UK recognized on Time magazine’s inaugural list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders

The University of Kentucky has been recognized on the inaugural list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders by Time magazine and Statista. 

“Our recognition on Time magazine’s inaugural list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders honors our nearly 160-year-old legacy. It is a testament to our power, purpose and unending commitment to graduating a strong and informed workforce positioned for success,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We stand at the vanguard of advancing this great Commonwealth. And our students, our future leaders, will help us ensure a Kentucky tomorrow that is healthier, wealthier and wiser than it is today.”

The Best Colleges for Future Leaders list was determined based on the analysis of approximately 2,000 of the most influential leaders in the U.S., coming from the worlds of business, government, academia and culture. The three-step analysis is as follows: 

• An initial list of 2,000 of the most influential people in business, government and society was compiled. Extensive research identified publicly available education and professional stops on each CV/resume.
• Employee counts and enrollment figures were used to account for differences in the size of organizations and ensure an even playing field for prospective colleges of all sizes.
• The highest-rated organizations are awarded a spot on the list.

UK is a leader in enrolling, retaining and graduating students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. These students go on to pave new paths in areas that fuel their academic and personal passions. 

Overall, UK has grown from more than 28,000 students in Fall 2010 to more than 34,000 in Fall 2023. Six-year graduation rates have increased by more than 12 percentage points since the class of 2010; four-year graduation rates have increased by 27 percentage points in that same time and five-year rates have increased by 17 percentage points, placing UK among the top 100 public institutions in the country that grant primarily bachelor’s degrees or higher. 

UK offers an array of campus initiatives and centers to support these students throughout their journey at the university, many of which are housed in the Office for Student Success. From the moment a student becomes a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting students. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support to a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions.

Over the last decade, because of the work of thousands of faculty and staff and the commitment and capacity of our students, UK has rapidly accelerated the success rate of students. As we continue to make strides as both a flagship and a land-grant institution, we remain resolute in our pursuit of shaping future leaders and making a lasting impact on the world. 

To read the full article by Time magazine, visit their website here. Explore all of the resources available to students at the university here.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.