Bellarmine is a private university in Louisville, Kentucky, offering an education rooted in the liberal arts and an inclusive Catholic tradition, which emphasizes the search for the true self, the interconnectedness of life, and the solidarity of the human spirit, which transcends ethnic, religious, and social divisions.

Our more than 2,000 undergraduate students are pursuing bachelor's degrees in over 50 areas of study, and our graduate students completing master's and doctorate degrees bring our total student population to around 3,000. Our athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Here are a few more things that define Bellarmine and make us who we are:   

 

1. We're a liberal arts school.

We educate the whole person to realize their highest potential. In addition to focused study in their chosen field, our students develop the skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and compassion through a wide-ranging curriculum beyond their major. With a degree in their field of study backed by a holistic education and real-world experience gained through internships and other opportunities, Bellarmine graduates possess the technical, mental, and social skills that make for agile, dynamic thinkers prepared to navigate a changing world.

Upon graduation, Bellarmine students are not just prepared to pursue a successful career, they are prepared to pursue a full life.

 

2. We’re affordable.

Bellarmine offers a generous array of aid opportunities, including scholarships (which are renewable for four years), grants, loans, and work-study positions. We guarantee a merit award to every admitted first-year student and an additional scholarship to every student who files their FAFSA. The average award is more than $33,000 and is renewable for your four years at Bellarmine.

There are additional scholarships you can take advantage of based on your interests or major, and there are state and federal funding streams as well. Our Financial Aid team will help you leverage every avenue and craft a comprehensive aid package that fits your financial needs. 

 

3. We’re in Louisville, Kentucky.

There’s a lot to love about  living in Louisville, a major urban center that embodies the charms of the Midwest and the South. It’s a mecca for music, art, great restaurants, and the outdoors. And, it has a bustling economy for employment opportunities. Bellarmine’s campus is nestled in the Highlands, an eclectic, walkable neighborhood near downtown, filled with independent businesses, coffee shops, and art galleries.

 

4. We value inclusivity. 

Hospitality is woven into everything we do. We welcome and celebrate students of all backgrounds and identities and actively work to foster a culture of belonging. The Dr. Patricia Carver Center and various student groups engage the campus community in identity exploration, community building, and social responsibility. Guided by these principles, Bellarmine fosters an environment where students develop a strong sense of purpose, interpersonal growth, belonging, and commitment to community. 

 

5. We’re civic-minded.

If you’ve always felt a duty to give back to your community, you’ll quickly find common ground with other students at Bellarmine. Volunteer involvement on campus and the surrounding community is more common than not. We believe in the intrinsic value and dignity of each person and strive to foster a community of engaged thinkers, learners, and agents of change. This dedication to service and community engagement augments classroom learning to help our students become ethical leaders for the common good. Washington Monthly has ranked Bellarmine as one of the top 75 colleges in the United States for embedding a mission-driven commitment to service into the student experience.

 

6. We’re outcomes-oriented.

Experiential learning is a critical part of the Bellarmine experience, so much so the university guarantees every student will have the opportunity to land an internship, develop a career plan, and build a professional network. That solid start spells lasting success. Our graduates report higher wages, levels of employment, and job satisfaction than graduates from peer institutions. Bellarmine tracks and analyzes graduate outcomes on an ongoing basis and finds that: 

• Within 6 months of graduation, 99% of graduates are working or in graduate school, with 97% already working in their career field of interest—outcomes that are 14% higher than the national average
• Bellarmine graduates enjoy 16% higher mid-career salaries than graduates from similar U.S. universities
• Bellarmine graduates have the highest earning potential of graduates from any Kentucky university 10 years after graduation and earn the highest mid-career salaries of graduates of any university in the state 
• Bellarmine graduates enjoy a $1.93 million return on investment through higher salaries over a 40-year career, significantly higher than the $1.51 million average for private institutions and the $1.56 million average for public institutions

 

7. We’re a tight-knit bunch.

Bellarmine’s small, welcoming campus and numerous support groups make for an environment rich in relationships. There are more than 90 student-created and led groups on campus and most students belong to at least one of them. Bellarmine’s learning communities and specialty programs also help students get connected and make friends, receive support from faculty and staff, and get involved at Bellarmine and beyond. The university also maintains a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which helps students develop deep relationships with their peers and strong connections with their professors, routinely leading to internships, research opportunities, job placements after graduation, and lifelong mentorship.

 

8. Our campus is truly beautiful.

Bellarmine is perched atop rolling hills, overlooking the woods and fields of nearby Joe Creason Park. Campus boasts many architectural beauties, including Our Lady of the Woods Chapel, a masterpiece of glass, wood and steel.   

 

That’s just a little about us. We’d love to further introduce ourselves and meet you, too! Visit us anytime you like, online or in person.