LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 14, 2009) – Bellarmine University will welcome 610 new freshmen this fall, the highest number in the school's history and up from 567 last fall. The average ACT score has increased by nearly a full point to 24.91 up from 24.02 a year ago.
Projected enrollment for full-time undergraduates in the 2009-10 school year is 2,022. Final numbers will be available once the fall term begins.
"Our progress during a time of economic uncertainty reflects the academic quality and value we offer at Bellarmine," said Sean Ryan, vice president of enrollment management. "The increase is a milestone in Vision 2020, an ambitious plan for growth that includes enhancing student life and adding new schools and academic programs, while supporting the state's effort to double the number of Kentuckians with bachelor's degrees by 2020."
In anticipation of this growth, Bellarmine broke ground in May on its third new residence hall in three years. Siena Quarto -- the third building of the four-phase Siena Housing Project -- will have 129 beds in 68 rooms. Additionally, the school is re-designing its café and expanding the dining hall to be complete by the fall.
Just last week, President Joseph J. McGowan announced the creation of the new Bellarmine University Center for Regional Environmental Studies, which will support a new undergraduate program in environmental studies, campus-wide initiatives in environmental sustainability, new research agendas and the new Bellarmine Farm. Earlier this year, the university's board of trustees approved a new School of Communication that will open officially for the 2009-10 academic year. The school follows creation of the Institute for Media, Culture and Ethics in 2007 and the addition of the Master of Arts in Communication degree in 2008.
Bellarmine University is an independent Catholic university offering more than 50 majors, as well as graduate degree programs and a doctor of physical therapy. Forbes.com and the Princeton Review rank Bellarmine among America’s best institutions of higher learning, and U.S. News and World Report consistently ranks Bellarmine as a top tier university.
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