Recognition highlights Bellarmine’s affordability and strong career outcomes
Bellarmine University has once again been named one of the Best Colleges in America by Money, earning national recognition in a ranking focused heavily on the value students and families receive from their investment in higher education.
Bellarmine is one of eight Kentucky colleges and universities included on the online magazine's 2026 Best Colleges list, which evaluates hundreds of colleges using measures related to affordability, educational quality, and student outcomes.
Among the Kentucky institutions on Money’s list, Bellarmine stands out for the earning power of its graduates. Money reports that 81 percent of Bellarmine alumni make more than a high school graduate — the highest percentage among the Kentucky schools recognized this year. Bellarmine also has the second-highest median earnings for recent graduates among the Kentucky institutions on the list, reported at $48,319 one year after leaving school.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because Money focuses on questions that matter most to students and families: What will college really cost, and where will that education take you?” said Lauren Keeling, Bellarmine's vice president for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication. “We know the published prices for private universities can cause families to assume a Bellarmine education is out of reach. Our commitment is to change that equation through generous financial aid and programs that make Bellarmine surprisingly affordable, ensuring that our students receive an education that prepares them for rewarding careers and long-term success.”
Money’s latest rankings highlight the financial aid that makes a Bellarmine education more affordable than its published price might suggest. The publication estimates that Bellarmine’s annual price after average financial aid is comparable with in-state pricing for the state’s largest public universities.
It reports that 100 percent of Bellarmine undergraduates receive some form of grant aid, 98 percent of students receive need-based grants, and the university meets 86 percent of demonstrated financial need.
Those findings reinforce other measures of Bellarmine’s value and student success:
- 99 percent of graduates are working or continuing their education within six months of commencement.
- 97 percent of employed graduates are working in their career field of interest.
- Three years after graduation, Bellarmine bachelor’s degree recipients earn a median income of $54,000, the highest among Kentucky institutions based on available state data.
- Bellarmine has been designated an “Opportunity College – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. The designation recognizes institutions that provide access to students who reflect the communities they serve while producing strong earnings outcomes for graduates.
Together, the Money recognition and Carnegie designation reinforce Bellarmine’s focus on combining access and affordability with academic excellence and strong career outcomes.
Money’s 2026 Best Colleges list evaluates colleges using 25 measures, including costs, financial aid, graduation rates, student debt, and alumni earnings. See Bellarmine's profile.