What Bellarmine University does

Bellarmine University is a private Catholic university founded in 1950 and located on a single campus in Louisville, Kentucky. The institution offers more than 60 undergraduate majors alongside graduate and online programs spanning liberal arts, business, health sciences (including Physical Therapy and Clinical Psychology), and professional fields. It is organized as a nonprofit entity governed by a self-perpetuating lay Board of Trustees, with revenue derived primarily from tuition, fees, room and board, grants, and donations rather than from external shareholders or private capital.

The university's operational backbone is a suite of third-party digital platforms rather than proprietary technology. Students access the Bellarmine Experience (built on Ellucian Cloud) for course management, Handshake for career services and employer recruiting, Engage for student organizations, Accommodate for disability accommodations, GivePulse for community engagement tracking, and a Knights Engage mobile application for campus life. The institution also runs a Center for Community Engagement (established 2020) and the IMPACT program, which integrates faculty advisors, career coaches, and peer mentors to support career readiness.

Revenue is generated through annual subscription-style tuition billing at $50,660 for 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition and fees, plus $5,250 for double-occupancy housing and $5,520 for dining. The go-to-market motion is traditional higher education admissions: direct application, campus visits, merit-based scholarships, and the "Public Price Promise" that matches the cost of Kentucky's flagship public university. The HOPE Kentucky Scholars program further reduces cost barriers for Pell-eligible in-state students. Named customer-type references in the data (individual students and community partners) reinforce the consumer-facing, education-services nature of the business. Reported operational metrics include a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 99% graduate employment within 6 months of graduation, 20,000+ annual student volunteer hours, and a 25% year-over-year increase in summer enrollment.

Name

Bellarmine University

Legal name

Bellarmine University

Website

https://bellarmine.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky, founded in 1950, offering 60+ undergraduate and graduate programs with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, differentiated by its Public Price Promise that matches public university costs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Liberal arts education
• Career readiness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition. For 2026-2027, tuition and fees are $50,660 annually. Additional fees include a $400 matriculation fee for first-time full-time students.
2. Room and Board: Revenue from student housing and dining services. Housing costs $5,250 (double occupancy) and food costs $5,520 annually.
3. Financial Aid Discounts: University provides merit-based scholarships, HOPE Kentucky Scholars program for Pell-eligible Kentucky students, and institutional aid to reduce net tuition revenue while increasing enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bellarmine University is a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and online degree programs across 60+ areas of study grounded in a liberal arts and inclusive Catholic tradition. The university bundles tuition-based academic instruction with on-campus housing, dining, career development (IMPACT), community engagement, accessibility, counseling, and athletic programs. Revenue is driven primarily by tuition, fees, and room and board, supplemented by donations and grants.

Product overview

Bellarmine University operates as a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky, offering a suite of integrated digital platforms for student academic and campus life management. The core student-facing ecosystem includes Bellarmine Experience (EllucianCloud) for academic portal and course management, Handshake for career services and employer recruiting, Engage for student activities and registered student organization management, Accommodate for disability services, GivePulse for community engagement tracking, and the Knights Engage mobile application. These platforms work together to support over 60 academic programs across undergraduate, graduate, and online modalities while providing co-curricular services including career development, accessibility resources, mental health counseling, and civic engagement opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Liberal arts-rooted undergraduate degrees across 60+ majors with complementary minors, dual degree options, and career readiness support through the IMPACT program. Designed for first-year and transfer students. 2026-2027 tuition and fees total $50,660 annually, with a $400 matriculation fee for first-time full-time students.
• Graduate and Professional Degree Programs Advanced degrees including MS in Clinical Psychology, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Executive MBA, and nursing programs for students seeking specialized credentials and professional development.
• Online Degree Programs Flexible online and accelerated courses available across summer and select graduate programs, allowing remote students to stay on track or get ahead in their degree programs. Summer enrollment grew 25% in the most recent year.
• On-Campus Housing (Residence Life) Student housing in residence halls including Kennedy Hall, Newman Hall, Siena Primo Hall, and Siena Secondo Hall at $5,250 annually (double occupancy), with a $50 Residence Hall fee included.
• Dining Services Campus meal plan service providing food and dining for residential and commuter students at $5,520 annually.
• IMPACT Program Career and life readiness program providing a network of faculty and professional advisors plus career and peer coaches who help students discover passion and purpose and develop into career-ready graduates.
• Community Engagement and Service-Learning Programs Experiential learning offerings through the Center for Community Engagement, including Alternative Spring Break, Community Impact Fellows, RISE tutoring, Knights in Action, and the BU250 community-based practicum that awards one credit hour for 30 hours of work with a nonprofit partner.
• Public Price Promise Financial Aid Program Financial aid program that offers a private school experience for a public school price by matching the overall cost of Kentucky's flagship university. Combined with merit-based scholarships for all incoming first-year students, 100% of first-year students receive financial aid.
• HOPE Kentucky Scholars Program Full-cost scholarship program for Pell- and state aid-eligible Kentucky high school graduates, allowing qualified Kentucky students to attend Bellarmine at no cost.
• BA in Arts Administration: Dance Bachelor of Arts degree combining professional ballet training with asynchronous online academic coursework, developed in partnership with Louisville Ballet. Designed for Studio Company and professional company dancers to complete degrees alongside performances and community outreach.
• Continuing and Professional Education Continuing and professional education programs supporting adult learners and working professionals seeking ongoing skill development.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louisville BalletcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2026Bellarmine University and Louisville Ballet partnered to launch a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration: Dance degree program. The program integrates intensive professional ballet training with asynchronous online academic coursework, allowing Studio Company and professional company dancers to complete degrees while engaged in performances and community outreach. Launching August 2026.
• Thrive CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to advance aging technology through testing, feedback, and partnerships. Organizations work together emphasizing infrastructure, data management, and security to support innovative solutions for older adults and caregivers.
• CDWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner collaborating with Thrive Center and Bellarmine University on aging tech innovation, providing infrastructure and technology solutions.
• Metro United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through grant funding to support RISE (Road to Ignite Student Excellence) tutoring program connecting Bellarmine undergraduate students with K-12 students for academic support. Metro United Way funding provides $20/hour compensation for tutors.
• Knights PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus food pantry locations at Centro Treece Hall 224 and Siena Terzo 117 providing supplemental food items to students, faculty, and staff at no cost. Operated in partnership with the Center for Community Engagement.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hanover College: Private liberal arts college in southeastern Indiana serving the Indiana/Kentucky border region with similar size and undergraduate focus. Closely comparable peer for tuition, outcomes narrative, and liberal arts mission.
• Spalding University: Private Catholic university located in Louisville, Kentucky, serving a similar undergraduate and graduate student base with comparable program mix and tuition positioning. Direct same-market competitor with overlapping mission and admissions funnel.
• Thomas More University: Private Catholic liberal arts university in Northern Kentucky serving the Greater Cincinnati region, with comparable size, Catholic identity, and tuition pricing. Closely comparable peer in mission, student profile, and program breadth.
• Georgetown College: Private Christian liberal arts college in Georgetown, Kentucky, similar in size, Kentucky market focus, and program mix. Comparable peer for tuition positioning and recruitment geography.
• University of Evansville: Private university in Evansville, Indiana with Methodist affiliation, similar size and liberal arts plus professional programs. Comparable peer for tuition pricing, programs, and Indiana/regional recruitment.
• Marian University: Private Catholic university in Indianapolis, Indiana, similar in size and Catholic mission with comparable undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable peer for affordability strategy and Catholic identity positioning.
• Mount St. Joseph University: Private Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio with comparable size, Catholic identity, and program mix including nursing, education, and liberal arts. Comparable peer for tuition, Catholic mission, and Greater Cincinnati recruitment overlap.

Broad incumbents

• University of Louisville: Public research university located in the same Louisville market, the primary competitor against which the Public Price Promise is benchmarked. Drives pricing expectations and competition for the same Kentucky student pool.
• University of Kentucky: Kentucky's flagship public research university, the explicit benchmark for Bellarmine's Public Price Promise. Sets the affordability ceiling and competes for in-state students across undergraduate and graduate programs.

Regional players

• Spalding University Online / Sullivan University: Private for-profit university headquartered in Louisville with strong online and career-focused program portfolio. Competes for non-traditional and adult learners in the same regional market, particularly in online modalities where Bellarmine is expanding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bellarmineu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bellarmineuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/40578942195
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bellarmine-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/bellarmineu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bellarmine University