University earns top marks for making college accessible and creating strong earnings outcomes for grads
Bellarmine University has been designated an “Opportunity College and University – Higher Access, Higher Earnings” by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, placing it among a select group of institutions nationally
recognized for fostering student success and creating upward economic mobility.
Bellarmine is among just 16% of all colleges and universities to earn this distinction. This classification recognizes institutions that provide both high levels of college access for underserved student populations and strong earnings outcomes for graduates.
The Carnegie Classification report notes that universities like Bellarmine receiving this designation “can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success.”
“Bellarmine is honored to be recognized for the transformational impact of our mission, educating students of all backgrounds to build successful futures,” said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “This designation affirms
our commitment to academic excellence in the tradition of Catholic higher education, career and life readiness, and providing pathways to upward mobility for all of our students. The superior outcomes we create for our graduates reflect our commitment
to help ensure that Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky excel.”
The new classification evaluates institutions on two critical measures, with scores of lower, medium or higher assigned to each:
- Access: whether colleges and universities enroll student populations reflective of the communities they serve, based on federal Pell Grant eligibility and student demographics. Pell eligibility is a measure of students who demonstrate high financial
need to attend college. Bellarmine’s designation is “higher.”
- Earnings: whether their graduates earn competitive wages compared to peers in the local labor market, eight years after entry. Bellarmine’s designation is “higher.”
Bellarmine excels on both fronts. Half of Bellarmine undergraduate students are Pell-eligible, first-generation or students of color. At the same time, 99% of Bellarmine graduates are employed or pursuing further education within six months of commencement,
an outcome that is 14% higher than the average for all U.S. colleges and universities. They also earn more than graduates from any other Kentucky institution—a difference that grows over time to ultimately create a $1.93 million return on
investment for a Bellarmine degree.
The Carnegie Classification report also notes Bellarmine’s recent 2025 institutional classification as a “Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate” university. This highlights the university’s distinctive blend
of liberal arts education and professional preparation, offering a comprehensive range of programs at all degree levels.
This recognition aligns with Bellarmine’s IMPACT initiative, which provides personalized pathways to success through mentoring, hands-on experiences, and a focus on engagement, belonging, wellness, and purpose. It also underscores the university’s
ongoing efforts to expand access and affordability through programs like
Bellarmine Direct, the
Public Price Promise and the
Hope Kentucky Scholars Program.