The Premier Independent Catholic University in the South
Bellarmine University is a vibrant community of educational excellence and ethical awareness that consistently ranks among the nation's best colleges and universities.
Our students pursue an education based in the liberal arts – and
in the distinguished, inclusive Catholic tradition of educational excellence, the oldest and most rewarding in the western world. It is a lifelong education, worthy of the university's namesake, Saint Robert Bellarmine, and of his invitation to each of us to learn and live in veritatis amore – in the love of all that is beautiful, true and good in life.
The Bellarmine Difference
Bellarmine is growing rapidly, not only with great new campus amenities and academic programs, but also in regional
and national prominence. BU is named after Roberto Bellarmino (1542-1621), the brilliant Jesuit, who was a Cardinal and who was canonized in 1930.
We offer a personalized, student-centered network that inspires meaningful, personal, academic, transformative growth in a way that prepares students for a well-rounded life and successful career. We're civic-minded, inclusive, outcome-oriented and bursting with meaningful connections in our tight-knit community.
On top of all that, we have a beautiful campus rife with stunning architecture, trees and rolling hills that overlook Joe Creason Park.
We Say "BELL-er-mun"
As we grow, more and more people are adding “Bellarmine” to their lists of top schools. Around here, we say "BELL-er-mun" in "LOU-a-vuhl." This is one of the friendliest campuses and places in the world, so we'll still love you no matter how you pronounce these names.
The Louisville Advantage
On the edge of downtown Louisville Bellarmine is set on three beautiful hills in the artful and eclectic Highlands neighborhood. We are within walking distance of the Bardstown Road corridor, where coffee houses, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops add to
the overall Bellarmine experience. Downtown Louisville is just minutes away and offers world-class theatre, arts, sports, museums and gorgeous riverfront parks. Louisville is situated on the mile-wide Ohio River, at the gateway to the South
and the crossroads of the Midwest. Two hundred million people – two-thirds of the nation's population – live within a 500-mile radius of the city.
Teaching You'll Never Forget
Bellarmine faculty scholars are passionate about teaching. 179 full-time faculty, with 88 percent holding a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their field, teach at Bellarmine.
Student Excellence
A diverse student body from 43 states and 26 foreign countries attend Bellarmine. Our total enrollment is 3,149 of which 2,407 are undergraduate students. The ACT composite scores range from 22 to 27 for the middle 50 percent of students.
A Human Scale Learning Environment
Our student-faculty ratio is 12 to 1. Our average class size at Bellarmine is 20. There are 29 students or fewer in 84 percent of our classes. Teaching and learning like this just doesn’t take place at the megaversities, and it shows in our high
four-year graduation rates and in the successful careers of our 23,905 graduates (as of fall 2017) throughout the world.
Price, cost and value
2021-2022 tuition & fees: $44,520; room and board: $9,030.
Don’t panic at the price of an education! It's a much lower actual cost to you and it's an enormous value as an investment in your future. We provide more than $19 million in scholarships and financial aid to entering students each year. Award amounts are determined on an individual basis and celebrate the strength and achievement of each admitted student. A person, not a computer, processes your application.
As with everything at Bellarmine, your financial situation gets individual attention.
It is Bellarmine University’s goal and commitment to ensure that every student receives our best comprehensive offer of financial assistance and that your affordable investment in a Bellarmine education becomes a reality.
Use our Financial Aid Calculator to find out how affordable Bellarmine can be for you!
The World is Also Our Campus
Bellarmine offers semester, yearlong and summer study-abroad programs in 60 countries on
six continents. There are more than 150 programs of study. Approximately a quarter of
our students engage in an international experience abroad, compared to the
national average of just over 1%.
What's Your Major?
We offer undergraduate majors in the arts and sciences, business, education, communication, environmental studies, nursing and health sciences. We encourage
double majors. Give your career a boost with our renown graduate degrees.
The Bellarmine Knights
Bellarmine student athletes play 22 varsity sports in NCAA
Division I. We also offer a variety of
intramural sports. Women compete in Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey,
Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and indoor and outdoor Track. Men
play Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, indoor and outdoor Track and Wrestling. 18 percent of first-time, full-time freshmen are student athletes.
Experience Bellarmine
Come and see for yourself! We offer campus tours daily. Schedule your visit today online or contact the
Office of Admission, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) by calling toll free 800.274.4723 or 502.272.7100. We hope to see you soon!