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Undergraduate Admission

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Undergraduate Admission

When you become a Bellarmine Knight, you join a close-knit community that will become family. Your amazing faculty will know you by name, and be advocates for your success. The dedicated staff will work to personalize the help you need, and ensure you are supported every step of the way. Your fellow students will have your back – because you will also have theirs.

Becoming a Bellarmine Knight means being exactly where you need to be in order to get where you want to go. We’re proud of that. You will be too.


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What you need to know

Admission Eligibility

Bellarmine strives to enroll students with diverse talents and backgrounds. We expect you to be academically prepared to succeed at Bellarmine as demonstrated by your high school grades and high school curriculum.

Bellarmine is a test optional university. If you have a test score that enhances the review of your application, you may choose to submit your test scores. Each application is reviewed individually. Bellarmine considers trends in grades, difficulty of curriculum, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, part-time work, special talents, awards and honors, and recommendations in determining admission.

In return for your hard work, you will experience a personalized college education that will meet you where you are and guide you forward to your life’s work.

 

We encourage all students to apply!
You will be personally reviewed by the Undergraduate Admission Committee and may be admitted for good reasons based upon your overall high school academic performance, test scores, recommendations, essay quality and results of a personal interview.

Admission Requirements

The path to obtaining higher education is not the same for everyone. To help you set off on the right foot, select from the options below to learn more about your next steps.

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Select an Admission Type
  • First Year
  • Transfer Students
  • International Students
  • Homeschool Students
  • Dual Credit Students
  • Veterans
  • Visiting Students
  • Readmit Students
  • Post-Baccalaureate Students
  • Early Entry Admission Program
  • A completed online application through CommonApp or Bellarmine App.
  • Entrance exam (ACT or SAT I) or a request to have your application reviewed as Test Optional.
  • An official transcript and school report from the high school last attended or, for those who have not completed their high school work, a General Educational Development (GED) test score.
  • Recommendation letter from high school counselor or teacher.
  • A completed online application form.
  • Official college transcript mailed directly from each college attended.
  • For students who have earned fewer than 60 hours of college course work, an official high school transcript, GED or home school completion or diploma is required.
  • For students who have earned fewer than 24 hours of college course work:
    1. An official copy of the high school transcript, GED or home school completion or diploma.
    2. ACT or SAT scores (not required for applicants who have been out of high school for five years or more).
    3. A 200 word (minimum) essay may be required if requested. It should address your personal or professional goals.
  • A completed online application form.
  • Credentials & Transcripts: Undergraduate applicants who have attended post-secondary schools, colleges, universities, or professional institutions outside the United States must submit their academic records to SpanTran or World Education Services, Inc. (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation.
  • Language Proficiency: TOEFL: The minimum scores are: Paper-based test 550, Internet based test 79 or 80, or Computer based test 213, MELAB: Obtain a score of 78 or higher, IELTS: Obtain a score of 6.0 or higher. Duolingo English Test: Obtain a score of 105 or higher (The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on-demand, in under an hour for only $49. The test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample which are shared with Bellarmine University when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session).
    1. Language training at an approved center.
    2. Prior educational experiences in TOEFL Exempt Countries. Students who have a secondary or high school diploma earned in TOEFL exempt countries have met the requirement. Additionally, international students who have completed at-least one year of full time university study or its equivalent (i.e., a minimum of 24 earned credit hours or its equivalent and earned a 2.0 GPA) in an exempt country have met the requirement.
    3. ACT or SAT. Students for whom English is a second language and have outstanding language skills may submit either ACT (21 composite or higher) or SAT (1060 or higher) scores in lieu of other evidence.
    4. Proof of Funding: A bank statement or letter of commitment demonstrating ability to fund the cost of attending Bellarmine University for one academic year.
    5. Letter of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain at-least one letter of recommendation from a prior teacher, professional academic counselor, or another individual who’s professional standing is appropriate to access the student’s ability to succeed in college and who is aware of the student’s language skills.
  • Complete the Application for Undergraduate Admission.
  • Submit official ACT/SAT scores.
  • A transcript or list of courses completed including a grading scale that states the numerical value of a letter grade.
  • A recommendation from the school counselor or person (coach, pastor, etc) that can speak of the student’s character and academic ability.
  • If any high school credit was earned in a formal high school setting, the applicant must supply a copy of the official partial transcript from the respective school.
  • Bellarmine University allows high school students with qualified academic credentials to enroll in our courses. There are two programs a student may be granted admission for Bellarmine credit –Dual Credit and College Credit.
  • Dual Credit is defined as a course taken at Bellarmine in which a student is simultaneously earning high school and college credit. Students enrolled in dual credit will have a tuition rate of $52 a credit hour.
  • High school students wanting to enroll in college courses at Bellarmine could earn these credits through our College Credit program. College credit courses are courses taken at Bellarmine for college credit and are not courses that also earn high school credit. Students enrolled in college credit will have a tuition rate of $170 a credit hour.
  • Students must complete an application for admission and submit an official high school transcript and a test score from either the ACT or SAT.
  • Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program
    Residence of Kentucky attending a Kentucky high school could qualify for the Kentucky Dual Credit program. If a student were eligible, the student would receive a scholarship through the state of Kentucky to cover the $52 a credit hour tuition. Funds are disbursed to the eligible student’s high school and the high school will pay the dual credit course fee.
  • Criteria for admission:
    1. Student must be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum.
    2. Student must have earned a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.25.
    3. Student must have a minimum composite ACT score of 23 or a combined evidence-based reading and writing, and math score of 1130 on the SAT.
  • Bellarmine University is committed to providing excellent assistance and resources to Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans who are high school graduates or have submitted satisfactory General Educational Diploma (GED) test scores may be admitted without respect to their high school class standing or entrance test scores, provided they submit DD Form 214 as proof of their military standing. To apply, submit a completed application form, DD Form 214, and official transcript from the high school last attended and, if not a high school graduate, GED test scores to the Office of Admission. Bellarmine participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including the Yellow Ribbon Program. For more information on these programs please visit our website.
  • Persons enrolled in other accredited colleges or universities may take courses at Bellarmine University during any semester. A record of the course work done at Bellarmine will be maintained and sent upon request to the student’s home institution. The following items are required:
    1. A completed online application form.
    2. For students taking upper division courses, an official transcript is required to determine if prerequisite courses have been met. After visiting, if a student becomes degree seeking, an additional official transcript is not required.
  • A readmit student is a student who has previously attended Bellarmine. The following items are required:
    1. Complete a short version of application here.
    2. Official copies of transcripts from all schools attended since last admission to Bellarmine.
    3. Students applying for readmission who have been previously dismissed from Bellarmine, refer to the Readmission After Dismissal section of the catalog.
  • Students interested in Bellarmine's postbaccalaureate, accelerated, professional, second-degree programs in Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Respiratory Therapy, and those interested in the postbaccalaureate Accounting Certificate program make application with the Office of Graduate Admission. See the Graduate Admission section of our website for more information.
  • All other persons who have already completed a bachelor’s degree but wish to enroll at Bellarmine in undergraduate credit courses may apply for admission as post-baccalaureate students. A record of the credit course work done at Bellarmine will be maintained and will become a part of the student’s permanent record. Postbaccalaureate students need to do the following for admission:
    1. A completed online application form.
  • For students taking upper division courses, an official transcript is required to determine if prerequisite courses have been met.
  • For students in which English is their second language, a TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB score is required. TOEFL minimum scores are: Paper-based test 550, Internet based test 79 or 80 or Computer based test 213. MELAB score of 78 or obtain a IELTS score of 6.
  • Persons who have completed their junior year in high school and demonstrate outstanding scholastic ability and a high level of maturity may be admitted to Bellarmine University prior to high school graduation. Recommendations by the high school principal, guidance counselor, and a teacher are required for admission, as well as interviews with the student and his or her parents or guardians. For more information on the Early Entry Admission Program, contact the Office of Admission.
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Admission Deadlines

There are a variety of deadlines for standard enrollment, scholarships and programs depending on where you are in your decision making process and your education pursuits. Full details and dates are available on our Application Deadlines page.

Already admitted?
We are excited for you to start your Bellarmine University experience. Take your next step and submit your deposit.

Contact Admissions

Pursuing an undergraduate degree does not have to be a daunting experience. Let our Admissions team help you along the way through advice, support and guidance.

2001 Newburg Road
Louisville, KY 40205
Phone: 502.272.8000
Email: admissions@bellarmine.edu

About Bellarmine University

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.