Bellarmine University’s incoming class of 634 students -- its largest entering class since 2018 -- reflects a 16% enrollment increase over the prior year. The students come from 28 U.S. states and nine countries. 
 
The Class of 2027 is not just larger than recent entering classes. Gains were made in three key areas that reflect Bellarmine’s mission to make a transformative education accessible to all qualified students:
  • 44% are first-generation college students, up 17% over last year. These students will become the first generation of their families to earn a four-year degree.
  • 46% are Pell Grant-eligible, up 13% over last year. Students who are eligible for Pell Grants demonstrate high financial need based on federal student aid eligibility requirements. 
  • 33% are students of color, a 6% gain year-over-year and the largest number in Bellarmine's history. 
These are the first undergraduate students to enroll since the university announced Bellarmine Forward, a plan that positions Bellarmine as the region’s premier institution for well-rounded, career-ready graduates who benefit from a liberal arts education.
 
“This uptick in enrollment tells me that students are continuing to search for a values-based, holistic education in the liberal arts that prepares them for meaningful lives and rewarding careers,” said Bellarmine's president, Dr. Susan M. Donovan.
 
Bellarmine's total undergraduate and graduate enrollment for 2023-24 is 3,002.