Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Bellarmine University #780 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,539 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bellarmine University in the 64.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #497 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Bellarmine University's Azimuth ranking reflects its ability to deliver strong graduate outcomes relative to cost paid. These outcomes span graduates entering healthcare and business careers as well as those pursuing high-earning sectors.
Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #780 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Louisville, Kentucky, Bellarmine University enrolls roughly 2,161 undergraduates. Retention is 75.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.4%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Bellarmine University delivers consistent outcomes across its academic portfolio, anchored in health sciences and related professional fields. Graduates earn about $1,539 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bellarmine University in the 64.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #497 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in health professions, where demand and earnings remain stable, contributes to predictable long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability round out the composite profile. Bellarmine University sits in the 40.4 percentile for access and the 42.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 30.7% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 27.3% first-generation, the university serves a meaningful share of students from lower-income and first-generation backgrounds. Mobility outcomes for these students rank in the 35.5 percentile, indicating that Bellarmine University supports upward economic progress for graduates across income levels.
Published cost of attendance is $61,691. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $18,430, middle-income families pay around $17,391, higher-income families pay approximately $29,194. Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #817 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 42.7 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,564, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Bellarmine University is a strong fit for students drawn to Health fields who want a private university experience in KY, South. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,564, placing Bellarmine University in the 64.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $1,539 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 64.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 30.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.3% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place it in the 71.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 86.1% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Health fields over others. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Bellarmine University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $61,691. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $18,430, middle-income families pay around $17,391, higher-income families pay approximately $29,194.
Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #817 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 42.7 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,000.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,564, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Bellarmine University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,564, placing Bellarmine University in the 64.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,539 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Bellarmine University in the 64.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Bellarmine University #497 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Bellarmine University's concentration in health and allied fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 113 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $82,814, performing at 0.9× the national CIP benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 76 students earning $53,413, and the The Business Administration program graduates 61 students earning $63,991.
These three programs anchor the institution's economic profile, with Health representing the dominant degree concentration. The combination of stable enrollment in health professions and consistent early-career earnings supports Bellarmine University's above-average return on investment positioning among comparable private institutions.
Finance and Financial Management Services
15 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
113 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
9 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
61 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
53 graduates
Bellarmine University's program mix is anchored in health professions and nursing — a signature aligned with the institution's Catholic mission and Louisville's healthcare employment landscape. Nursing is the largest program with 113 graduates annually, followed by Psychology, General, Business Administration, Kinesiology, and Communication and Media Studies.
Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings aligned with professional healthcare and business pathways. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's concentration in applied health and professional fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $82,814 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $63,991, Kinesiology at $61,841, Psychology, General at $53,413, and Criminal Justice at $51,527. These earnings reflect the direct-to-workforce pathways typical of nursing, health sciences, and business administration programs, where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles immediately after completion.
Health represents the institution's primary academic focus, positioning Bellarmine University as a professional-preparation university in a major healthcare market. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in healthcare and related fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regent University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#22515 ranked) | VA | 38% | $44,498 | #22515 | Compare |
Trocaire College Similar quality tier (#22522 ranked) | NY | 97% | $55,318 | #22522 | Compare |
Olivet Nazarene University Similar quality tier (#22511 ranked) | IL | 56% | $53,213 | #22511 | Compare |
Dickinson College Similar quality tier (#22551 ranked) | PA | 42% | $70,204 | #22551 | Compare |
Husson University Similar quality tier (#22494 ranked) | ME | 81% | $45,025 | #22494 | Compare |
