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Public Price Promise

At Bellarmine, small class sizes and a vibrant campus life create deep, lasting connections. The Bellarmine difference is all about our close-knit community leveraging every possible resource to meet your individual needs and set you up for lifelong success.

Our mission is to make our top-ranked education accessible to everyone, no matter where you’re from or your financial situation. With our Public Price Promise, you’ll get the distinction of a private, liberal arts learning experience for the same price as a state school.

For qualifying students, we will match the current direct cost of your state’s flagship university – that’s often your state’s largest, oldest university.

If you qualify for this program, the amount you will pay to attend Bellarmine will not exceed tuition, fees, room and board at your state's flagship university. You may also receive additional scholarships, grants, work-study or loans, lowering your cost even more. You could also compete for Bellarmine’s full-tuition scholarships.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Enrolling as traditional first-year college student
  • 3.6 unweighted high school GPA (calculated by Bellarmine if your high school does not provide an unweighted GPA)
  • Must reside on campus (all four years to maintain public price promise award)

**Students who don’t meet these qualifications are still eligible for other Bellarmine scholarships and grants. 100% of admitted students receive institutional aid. The average total award is more than $28,000.

Public Price Promise

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Other Considerations

  • Students must be first-year students (never attended college as a degree-seeking student)
  • Recipients must remain enrolled full-time at Bellarmine, reside on campus and be in good academic and conduct standing
  • Award is based on the published tuition, comprehensive fee, room and board for the flagship university of your state residency, not high school location
  • U.S. citizens living abroad or in a U.S. territory will pay the rate of the University of Kentucky
  • Students who reside in states offering free tuition programs will pay the rate of the University of Kentucky
  • Awards are based on the current tuition, comprehensive fees, room and board of each state’s flagship university
  • Award amount remains fixed at the time of the student’s matriculation for all four years at Bellarmine (8 fall and spring semesters)
  • Students are still eligible to receive federal aid, state aid and outside scholarships
  • Students are eligible to compete for Bellarmine’s full scholarships and full-tuition awards. If awarded one of these top scholarships, the student’s price match scholarship will be removed
  • The Price Promise is based on the current published direct cost (tuition, comprehensive fees, room and board) at flagship institutions effective as of September 2020, and Bellarmine will not honor any flagship direct cost changes/adjustments after that timeframe
  • Bellarmine reserves the right to amend, modify or terminate the program—either generally or as applied to a specific student—in a financial emergency, or to ensure both parties receive the contemplated benefit of the program

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a flagship university?

The state’s flagship is usually the largest and oldest public institution in the state. It generally receives the largest budgetary allocation from the state.

Why match a flagship?

Many families believe a public university is the only affordable choice for a student and family. These same students may prefer the advantages of attending a smaller private university. These advantages include smaller classes, one-on-one advising, close-knit community, and strong relationships with faculty. Bellarmine strives to make a top-notch private university affordable for all. In fact, Bellarmine awards merit scholarships and grants to 100% of admitted first-year students that brings the cost at or below a cost of most public universities.

What are the qualifications to receive this price match?
  • Enrolling as traditional first-year college student
  • 3.6 unweighted high school GPA (calculated by Bellarmine if your high school does not provide an unweighted GPA)
  • Must reside on campus (all four years to maintain public price promise award)

**Students who don’t meet these qualifications are still eligible for other Bellarmine scholarships and grants. 100% of admitted students receive institutional aid. The average total award is more than $28,000.

How does the price match work?

Bellarmine guarantees to eligible students that our tuition, comprehensive fee, room and board to be equal to the same published cost of their in-state’s public flagship university. Bellarmine will offer institutional scholarships and grants that lower these costs to the flagship university cost.

What if I am a US citizen living abroad?

US citizens from US territories or those living in foreign countries are eligible. These students will receive the price match for the University of Kentucky.

What if I am an undocumented student?

You are eligible and would receive the price match for the flagship university of the state in which you reside.

Is the award only for one year?

No, Bellarmine institutional awards are awarded for four years (8 semesters). As long as you remain in good academic and conduct standing and reside on campus, your Bellarmine scholarships, grants and price match scholarship will be awarded each year. The award remains fixed.

What if I am a current student, do I qualify?

No, the Public Price Promise is only for students newly enrolling in the fall 2021 class. Most current students will find their tuition costs are similarly priced thanks to Bellarmine’s generous, existing aid packages.

What if I don’t live on campus or move off campus during my four years?

You will not be eligible for the price match scholarship, but you will retain any other Bellarmine institutional awards offered to you.

Will I be eligible for any additional aid?

You could still receive additional grants, work-study and loans through need-based government programs. You can also receive any outside scholarships awarded to you. These will lower your cost even more. You could also compete for our full scholarships or our full-tuition scholarships. If awarded one of Bellarmine’s top scholarships, the price match scholarship will be removed. In the case your original award is more than the Public Price Promise, you will be awarded the higher amount.

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