About the University of Louisville
Founded in 1798 as one of the nation’s first city-owned public universities, the University of Louisville (UofL) is a vital ecosystem that creates thriving futures for our students, community and society.
As one of only 13 universities in the United States to earn recognition by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research 1, Community Engaged and Opportunity College university, UofL is uniquely positioned to impact lives in areas of student success, research and innovation. Our dynamic connection with our local and global communities provides unparalleled opportunities for students and citizens alike.
Located just south of the heart of Kentucky’s largest city, UofL’s Belknap Campus is home to eight of the university’s 12 academic schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and Human Development, the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, the Graduate School, the Brandeis School of Law, the School of Music and the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science. The Health Sciences Center is located in downtown Louisville’s medical complex and is home to the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Public Health and Information Sciences, along with University of Louisville Hospital and UofL Health – Jewish Hospital. The UofL Health enterprise includes eight hospitals, four medical centers, the Frazier Rehab Institute, Brown Cancer Center and nearly 200 physician practice locations. Shelby Campus, located in east Louisville, is home to several university centers, as well as the Shelbyhurst Office Park for business and technology endeavors.
Redefining student success
At UofL, we prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders, whatever their passions may be. UofL’s more than 25,000 students study in 12 schools and colleges offering undergraduate degrees in more than 60 fields, master’s degrees in more than 75 areas and doctoral and professional degrees in more than 35 disciplines. UofL is a producer of top scholars, including more than 180 Fulbright Scholarships awarded since 2003 – more than all other Kentucky four-year public institutions combined.
An active and diverse student body enriches the educational experience at UofL. As of fall 2025, first-generation college students represent 38% of student enrollment. Kentucky residents account for a majority of UofL’s student population; however, 30% of our students are from all other U.S. states, territories and a growing population of international students. This dynamic tapestry of perspectives helps our Cardinal community fuel positive change. UofL’s focus on providing access and opportunity was recognized by the Opportunity College classification from Carnegie in 2025. UofL is the only Opportunity College – meaning we provide students higher access and higher earnings – in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Beyond academics, UofL invests in the whole student, providing support and resources that allow for transformative, purpose-driven and engaged learning. We are committed to ensuring access to higher education for all, including increasing the availability of financial aid for low-income and first-generation college students. UofL has been repeatedly designated a military friendly school. By striving for a more accessible campus community, UofL aims to change the course of future generations while preparing students for the careers, workplaces and complex challenges of tomorrow.
Research and innovation powerhouse
At UofL, we push for progress among our students and harness the power of innovation to better our community and beyond. The university advances health, empowers communities and engineers the future economy through discoveries that will build a better world.
In 2025, the university received $170 million in competitive research funding. Research has long been a cornerstone of UofL, where undergraduates and graduate students work side by side with experts in their fields. The university is a leader in advanced manufacturing and technology, and it has earned international acclaim for revolutionary breakthroughs in medicine, including transplantation, cancer research, cardiac care and spinal cord research.
Across our three campuses, faculty and student researchers are driven by impact, pushing boundaries in scholarship and creative activity and aided by leading-edge computer systems and laboratories, focusing on high-demand fields including bioengineering, nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. In 2025, UofL was named a Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub. The designation brings Kentucky talent greater opportunities to support defense technology and innovation. With the belief it takes only one spark to ignite world-changing innovation, we are creating and applying knowledge that improves lives.
Premier metropolitan university
With an alumni network more than 170,000 strong, the magnitude of Cardinal achievements is felt across the world. At home, the university is an anchor institution for the city and state, one of Louisville’s largest employers and contributes significantly to the cultural and intellectual life of the community. The city serves as a classroom for UofL students, who benefit from internships and co-ops with businesses including local startups and global corporations. Access to powerful partnerships with GE, Yum! Brands, UPS, Humana and other top employers improves students’ educational experience, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge toward real-world projects and issues.
Our students, faculty and staff also engage in service with a purpose, setting out to impact the economic, social and cultural health and well-being of communities while empowering students to make a difference. In 2024-25, university members gave back by participating in engaged teaching, research and service in 47 counties statewide, and 19 international activities. For more than a decade, UofL’s Signature Partnership initiative has worked to enhance historically underserved areas of the city and is recognized as a national model for community engagement. UofL collaborated on 173 activities as part of the Signature Partnership last year. UofL’s community engagement was recognized with a Carnegie Community Engaged reclassification in 2026.
UofL's dedication to student success and research that benefits the local and global community earned the university its highest recognition yet as one of the Top 100 public universities in the nation, according to 2025 rankings from U.S. News and World Report. Through the university's approach to education, innovation and connection, Cardinals make impacts that make a difference, shaping a better future for all.
