Bellarmine University
#1 Best Nursing Colleges in Kentucky- Graduation Rate
- 66% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $62,069 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $21,499 D+
- 25% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 86% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Nursing Colleges in Kentucky.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,557,646.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 52% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Bellarmine University Matters
Bellarmine University is a private doctoral / professional university in Louisville, KY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 2,161
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Bellarmine University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 86% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1030–1250. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $21,499 a year after grants and scholarships — 25% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,069 ten years after enrolling — 52% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 80% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.66 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky is a solid choice for students interested in fields like Health Professions, Business, Psychology, Biology, and Communications. With an acceptance rate of 86%, it welcomes a diverse array of learners, making it a fitting option for those seeking a supportive academic environment. The focus on these top programs means students are well-prepared for careers in growing industries, emphasizing practical skills and real-world applications.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $62,069 within ten years. This figure is quite encouraging, especially when we consider the relatively affordable path to graduation here. While the graduation rate stands at 66%, many graduates find themselves in good positions to advance in their careers, underscoring that the education received can lead to significant earning potential.
When looking at the practical aspects, the net price after aid is approximately $21,499, and the median debt for graduates is $25,000. This balance between cost and earnings makes it a manageable investment for many families. Students who thrive here typically take advantage of the supportive community and the focused academic programs, positioning themselves well for future success.
Rankings
- #1 Best Nursing Colleges in Kentucky
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Kentucky
- #8 Best Biology Colleges in Kentucky
- #9 Best Online Colleges in Kentucky
- #10 Best Colleges in Kentucky
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in Kentucky
- #11 Best Bachelor's Programs in Kentucky
- #11 Best Master's Programs in Kentucky
Can I Get In?
How selective Bellarmine University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bellarmine University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Louisville, Kentucky, Bellarmine University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,210. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1210
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1030–1250
- ACT Range
- 23–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 49%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,508
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 27%
- Applicants
- 3,878
- Admitted
- 3,404
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bellarmine University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bellarmine University is $48,770, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,499. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,430 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $48,770
- Out-of-State
- $48,770
- Avg Net Price
- $21,499
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 49%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,430
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,358
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,391
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,194
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bellarmine University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bellarmine University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bellarmine University earn a median of $62,069, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,819
- 8 Years
- $55,131
- 10 Years
- $62,069
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 76%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (362)
- 55%
- 100% (362)
- 55%
- 100% (362)
- 55%
- 100% (362)
- 55%
How Bellarmine Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Bellarmine University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bellarmine University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,499/year ($85,996 total). Graduates earn $62,069 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,643,642 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,557,646 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 66% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $85,996
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,643,642
- Net Return
- $1,557,646
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $21,499
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 66%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Bellarmine University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bellarmine University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.94%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 31.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,419
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,575,446
- Investment Income
- $-4,482,699
Top Programs
The fields Bellarmine University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $71,396 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $65,959 early-career
- Psychology 10% $29,591 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 7% $28,016 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $27,870 early-career
- Education 5% $42,420 early-career
- Communications 4% $42,453 early-career
- Criminal Justice 3% $42,081 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bellarmine University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bellarmine University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Louisville, Kentucky, Bellarmine University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,210. The graduation rate is roughly 66%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bellarmine University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bellarmine University is $48,770, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $21,499. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,430 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Bellarmine University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bellarmine University earn a median of $62,069, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Bellarmine University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bellarmine University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 3% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Bellarmine University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bellarmine University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bellarmine University.
- Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN · Close peer67% grad $59,986 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN · Close peer69% grad $63,191 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Marian UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer64% grad $58,759 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · Close peer68% grad $60,123 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · Close peer86% grad $63,756 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer73% grad $63,764 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bellarmine University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Bellarmine University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.66, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note