Butler University has earned a No. 19 national ranking for Undergraduate Teaching in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, one of four areas in which Butler ranks among the Top 60 universities in the nation. This recognition comes in a milestone year for Butler as the University enters the National Universities category for the first time.
According to the U.S. News website, the rankings for Undergraduate Teaching “focus on schools whose faculty and administrators are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner. College presidents, provosts, and admissions deans who participated in the annual U.S. News peer assessment survey were asked to nominate up to 15 schools in their Best Colleges ranking category that have strength in undergraduate teaching.”
In addition to its Top 20 ranking for Undergraduate Teaching, Butler ranks:
- No. 30 nationally in Study Abroad
- No. 42 nationally in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
- No. 60 nationally in First-Year Experiences
Together, the rankings provide national recognition for experiences that are intentionally built into a Butler education: exceptional teaching and mentorship, career preparation and hands-on learning, opportunities that extend beyond campus, and a strong foundation from the moment students arrive.
“Butler has grown considerably in recent years, but we have been intentional about growing in ways that build on what we already do exceptionally well,” Butler University President James Danko said. “Being ranked among the Top 20 universities in the nation for undergraduate teaching is especially meaningful because teaching is at the heart of our mission. It reflects the extraordinary faculty who invest in our students every day and the kind of educational experience we have worked hard to preserve and strengthen as Butler has grown.”
For several consecutive years, Butler was ranked the No. 1 Regional University in the Midwest and the No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest. Beginning this year, however, Butler is now included in the National Universities category. The move reflects the growing breadth of Butler’s academic enterprise, including expanded graduate and doctoral education, and provides a new national context for a University whose reach and reputation have grown significantly in recent years.
Butler’s No. 19 national ranking for Undergraduate Teaching recognizes the University’s commitment to making exceptional teaching a defining part of the student experience. Butler students learn from faculty who are deeply invested in their success, with small classes and close faculty-student relationships creating opportunities for meaningful discussion, mentorship, and individualized learning. That access and mentorship are built into the Butler experience, extending beyond the classroom as faculty guide students through research, creative work, internships, and other opportunities that help students connect what they learn with what comes next.
Butler’s No. 30 national ranking in Study Abroad recognizes opportunities for students to make the world part of their classroom. Butler offers more than 300 programs in more than 50 countries, and nearly 40 percent of Butler students participate in study abroad before graduation. The University continues to expand global learning opportunities, including Butler Overseas, which allows students to pursue a three-year bachelor’s degree while studying in eight countries on six continents.
The No. 42 national ranking in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects recognizes opportunities for undergraduates to conduct intensive, original work, often in close collaboration with faculty mentors. Across disciplines, Butler students participate in research, scholarship, and creative activity that extends well beyond the traditional classroom. Those experiences have included student-driven chemistry experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station, providing undergraduates opportunities to contribute to research with global reach.
Butler’s No. 60 national ranking for First-Year Experiences recognizes the University’s commitment to helping students build a strong academic and personal foundation from the beginning of their Butler experience. Butler’s required First-Year Seminar develops critical thinking, writing, and discussion skills while connecting students with faculty and peers. The FYE Peer Mentor Program provides an additional layer of support, pairing highly engaged student leaders with First-Year Seminar sections to help new Bulldogs navigate campus life, find resources, and build community.
Together, the results reflect both Butler’s growing national profile while reinforcing what remains central to the undergraduate experience: exceptional teaching, hands-on learning, mentorship, and meaningful opportunities.
“For years, we have seen Butler’s reach and reputation extend well beyond the Midwest,” Danko said. “Our move into the National Universities category reflects the University Butler has become. To enter that category with national recognition for undergraduate teaching, study abroad, undergraduate research, and the first-year experience is a strong affirmation of what we value and where we are headed.”