Bellarmine University Inc.
09/05/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2025 10:28
Bellarmine reports largest first-year class since 2017 as university marks 75th anniversary
Total enrollment surpasses 3,000 students for first time since 2021
Bellarmine University enters its 75th anniversary year with strong momentum, welcoming its largest first-year class since 2017 and surpassing 3,000 total enrolled students for the first time in four years. The university's Fall 2025 enrollment census - completed this week - shows growth across undergraduate, graduate, and transfer enrollment, alongside improved retention of students who arrived at Bellarmine last fall.
The incoming undergraduate class of 660 students is 22% larger than last year and is the second largest class in the past decade. The class is also Bellarmine's most diverse, at 39% students of color, and carries a median high school GPA of 3.6.
Fall 2025 Enrollment Highlights
| First-year undergraduates: 660 (largest since 2017; +22% year over year) |
| Median high school GPA: 3.6 |
| Total headcount: 3,078 (first time above 3,000 since 2021) |
| Graduate enrollment: 711 (highest since 2021; +10% year over year) |
| Incoming transfers: 90 (+18% year over year) |
| First-year retention (fall-to-fall): 78.7% (+3.6 percentage points year over year) |
Access & Affordability
| 66% of the incoming class is Pell-eligible and/or first-generation |
| Hope Kentucky Scholarships - combined with federal and Kentucky aid - make Bellarmine affordable for Kentucky students |
| Public Price Promise offers an affordability commitment for students across the nation |
Why it matters
| Growth and stability as Bellarmine marks its 75th anniversary |
| Strengthened pipelines of high-achieving students |
| Well-prepared graduates entering the region's workforce |
Of these new undergraduate students, 66% are Pell-eligible and/or first-generation, reflecting Bellarmine's mission to expand opportunity and create upward economic mobility.
Bellarmine's total student headcount rose to 3,078, exceeding the 3,000-student mark for the first time since 2021. Graduate enrollment reached 711, the highest since 2021 and a 10% increase year-over-year. The university also welcomed 90 new transfer students, representing an 18% increase from last year.
Student persistence is also on the rise. Bellarmine's first-year retention rate improved to 78.7%, up 3.6 percentage points from the prior year. This is a measure of how many students from last year's entering undergraduate class returned to Bellarmine this semester to continue their studies.
"This is a milestone moment for Bellarmine," said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine's president. "As we celebrate 75 years of our commitment to Catholic higher education, we are seeing real momentum in enrollment at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as with transfer students and retention. These results demonstrate that our mission is resonating with today's students as we make a Bellarmine education both accessible and transformative."
"This impressive growth is the result of hard work by people across the university who are dedicated to student success," said Lauren Keeling, vice president for enrollment, marketing and communication. "Families are choosing Bellarmine for undergraduate degrees because they see the value of an education that combines academic excellence, personalized support, and clear pathways to meaningful careers. Graduate students are choosing Bellarmine because we offer them a distinct competitive advantage as they prepare for the next step in their careers. We are proud to welcome this large group of new students that reflect both the strength of our programs and the promise of our mission."
Bellarmine's progress comes alongside several recent national recognitions:
- In 2024, the university became one of just 368 institutions to earn the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
- Earlier this year, Bellarmine was designated an "Opportunity College - Higher Access, Higher Earnings" by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, placing it among just 16% of colleges nationally recognized for exceptional work in expanding college access while delivering strong career outcomes.
- Last month, Washington Monthly recognized Bellarmine as one of the top 75 universities in the nation for demonstrating a commitment to service as a major component of university life.
- Bellarmine is consistently ranked among the nation's top colleges and universities, appearing on the most recent lists published by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes, Washington Monthly, Niche, and Money Magazine, among others.
The university has also expanded scholarship support, including the Hope Kentucky Scholars program, which- when combined with federal and state aid - makes Bellarmine a surprisingly affordable choice for Kentucky students. And Bellarmine matches the price of each state's flagship public university through its Public Price Promise, ensuring affordable access to a private college education for students across the nation.
Bellarmine graduates continue to achieve unrivaled career outcomes. Among last year's graduates, 99% were employed or pursuing advanced education within six months of commencement, with 97% of those working already employed in their chosen career field. Bellarmine alumni consistently earn more on average than graduates from any other Kentucky institution. Over a lifetime, a Bellarmine education delivers a $1.93 million return on investment.
Bellarmine has developed expertise in crafting high-quality online and hybrid degree and certificate programs that don't lose the university's signature personal touch, with 25 online and hybrid credentials currently available at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. In response to student demand and national trends, programs the university launches over the next few years will generally be developed for online delivery, often including some important campus-based experiences. That approach, combined with pathways to local employment that Bellarmine can offer through extensive partnerships, has made its online product compelling in the region.
Explore Bellarmine's enrollment performance in the university's interactive data book.
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