
Sullivan University is a private university in Louisville, Kentucky, with roots in career-oriented business education. It began in 1962 as Sullivan Business College and later expanded its programs and credentials before adopting the Sullivan University name.
That history helps explain its present mix of career-focused fields, including business, hospitality, technology, nursing and pharmacy. The university also serves students through locations beyond Louisville and online study. Applicants should check the location and delivery format of a particular program rather than assume every program is offered at the main campus.
Sullivan University offers programs across business, technology, hospitality, health care and other applied fields. Its academic offerings include associate and bachelor's degrees as well as graduate and professional study; the credential and campus depend on the program.
Representative areas include accounting and business administration, computer and information sciences, legal support, culinary and hospitality studies, nursing, and pharmacy. The university's National Center for Hospitality Studies is associated with its culinary and hospitality education, while its College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences serves students pursuing health-related credentials.
Program names alone do not establish eligibility for a profession. A prospective nursing, pharmacy or other licensure-track student should check the specific degree's curriculum, clinical requirements, professional accreditation and eligibility rules in the state where they intend to work.
Sullivan University's main campus is in Louisville, Kentucky, on Bardstown Road. Louisville is an urban setting, so commuting arrangements and the location of required classes or clinical work matter when choosing a program.
Students may also encounter Sullivan programs at other Kentucky locations or online. A program advertised by the university should not be assumed to have the same schedule, facilities or student services at every site. Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport serves the region, though most day-to-day travel decisions will concern parking, local transit and travel time to classes.
Sullivan University presents its educational purpose as preparing students for careers through practical, professionally oriented study. Its range of credentials and scheduling options reflects an emphasis on students entering a field, changing careers or advancing in one.
A mission statement describes institutional priorities, not a measured outcome. Applicants can assess how that purpose works in a specific program by examining course requirements, hands-on components, scheduling and the credentials required for their intended occupation.
Name of the institution
Sullivan UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1962Sullivan University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.