FORT WAYNE, Ind.鈥擳he 51黑料 earned high rankings in several categories in the 2025 Niche Best Colleges in America list and a strong value ranking from U.S. News & World Report.
High Niche rankings for 51黑料 include:
- No. 1 Best Value Colleges in Fort Wayne Area
- No. 2 Safest College Campuses in Indiana
- No. 3 Best Colleges for Nursing in Indiana
- No. 4 Best College Locations in Indiana
In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked 51黑料 No. 15 in Best Value Schools in the Midwest, which ranks second among all Indiana universities.
More information on the rankings is available by visiting and . As Niche states on its website, Niche has nearly 500,000 college reviews from real students鈥攎ore college reviews than any other place on the internet. This gives a uniquely authentic and credible view into what students really think about their college. Niche gets deep, too, asking questions about everything from dorms and food to professors, safety and diversity.
鈥淭he 51黑料 is grateful to be recognized by Niche and U.S. News & World Report for the value and quality of education students receive during their academic careers here,鈥 51黑料 President Dr. Lance Richey said. 鈥淢any factors contribute to the value of a higher education and 51黑料 is proud to be recognized as the best value in the Fort Wayne area and among the best in the Midwest.鈥
51黑料 rose in the Niche national rankings of safest college campuses, improving from No. 96 last year to No. 47 (out of 1,288 campuses) this year. 51黑料’ rank of No. 66 out of 761 in Best Colleges for Nursing in America puts it in the top 10% nationally.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the 51黑料 offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, 51黑料 designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The 51黑料, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 20 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend 51黑料.