Merit awards serve to recognize individual students for their academic talent, service, or leadership achievements. Award amounts are determined on an individual basis and celebrate the strength and achievements of each admitted student, in and out of the classroom. One hundred percent of incoming first-year students receive institutional gift-aid assistance. Our investment in student gift-aid assistance totals more than $23 million for entering students. Priority consideration is given to students who submit their application for admission in accordance with stated deadlines. Institutional scholarships and grants may be used to pay Bellarmine tuition only, unless otherwise specified, and are awarded on a full-academic year (2 semesters), fall and spring semesters only. Please note, Bellarmine scholarships may have to be reduced if you receive awards from outside sources that are specified as tuition specific awards. Below are Bellarmine's merit scholarships.
Bellarmine Scholars and Bellarmine Fellows Awards
The Bellarmine Scholars and Bellarmine Fellows awards, awarded to entering first-year students, are Bellarmine’s most prestigious academic scholarships. This award requires a completed application for admission and scholarship application. Please apply by December 1 to be considered for this award.
Scarlet Scholarships
Bellarmine awards Scarlet Scholarships to entering first-year students based on the admissions application. Awards are based on review of the admission application, there is no separate application process. The priority deadline to apply is February 1. The Scarlet Scholarship amount is determined by the strength of a student's application. The minimum credentials include a strong academic profile and extracurricular involvements. Students must maintain full-time enrollment status to maintain this award, and the award only covers tuition costs during the fall and spring semesters. If you qualify, this award will be reflected in your initial scholarship offer that is awarded upon admission.
Kentucky Governor Scholarships
BU awards Governor Scholars Scholarships to entering first-year students who completed the GSP, GSE, or GSA program. This scholarship is only available for full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters, and is renewable with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. This award will be based on your indication of participation in the GSP, GSE, or GSA programs, there is no separate application process. If you qualify, this award will be reflected in your initial scholarship offer that is awarded upon admission.
Bellarmine Need-Based Grants
Bellarmine offers Need-Based Grants to entering first-year students who have unmet financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Need-Based Grants are determined and awarded by Bellarmine based on the students' FAFSA data and eligibility for other financial aid programs. These grants are available to cover tuition for full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters, and students must file a FAFSA each year for continued eligibility. If you qualify, these awards will be reflected once your final comprehensive award is determined based on FAFSA.
Public Price Promise
For qualifying students (at least a 3.5 un-weighted GPA), we will match the current direct cost of your state’s flagship university – that’s often your state’s largest, oldest university. Learn more about qualifying here. These scholarships are available for full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters, and students must live on campus each year for continued eligibility. If you qualify, these awards will be reflected in your final comprehensive award.
100 Black Men Scholarship Program
Bellarmine University and the 100 Black Men Program have partnered to make available The Bellarmine University 100 Black Men Scholarship Award. This award is combined with federal and state scholarships and grants (PELL, SEOG, CAP, KTG and KEES) to cover full Bellarmine tuition not including room and board or fees. This award is available for a maximum of 8 semesters of full-time enrollment and students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. To be considered, you are strongly encouraged to submit both your application to Bellarmine and the separate scholarship application by our priority deadline of January 15th. For more information, contact Joshua O.D. Williams at 502.272.8136 or jwilliams4@bellarmine.edu.
Black Achievers Scholarship Program
Bellarmine University and the YMCA Black Achievers Program have partnered to make available The Bellarmine University Black Achievers Scholarship Award. Students who are active in the Louisville Black Achievers program are eligible for consideration. This award is available for a maximum of 8 semesters of full-time enrollment if a student maintains a 2.5 GPA. To be considered, you are strongly encouraged to submit both your application to Bellarmine and the separate scholarship application by our priority deadline of January 15th. For more information, contact Joshua O.D. Williams at 502.272.8136 or jwilliams4@bellarmine.edu.
Legacy Scholarship
Bellarmine offers an automatic $1,000 Legacy Scholarship to all incoming legacy students. The scholarship is good for all four years of an undergraduate education for a total of $4,000. Those applying to Bellarmine will have the opportunity, during the application process, to identify themselves as legacy students. Once their legacy status has been confirmed, and once they have been admitted to the university, students will be awarded and notified. This scholarship initiative is not retroactive and is only available to incoming students. Recipients will be invited to apply for the competitive Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship, as well.
Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship
The Bellarmine University Alumni Board of Directors awards Alumni Legacy Scholarships to entering first-year legacy students based on the admissions application and financial need. A legacy student is defined as a child, grandchild, stepchild, or step-grandchild of a Bellarmine or Ursuline graduate. The deadline to apply is February 1. Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment status. Scholarship awards are a minimum of $4,000 ($1,000/year). Learn more on our Alumni site.
Career Pathways Scholarship Program
With a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Bellarmine University is creating a scholarship program to recruit high-achieving students into the STEM disciplines of computer engineering, computer science, mathematics and data science. The STEM Career Pathways Scholarship program will award annual scholarships of $7,200 each to two groups of 11 academically talented students for four years. You must apply separately for this scholarship by February 1st. If you are chosen for this award, you will be notified.
Century Scholars Scholarship Program
Bellarmine has created a program to develop a pathway to Bellarmine for high-achieving college-bound students who attend eight local high schools: Butler Traditional High School, Central High School, Doss High School, Iroquois High School, Seneca High School, The Academy at Shawnee, Waggener High School, Western High School. This award is available for a maximum of 8 semesters of full-time enrollment if a student maintains the scholarship program requirements. To be considered, you are strongly encouraged to submit both your application to Bellarmine and the separate scholarship application by our priority deadline of January 15th. For more information, contact Joshua O.D. Williams at 502.272.8136 or jwilliams4@bellarmine.edu.
Lincoln Foundation - Whitney M. Young Scholarship Program
Bellarmine University and the Lincoln Foundation's Whitney M. Young Scholars Program have partnered to make available The Whitney M. Young Scholars Award. This award is combined with federal and state scholarships and grants (PELL, SEOG, CAP, KTG and KEES) to cover full Bellarmine tuition not including room and board or fees. This award is available for a maximum of 8 semesters of full-time enrollment and students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA. To be considered, you are strongly encouraged to submit both your application to Bellarmine and the separate scholarship application by our priority deadline of January 15th. For more information, contact Joshua O.D. Williams at 502.272.8136 or jwilliams4@bellarmine.edu.
Trustee Scholarship
Bellarmine awards a $1,500 annual scholarship to incoming first-year students who complete an official campus visit and file their FAFSA before may 1st. This award is renewable for 4 years of undergraduate enrollment. To qualify you must visit campus, and file FAFSA, this award will be reflected in your comprehensive award upon receipt of the FAFSA.
Transfer: Silver Scholarship
Bellarmine awards transfer grants to students who transfer from an accredited institution of higher education and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Awards are based on review of the admission application, there is no separate application process. If you qualify, this award will be reflected in your initial scholarship offer that is awarded upon admission.
Endowed Scholarships
Endowed scholarships are financial assistance to Bellarmine students provided by friends and alumni of the university.