Bellarmine University
Louisville, Kentucky · Private Nonprofit · 86.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bellarmine University scores 68 (Fair Value). Registered Nursing (142 graduates, $70,544 year one) is the clear earnings anchor - without it, the institutional median would fall further. Psychology (71 graduates), Kinesiology (52 graduates), and Biology (31 graduates) all carry D-grade debt-to-earnings ratios, and International Relations (18 graduates) approaches 1.0 debt-to-earnings at year one. The 82.8% repayment rate at seven years is a relative positive.
Bellarmine University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,770/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,770/yr |
| Average net price | $21,499/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,996 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,069 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,161 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $48,770/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,499/year, or roughly $85,996 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,430/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,194/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,100) and comes to 0.58, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,430 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,358 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,391 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,987 |
| $110,001+ | $29,194 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays $18,430 per year. For Bellarmine nursing students, the investment is defensible at this price. For other programs, it is not.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,391 - unusual in that it is lower than the $30,001-$48,000 bracket ($19,358), reflecting a step in the aid formula. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $21,987. Middle-income families in nursing are getting reasonable value; middle-income families in most other programs face a weaker value case.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $29,194 per year - $116,776 over four years. Against $43,100 average six-year earnings, the full-price ROI case at Bellarmine is weak outside of nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Bellarmine University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $82,814 | B |
| Psychology | $53,413 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,991 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $61,841 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,665 | D |
| Biology | $29,253 | D |
| Teacher Education | $43,808 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $84,262 | - |
| Special Education and Teaching | $40,785 | C |
| International Relations | $52,228 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (142 graduates) earns $70,544 year one and $82,814 year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.437. This is Bellarmine's largest program and its only reliably strong financial outcome. Median debt of $30,800 is notably higher than the institutional average, but RN wages in the Louisville healthcare market - home to Humana, Norton Healthcare, and Baptist Health - absorb this debt comfortably. Nursing is the primary financial justification for choosing Bellarmine.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (57 graduates) earns $41,061 year one and $63,991 year four with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.633. At a $21,499 net price, these numbers are marginal. The four-year figure of $63,991 is adequate.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (52 graduates) earns $30,236 year one and $61,841 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.858 and $25,944 median debt. The wide year-one to year-four gap suggests most graduates enter graduate programs in physical therapy, athletic training, or occupational therapy - which means significant additional borrowing beyond the $25,944 undergraduate figure. Students planning health professional school should model total debt, not just undergraduate costs.
Psychology
Psychology (71 graduates) earns $29,028 year one and $53,413 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.909 and $26,376 median debt. Graduates carry nearly a full year's earnings in debt and earn wages in year one that barely cover loan servicing. Students not planning graduate school in clinical psychology or a related licensed field should consider whether this program at this price is the right choice.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (27 graduates) earns $38,469 year one and $43,808 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.702 and $27,000 median debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bellarmine University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 86.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,161 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,508 |
Bellarmine admits 86.1% of applicants with SAT Math 520-620 and Reading 510-630, ACT composite 23-28. Financial aid comparison is essential given the $48,770 sticker price.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Bellarmine's score is 68.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellarmine University (this school) | 68 | $21,499 | $62,069 |
| Wheaton College | 70 | $26,975 | $63,756 |
| Saint Peter's University | 68 | $12,199 | $57,815 |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent | 68 | $21,696 | $65,756 |
| Asbury University | 29 | $21,401 | $42,368 |
| Alice Lloyd College | 18 | $18,600 | $40,573 |
Who Thrives Here
Bellarmine fits students who want a small (2,161 students) Catholic residential environment in Louisville and are entering nursing, business, or allied health programs where earnings support the cost. Students choosing kinesiology, psychology, biology, or communications at Bellarmine's price point need to be in graduate school pipelines or accept slow debt repayment in early career. The 86.1% acceptance rate is broadly accessible.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Bellarmine University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $21,499 a year after aid ($85,996 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,069 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Bellarmine University: Common Questions
Is Bellarmine University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Bellarmine University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,499 a year after aid ($85,996 over four years) against $62,069 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Bellarmine University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $21,499 a year, or roughly $85,996 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Bellarmine University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,069 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,269 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Bellarmine University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.3 years for Bellarmine University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bellarmine University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Bellarmine University?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.