North Carolina’s Belmont Abbey College is celebrating a landmark year, posting record enrollment and unveiling a slate of new academic, campus, and community initiatives that signal continued growth for the Benedictine liberal arts institution.
The college announced in a Nov. 12 emailed press release that the 1,741 students enrolled for Fall 2025 marks a 3.2% increase from the previous year. The incoming class, 741, was also the college’s second-largest ever.
Belmont Abbey’s student body now represents 48 states and 26 countries, who participate in a range of programs. The college offers traditional undergraduate degrees, online offerings, dual-enrollment courses, non-degree study, and an expanding set of graduate programs. Academically, Belmont Abbey has launched seven new programs in the past year alone, bringing its total number of master’s programs to eight.
Campus development has also kept pace with enrollment gains. According to the release, recent improvements include the renovated Wittenberg-Shevchenko Microbiology Lab, enhancements to the Jerry and Martha Schmitt Dining Hall, and the opening of two new residence halls. Off campus, the college’s strategic partnership with CaroMont Health is moving forward with plans for a medical campus adjacent to the college.
Community investment has also played a role in the college’s momentum. Belmont Abbey recently secured a North Carolina State grant to develop a Visual and Performing Arts Center designed to serve both the college and the broader Gaston County community.
The college’s commitment to academic excellence continues to gain national attention. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Belmont Abbey secured the No. 2 spot for Best Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Colleges in the South for the second straight year. The institution also climbed 10 spots to No. 12 in the Regional Colleges–South category, placing it in the top 10% of these schools.