That is what this article does. I use only what Bellarmine University reported to the United States federal government through the IPEDS system and what the Carnegie Classification says about it. I am not going to sell you on this university or discourage you from it. I am going to explain the data and what it means, so you can decide whether it is worth investigating further.
Remember something as you read: this piece is only one part of the map. It knows the institution in depth. It does not know what your child wants to study or what your family can afford. Those two pieces are up to you and your child. Let’s look at what we do know.
Who this school is
The Carnegie Classification, which organizes this country’s universities according to what they do, places Bellarmine University among doctoral and professional universities. Using data from 2019-20, it describes Bellarmine as a four-year, small, primarily residential school: between 25 and 49 out of every 100 degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in institution-owned housing, and at least half studied full time. In its undergraduate profile, Carnegie places it in the selective admissions group. And within its broader family of institutions, it groups Bellarmine with doctoral institutions—a family that brings together different categories and, by itself, does not tell you how much research a first-year student will see.
If you come across an old guide to this university, be careful: the category Carnegie assigned to it has changed since 2015, so a list from those years will describe it differently.
The campus is in Louisville, within Jefferson County, in the Louisville/Jefferson County metropolitan area. The census code places it in a large city with 250,000 residents or more. That does not tell you how to get to campus or what it is like to live nearby—if your child plans to live at home, drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time of their classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
Institutionally, it is private, nonprofit, and offers doctoral degrees as its highest reported level. That is an institutional fact: it does not tell you whether your child’s specific program goes that far. And something worth clarifying right away: Bellarmine University does not have any of three specific designations—it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 do have at least one of the three. Bellarmine’s lack of those designations says nothing about which students it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly which cultural centers and student organizations exist today, and better yet, speak with someone who already studies there.
One piece of advice that applies generally: do not rule it out or choose it based on the sticker price. Ask in writing how much your family would pay after scholarships and aid. That is the number to compare across schools, not the one on the price tag.
How many students there are and who they are
Bellarmine had 2,993 students enrolled in the official fall count—medium-sized, within the range of 1,000 to 4,999 students. Compared with the 941 selective private schools in this census that report this figure, its size is among the most common: neither one of the large schools nor one of the small ones.
But that large number includes graduate students. The total is divided into 2,351 undergraduate and 642 graduate students. If your child is entering an undergraduate degree program, the number that matters is 2,351, not the total of nearly 3,000.
Of the undergraduate students reported in fall 2023, 7 out of every 100 are Hispanic or Latino. It is a small minority, and compared with the 941 selective private schools in this census, Bellarmine ranks below the group’s midpoint. Having few Latino students does not make the school bad, just as having many would not make it good—this figure counts who is enrolled, and nothing more. If your child will be one of the few, ask which groups and support services exist, and speak with a Latino student there before deciding. The number is for the entire school; your child’s specific program may look different.
Other features of the community: students ages 25 to 64 are a minority, at 6 out of every 100. There are more women than men—61 out of every 100. And among entering students, 73 out of every 100 reported a permanent address in Kentucky when applying. Most of their classmates come from the same state.
How academic life is structured
The year is organized into semesters—two long terms of about 15 weeks each. That means consistent dates for everyone, without calendar surprises.
Something worth knowing if your child arrives with high school credits: Bellarmine reported accepting credit from AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls credit for life experiences—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses, or military or professional opportunities. It also enrolls high school students in college courses for credit, both within and outside a formal dual-enrollment program, and accepts credit for military training.
Be careful about something important: the fact that the school reports these options does not mean it will accept any exam or credit your child brings. It does not say what AP scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward the specific program your child is interested in. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for what can be studied: in the most recently reported year, Bellarmine awarded 632 bachelor’s degrees across 22 different program families. The family awarding the most degrees was health professions, with 27 out of every 100 degrees that year—the largest, but without accounting for the majority. Compared with 942 selective private schools in this census, Bellarmine ranks in the quarter with the most program families represented in its offerings. It is a school with broad offerings, not one concentrated in a single field. But 22 families represented in the report do not mean 22 programs in the current catalog—a family groups several programs, and some rows may report zero degrees for that year. Verify the exact program your child is interested in.
As for group size: the official ratio is 13 students per full-time-equivalent faculty member. It is a low figure in absolute terms, but compared with similar schools, it is above the median—both things are true at the same time, which is why I present them separately. This number does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class; it is an institutional ratio, not a classroom count.
What the institution says it offers beyond the classroom
Bellarmine reports several structured pathways: study abroad, teacher certification preparation below the college level, and state approval for initial teacher certification programs. These are opportunities reported by the institution—their presence in the report does not yet tell you how they work for your child’s program. Ask the appropriate academic office directly.
Getting in: how accessible it is and what they do require
Here we reach one of the most important figures. In the 2023 cycle, Bellarmine received 3,462 first-year applications and offered admission to 3,240. That is 94 out of every 100. It is one of the schools that does admit applicants: compared with the 942 selective private schools in this census, it ranks on the high side—seven out of ten of those schools admitted an equal or lower percentage. Only 222 of the 3,462 applicants did not receive an offer.
But the likelihood of getting in does not make what comes next easy. That percentage is for the entire school and a single cycle. It does not say how much it will cost, how many students finish, or whether the specific program your child wants has its own internal screening process. Ask those three questions separately.
Bellarmine does not have open admission—there are materials it reviews before saying yes. Of the nine considerations evaluated in this count, it marked five as required: the high school transcript, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory curriculum the university requires, letters of recommendation, and an English proficiency exam for applicants who need one. Other materials are not required but are considered if submitted: class rank, a personal essay, and work experience. The published application fee is $0.
One practical tip: letters of recommendation are required here. Request them a month in advance, and give the teacher a sheet listing what your child has done over the years—no one remembers everything without help.
As for standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains valid. Among the first-year students who enrolled, only 8 out of every 100 submitted an SAT score. Among that small group, the middle half scored between 535 and 613 in reading and writing, and between 540 and 630 in mathematics. But be careful: those ranges come from a small fraction of enrolled students, not all applicants, and they do not prove that a score was used to admit anyone. That 535 is not a minimum, and that 613 is not a guarantee.
Now, something many families do not distinguish and that matters greatly here: how many admitted students actually enroll. In the 2023 count, out of every 100 admitted students, only 20 enrolled at Bellarmine that fall. The other 80 had a place here and did not take it. It is a common proportion among similar schools—neither high nor low. And do not read it as a blemish: the fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean the school is bad. The federal record does not explain why each person made their decision. What does matter is this: what others decided does not tell you what Bellarmine will offer you. Wait for your letter with the net price—that is what the year will actually cost you—and then, with that number in hand, decide whether this school stays on the list.
As for transfers: among the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 22 out of every 100 transferred without completing here and enrolled at another institution. It is a common proportion among similar schools. Transferring is not the same as failing. But your child should know in advance how to request the records needed to leave if necessary. And if your child were to transfer in from another institution, this figure does not tell you how many courses Bellarmine would accept—that must be requested in writing, with the course list in hand, before your child transfers.
The price: what the list says and what families really pay
At Bellarmine University, among 75 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $18,542. Among 57 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $20,870; among 115 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $29,302. For dependent students, the range combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income range (75 students) and the highest-income range (115 students) is $10,760. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $24,432.
$18,542 was the average net price for the lowest-income families in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you decide whether it is worth requesting the aid letter.
None of these figures is a quote for your child. The income ranges in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The figure that matters is the aid letter sent to you. In the meantime, use the net price calculator on the school’s website.
Aid: almost everyone receives something, and debt is common
96 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received a grant, scholarship, or other aid that does not have to be repaid. That is common here, not the exception. Among those who received it, the average was $34,232 for the year. It is real money, but it is not a price: that average includes students who received much more and others who received much less. What determines the decision is not the size of the discount—it is what remains after aid.
The federal Pell Grant, which is intended for low-income families, reached 26 out of every 100 students.
And here is a figure you need to examine carefully, because it is one of the most important in this entire article: 52 out of every 100 Bellarmine undergraduate students received a federal student loan in the 2022-23 school year. Financing with debt is common here, not the exception. Among those who borrowed, each received an average of $6,755 that year. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year throughout the program’s four years, the total would be around $27,020—before interest and without including Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, or bank or credit card debt. That figure is decided before the first signature, not at the end.
This percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would need to borrow comes from their own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
As for ways to pay: the institution reports offering an installment tuition payment plan as a way to manage the cost throughout the year.
Campus life, sports, and support
Bellarmine does have institution-controlled housing, with reported capacity for 1,119 students, either on or off campus. It is not universally required for all first-time, full-time students, although that does not rule out the possibility that a specific program may require it. Bellarmine also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. The existence of the option does not guarantee a bed or a place—ask in writing for this year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or there is a waiting list.
If your child is interested in ROTC, Bellarmine reported two available branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked. Being reported is not the same as being accepted, nor does it tell you whether the program is taken on this campus or another one. Ask about it by name before building your child’s plan around that path.
In sports, Bellarmine competes and is affiliated with the NCAA—it reports membership in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. If your child wants to play, contact the coach for the specific sport directly: ask whether there is a place available, which division they compete in, and whether that sport awards scholarships. Get the answer in writing.
As for distance education: the institution offers it at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, but in the fall count, only 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all of their classes at a distance. The other 99 took at least one class in person. Bellarmine also reported having at least one complete program that can be finished at a distance—confirm the level and specific program before assuming it applies to your child’s.
The library operates with employed staff, spending above the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government, a physical and digital collection, and interlibrary loan. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it has the specific databases for your child’s program—ask using the program’s name.
Finally, the institution reports support such as combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans organization, and a webpage dedicated to services for people with disabilities.
Do they stay? Do they graduate?
Of the cohort that entered in fall 2022 as first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students—546 students—410 met the official retention criterion the following year: they were still enrolled here or had already completed the degree. That is 75 out of every 100. Compared with 930 selective private schools in this census, Bellarmine ranks slightly below the group’s midpoint.
Two clarifications matter here and are almost never said aloud. First, this count includes only those who began as bachelor’s-degree-seeking students, no one else. Second, not returning is not the same as dropping out. In this figure, a student who transferred to another university and continues studying there counts the same as one who stopped studying altogether.
As for graduation: IPEDS followed 679 first-time, full-time students who began bachelor’s-degree programs at Bellarmine in 2017. After six years, 460 had earned a degree there—68 out of every 100. After four years, the figure falls to 59 out of every 100; the difference between the two time frames is 9 points, and it tells you something simple: many students who do graduate take a little more than four years to do so. Compared with 920 selective private schools in this census, at least half the group reported the same proportion or a lower one—Bellarmine ranks above the median.
There is more detail behind the six-year figure: of those 679 students, 460 completed the bachelor’s degree here, 146 transferred without completing and enrolled at another institution, 3 remained enrolled without finishing within the time frame, and 70 fell into the federal “no longer enrolled” category—which does not report the reason and may include people who graduated after the measured time limit.
And there is an eight-year figure that deserves special attention because it separates students according to whether they received a Pell Grant. Of the cohort that entered between July 2015 and June 2016, 67 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from Bellarmine by the August 2023 reporting date. But among those who received Pell—that is, students from lower-income families—only 53 out of every 100 left with a degree or certificate from here within those eight years. That is 18 points lower than the group that did not receive Pell. It is the starkest gap in this entire article, and it is worth stating plainly: if your family would qualify for Pell, this is a question you should ask the university directly—which assigned adviser is available, what emergency aid exists, and whether the institutional scholarship is renewed each year. Ask for the answer in writing.
What you now know, and what remains up to you
You now know an important part of the map: how Bellarmine admits students, what its sticker price is and what other families similar to yours have paid, how many students stay and how many graduate, and what support it reports offering. None of these numbers tells you whether this is the right university for your child. That depends on two other pieces that only you and your child can build: what your child wants to study and what they have done to get here, and what your family can and is willing to pay when the actual letter arrives.
If you are just beginning to build the list, this piece helps you decide whether Bellarmine is worth keeping on it. If you already have the admission letter in hand, this piece helps you ask the right questions before signing anything. And if you are about to decide, remember that the number that matters is not the one in this article—it is the one sent to you in writing with your child’s name on it.
Source: this information comes from data reported by Bellarmine University to the United States Department of Education’s IPEDS system and from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, corresponding to different years between 2015 and 2023-24 as indicated for each figure. Best College Aid does not represent Bellarmine University or the United States government.