Bellarmine University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Bellarmine University is a private nonprofit institution located in Louisville, Kentucky with approximately 2,161 undergraduate students enrolled. Bellarmine University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 86%. The average net price after financial aid is $21,499 per year. The graduation rate is 64%, and the typical graduate earns $50,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Bellarmine University is a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It opened on October 3, 1950, as Bellarmine College, established by Archbishop John A. Floersh of the Archdiocese of Louisville and named after Saint Robert Bellarmine. In 2000, it became Bellarmine University. The university is organized into seven colleges and schools and confers bachelor's and master's degrees in more than 50 academic majors, along with seven doctoral degrees; it is classified among "D/PU: Doctoral/Professional Universities".
This small Catholic university in Louisville offers a genuinely affordable path — median debt at graduation is just $20,000, which is well below the national average — and the tight-knit campus (under 2,300 undergrads) suits students who want personal attention over a big university experience. The numbers tell a mixed story, though: a 75% freshman retention rate and 68% graduation rate suggest a meaningful share of students struggle to finish, so it's worth asking honestly whether the academic and financial support systems are a fit for you. Worth considering if you're drawn to health professions or business in the Louisville area, where the location and local employer connections can help explain median earnings of $50,600 a decade out.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: -7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Bellarmine University graduates earn most above the national rate in Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($79,698 vs $70,786 nationally), and most below it in Political Science and Government ($52,228 vs $63,293).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 142 | $82,814 | $88,910 | −$6,096 |
| Psychology, General | 71 | $53,413 | $50,706 | +$2,707 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 57 | $63,991 | $68,257 | −$4,266 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 52 | $61,841 | $54,562 | +$7,279 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 43 | $50,665 | $56,359 | −$5,694 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 27 | $43,808 | $47,382 | −$3,574 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 25 | $84,262 | $83,343 | +$919 |
| Political Science and Government | 18 | $52,228 | $63,293 | −$11,065 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 17 | $51,527 | $55,378 | −$3,851 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 14 | $79,698 | $70,786 | +$8,912 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 12 | $45,612 | $48,590 | −$2,978 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,161 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Kentucky
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY · Private nonprofit
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY · Private nonprofit
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY · Private nonprofit
Centre College
Danville, KY · Private nonprofit
Thomas More University
Crestview Hills, KY · Private nonprofit
Berea College
Berea, KY · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Bellarmine University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Bellarmine University?
Bellarmine University has an acceptance rate of 86%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Bellarmine University hard to get into?
Not especially. Bellarmine University has an acceptance rate of 86%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Bellarmine University cost?
The average net price at Bellarmine University is about $21,499 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Bellarmine University?
Bellarmine University has a graduation rate of 64%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.