Bellarmine University will celebrate the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year with a fireworks display on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 23. The fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9 p.m. and will last less than an hour.
Opportunity, Impact & Excellence
- 677 first-year students make the Class of 2029 about 22% larger than last year's entering class.
- 39% of these first-year students are students of color -- the most diverse class in Bellarmine's history.
- Unrivaled outcomes: 99% of Bellarmine grads are employed or in graduate school within six months, and will enjoy
a $1.93 million return on investment for their education.
- The Bellarmine IMPACT initiative ensures the newest Knights experience personalized support and purposeful learning.
Bellarmine's neighbors are invited to join students, faculty, staff, and alumni for the show, which can be viewed from the hill behind the University Dining Hall (building 5c on the
campus map).
This fall, Bellarmine welcomes 677 new first-year undergraduate students, its largest first-year class since 2019 and the most diverse in its history, with students of color making up 39% of the class. The class is an impressive 22% larger than last year's
entering class.
This growth reflects growing momentum behind the university’s mission to provide college access and upward economic mobility for students from all backgrounds. Bellarmine is one of just 16% of universities nationally to earn the prestigious “
Opportunity College”
designation from the Carnegie Foundation – a recognition of both the university’s strong access for Pell-eligible and first-generation students and its outstanding post-graduation earnings outcomes.
Bellarmine’s student outcomes continue to lead the region:
- 99% of graduates are employed or pursuing an advanced degree within six months of graduation.
- Graduates earn more on average than those from any other Kentucky institution – an outcome that adds up to a $1.93 million return on investment over a lifetime.
The campus fireworks tradition also underscores Bellarmine’s focus on engagement and belonging – pillars of the
Bellarmine IMPACT initiative, which helps students tailor their educational journey through a network of academic, career, and wellness support.
Bellarmine’s fall semester begins on Thursday, August 21.