Bellarmine University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Louisville, Kentucky. It enrolls 2,161 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes54
Value57
Affordability44
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.1%, Bellarmine University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1030 – 1250
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bellarmine University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
27.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Bellarmine University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $21,499 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,499
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$48,770
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,850
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,546
Books & Supplies
$500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,160
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,226
Total Cost of Attendance
$61,691
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,430
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,358
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,391
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,987
Over $110,000
$29,194
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,450
↓ $4,550
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $25,000
—
Female students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Bellarmine University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bellarmine University earn a median of $62,069 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,069
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Bellarmine University is home to 2,161 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,161
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
27%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 67.4%1,456
Black 10.6%229
Hispanic 10.0%217
Other 5.4%117
Asian 3.1%67
International 2.2%48
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Bellarmine University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLouisville, Kentucky
Housing
Mostly residential1,119 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Bellarmine University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bellarmine University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$124M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,979
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
161 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
31
19%
$102,834
Associate Professors
59
37%
$74,378
Assistant Professors
57
35%
$69,755
Instructors
14
9%
$60,110
Pros & Cons of Bellarmine University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bellarmine University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Bellarmine University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bellarmine University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bellarmine University.
Is Bellarmine University hard to get into?
Bellarmine University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Bellarmine University?
Bellarmine University has an acceptance rate of 86.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Bellarmine University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bellarmine University scored between 1030 and 1250 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Bellarmine University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Bellarmine University scored between 23 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Bellarmine University cost?
The average net price after aid at Bellarmine University is $21,499 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Bellarmine University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,069 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,499 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Bellarmine University known for?
Bellarmine University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Rehabilitation, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Bellarmine University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Bellarmine University are $62,069, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Bellarmine University accredited?
Yes. Bellarmine University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Bellarmine University?
Bellarmine University enrolls 2,161 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Bellarmine University?
Bellarmine University graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Bellarmine University a public or private college?
Bellarmine University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Bellarmine University located?
Bellarmine University is located in Louisville, Kentucky.
What programs does Bellarmine University offer?
Bellarmine University offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Rehabilitation, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bellarmine University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Bellarmine University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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