools that have developed ways to help new students feel connected well beyond orientation week. An example is Butler’s required First-Year Seminar, which introduces students to the practice of engaging with complex and unfamiliar ideas in addition to learning about themselves and their place in the world. Butler also provides year-long professional development opportunities to faculty and staff who work with first-year students, and academic departments strategically embed relationship-rich peer mentorship into their curriculum for first-year students. Lastly, Butler has achieved success with first-year students by introducing an innovative Exploratory Studies major. In fall 2023, the average Exploratory Studies student started the program with an interest in 11 majors; by the end of the first semester, they narrowed their interest to three programs. 

In addition to the No.1 ranking from U.S. News & World Report, Butler was recognized in the past month as one of the nation’s top universities by both The Princeton Review and The Wall Street Journal. 

Butler University is now accepting applications for enrollment for the fall 2025 semester. High school seniors can start the application process at butler.edu/admission.