The Best Business Schools in Louisville for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Louisville
- Sullivan University ranks #1 in the Louisville area on a 79.4 Program Score, with a 71% graduation rate.
- The hardest to get into is Indiana University-Southeast (#2), which admits 84% of applicants.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Indiana University-Southeast, ranks #2.
- Programs analyzed
- 36
- Schools ranked
- 5
- Tuition range
- $7,717-$47,180
- Average graduation rate
- 48%
We analyzed 36 accredited business programs in Louisville and the surrounding metro and ranked 5 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $7,717 to $47,180 a year, a $39,463 spread for the same credential.
Sullivan University leads with a 79.4 Program Score on a 71% graduation rate, at $15,480 a year. Across all 5 ranked business schools in Louisville the average graduation rate is 48%, ranging from 14% to 71%. 1 of the 5 are public and 4 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
The Top Business Schools in Louisville at a Glance
Sullivan leads at 79.4, and Simmons College of Kentucky closes the chart at 51.4. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Louisville Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 5 Best Business Schools in Louisville, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best Business Schools in Louisville, ranked by outcomes.
Sullivan University
Louisville, KY · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 71%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $15,480
- Out-of-state
- $15,480
Sullivan University's business administration bachelor's offers five concentrations (Finance, Healthcare Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Management, Marketing) on campus or online, with a 71% graduation rate.
- Program Score 79.4
- 71% graduation rate
- $15,480 in-state tuition
- Five concentrations, online or on campus
Sullivan University's Bachelor of Science in Business Administration lets students specialize in Finance, Healthcare Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, or Marketing. The program page lists an estimated time to completion of 48 months, with the format offered on the Louisville campus, at the Lexington location, or online. Classes run during the day, at night, and on weekends. Core courses include financial and managerial accounting, business law and ethics, microeconomics and macroeconomics, statistics, and operations management, and each concentration adds its own upper-level courses, such as investments for finance or warehouse operations for logistics. Students get access to a library of faculty-led video resources, and tuition covers e-books and 24/7 tutoring.
Federal data show a 71% graduation rate, and Sullivan is an open admission school. Tuition is $15,480 for in-state students and the same for out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 79.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults and career changers who want to pick a specialty, need evening, weekend, or online scheduling, and prefer small classes with no admission hurdle.
Indiana University-Southeast
New Albany, IN · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 39%
- Admit rate
- 84%
- In-state
- $7,717
- Out-of-state
- $22,104
IU Southeast offers a fully online 120-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Management built for working adults who already hold an AAS.
- 100% online
- 120 credit hours
- $7,717 in-state tuition
- Program Score 75
Indiana University Southeast delivers its Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Management entirely online, with no campus visits required. The school designed it for professionals who hold an Associate of Applied Science and want to move into supervisory and administrative roles. Coursework covers healthcare systems, finance, ethics, strategic planning and organizational leadership. The degree totals 120 credit hours and requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. The school lists healthcare manager, clinical supervisor, medical office administrator and health services coordinator among graduate paths, and describes the degree as a foundation for graduate study in healthcare administration or public health.
IU Southeast reports a 39% graduation rate and an 84% admit rate. Tuition is $7,717 in-state and $22,104 out-of-state, and the school notes that students from ten Kentucky counties receive in-state tuition through a reciprocity program. The program holds a Program Score of 75 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working healthcare staff with an applied associate degree who need a flexible route to a bachelor's and a management title, and who can study without setting foot on campus.
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $47,180
- Out-of-state
- $47,180
Every Bellarmine business administration student completes an internship and a capstone consulting project for a startup, nonprofit, or other organization, in classes with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Program Score 74.7
- 64% graduation rate
- $47,180 in-state tuition
- Required internship plus two capstones
Bellarmine University's Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration is an on-campus, 120-hour degree housed in the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business. The curriculum builds a foundation in accounting, economics, finance, marketing, management, information technology, and business law, then moves into advanced courses and two capstone experiences. The page states that all students complete an internship and a capstone consulting project, and it reports a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students can add an Applied Business Analytics minor, study abroad, or enter the Early Entry MBA pathway to earn a bachelor's degree and an MBA on an accelerated timeline. The school reports AACSB accreditation.
Federal data show a 64% graduation rate and an 86% admit rate. In-state tuition is $47,180, and out-of-state tuition is also $47,180, since this is a private nonprofit university. The program holds a Program Score of 74.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a traditional campus experience, small classes, and guaranteed hands-on work before graduation, and who may want to continue straight into an MBA.
Spalding University
Louisville, KY · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 52%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state
- $28,800
- Out-of-state
- $28,800
Spalding University's accounting bachelor's offers a pathway to the CPA by pairing the degree with an MBA in Accounting in as little as five years, and is available on campus or 100% online.
- Program Score 64.9
- 52% graduation rate
- $28,800 in-state tuition
- On campus or 100% online, MBA pathway
Spalding University's Bachelor of Science in Accounting is a 120-credit program available on campus and 100% online. Coursework includes auditing and systems, managerial cost accounting, the legal environment of business, and not-for-profit accounting, set within a liberal arts education. Students complete internships with companies, nonprofits, and small businesses. The page describes options to earn dual bachelor's degrees in business administration and accounting in 120 credits, or to double major in finance and accounting in 124 credits. Students can begin the MBA with an Accounting concentration as undergraduates and finish bachelor's plus MBA in as little as five years, which the school presents as a pathway to the CPA. The school reports IACBE accreditation, and a second-degree option can be completed in as little as 12 months.
Federal figures show a 52% graduation rate and a 99% admit rate, so admission is close to open. In-state tuition is $28,800, matching the out-of-state figure at this private nonprofit. The program has a Program Score of 64.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a flexible online or evening format and a built-in route from the bachelor's into a graduate accounting degree.
Simmons College of Kentucky
Louisville, KY · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 14%
- Admit rate
- 100%
- In-state
- $16,008
- Out-of-state
- $16,008
A Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration whose department is building internships and mentor programs with business partners.
- 100% admit rate
- $16,008 in-state tuition
- Program Score 51.4
- Internship and mentor focus
Simmons College of Kentucky offers a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration through its Business Department, and the program page links to a published degree plan. The department states a twofold mission: educating and developing leaders and socially conscious builders of enterprises for the needs of their communities, and preparing graduates for business opportunities across industries or for starting and growing their own entrepreneurial and nonprofit businesses. The department chair writes that new collaborations and business partners are making internships and dedicated mentor programs easier to put in place, and that the department expects to expand its offerings. The page emphasizes networking and exposure to business as core goals. It lists no concentrations or credit-hour totals, so check the degree plan for the course sequence.
The federal data shows a 14% graduation rate and an admit rate of 100%, so every applicant is admitted. Tuition is $16,008 in-state and $16,008 out-of-state. The Program Score is 51.4 out of 100, and that score is the basis of this ranking. The program is an on-campus option in Louisville for students who value a small, mission-driven department, a community focus and hands-on mentoring, and who are comfortable with low completion figures.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Louisville
The median school on this list graduates 52% of its students. The highest rates belong to Sullivan University (71%) and Bellarmine University (64%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Sullivan University71% graduation rate
- #3 Bellarmine University64% graduation rate
- #4 Spalding University52% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Louisville?
On this list, 1 of 5 schools is open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 93%.
- #2 Indiana University-Southeast84% admitted
- #3 Bellarmine University86% admitted
- #4 Spalding University99% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Louisville
Of the 5 schools ranked here, 3 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Sullivan University, at #1.
- #1 Sullivan UniversityLouisville, KY
- #2 Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, IN
- #4 Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Louisville
Enrollment on this list runs from 506 at Simmons College of Kentucky to 3,736 at Indiana University-Southeast. Of the 5, 5 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Louisville Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sullivan UniversitySullivan | $58,983 | $28,420 |
| #3 | Bellarmine UniversityBellarmine | $63,991 | $17,991 |
| #4 | Spalding UniversitySpalding | $65,288 | $24,262 |
Graduates of Spalding earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $65,288; the lowest figure here is $58,983 at Sullivan.
Sullivan, the highest-ranked of these schools (#1), comes in at $58,983.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $17,991 a year at Bellarmine to $28,420 at Sullivan.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Louisville Cost
Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $7,717 to $47,180 a year. Indiana University-Southeast in New Albany anchors the low end at $7,717 a year, while Bellarmine University sits at the top at $47,180. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Louisville is Indiana University-Southeast in New Albany at $7,717; the cheapest private is Sullivan University at $15,480.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $30,868 in tuition at Indiana University-Southeast against about $188,720 at Bellarmine University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Louisville from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Louisville
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Louisville do not all offer the same ones. Across the 36 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Louisville are business administration (6 schools), accounting (5 schools), finance (2 schools), marketing (2 schools), and healthcare administration (1 school). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 5 of the schools analyzed in Louisville run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Louisville
1 of the 5 ranked business schools in Louisville is public and 4 are private, and that split drives most of the $39,463 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Indiana University-Southeast charges $7,717 in-state and $22,104 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Louisville
The 5 ranked schools sit across 2 towns in the metro, among them Louisville and New Albany, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 3 of the 5 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Louisville: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Louisville?
By Program Score, Sullivan University ranks first among the 5 ranked business schools in Louisville, with a 79.4 score and a 71% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Louisville?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Louisville, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Louisville?
Tuition among the ranked Louisville schools runs from $7,717 to $47,180 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Louisville living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Louisville does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 36 accredited business programs across Louisville and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 5 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Louisville metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. The metro crosses into IN, so schools on both sides of the line are ranked together.
Is it worth studying business in Louisville instead of online?
3 of the 5 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Louisville this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $7,717 in-state, Indiana University-Southeast is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.