Bellarmine University has been designated an “Opportunity College and University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, placing it among a select group of institutions nationally recognized for fostering student success and creating upward economic mobility. 

 

Bellarmine is among just 16% of all colleges and universities to earn this distinction. This classification recognizes institutions that provide both high levels of college access for underserved student populations and strong earnings outcomes for graduates. 

 

The Carnegie Classification report notes that universities like Bellarmine receiving this designation “can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success.” 

 

“Bellarmine is honored to be recognized for the transformational impact of our mission, educating students of all backgrounds to build successful futures,” said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “This designation affirms our commitment to academic excellence in the tradition of Catholic higher education, career and life readiness, and providing pathways to upward mobility for all of our students. The superior outcomes we create for our graduates reflect our commitment to help ensure that Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky excel.” 

 

The new classification evaluates institutions on two critical measures, with scores of lower, medium or higher assigned to each: 

• Access: whether colleges and universities enroll student populations reflective of the communities they serve, based on federal Pell Grant eligibility and student demographics. Pell eligibility is a measure of students who demonstrate high financial need to attend college. Bellarmine’s designation is “higher.”  
• Earnings: whether their graduates earn competitive wages compared to peers in the local labor market, eight years after entry. Bellarmine’s designation is “higher.”