Bellarmine is a small Catholic university in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood, and it gives a scholarship to every incoming first-year student. Not most. Every one. There’s no application fee, your student can apply through the Common App or Bellarmine’s own application, and the school is test-optional. If your student does send scores, Bellarmine accepts superscores.
The typical admitted student carries about a 3.7 GPA, but Bellarmine says it usually admits students from a 2.5 GPA up. Here’s the part families miss: Bellarmine’s biggest awards and its best price deals each run on their own rules and their own calendar. At this school, timing and paperwork move more money than test scores do.
Bellarmine Scholar (full ride) & Fellow (full tuition), 5 each
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Bellarmine (Read This First)
The full-ride deadline has a hidden prerequisite. The Bellarmine Scholar and Fellow applications are due December 1, but your student has to be admitted before December 1 to apply. Admission is rolling, so aim for the November 1 Early Action date or earlier.
Test-optional stops at the Honors door. Admission doesn’t need scores, but the Honors Program lists a 28 ACT or 1250 SAT minimum. That’s the gateway to the two biggest scholarships.
Bellarmine money pays tuition only. Institutional scholarships cover fall and spring tuition unless a program says otherwise. If your student wins an outside scholarship earmarked for tuition, Bellarmine may reduce its own award.
The Public Price Promise has fine print. It’s priced against flagship costs from September 2020, requires living on campus all four years, and disappears if your student wins a Scholar or Fellow award.
The easiest $6,000 needs a visit. The $1,500-a-year Trustee Scholarship only goes to students who complete an official campus visit and file the FAFSA before May 1.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Bellarmine University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-27; SAT: 1060-1260.
Average net price? About $24,000/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No — private school; same rate for all.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Bellarmine University 2026-2027
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$52,260
$52,260
Housing & Meals (typical)
$11,770
$11,770
Total (Direct Costs)
$64,030
$64,030
Average Federal Net Price: $24,000 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
One Price for Every State
Bellarmine is private, so there’s no in-state or out-of-state split. A family in Indiana, Tennessee, or Ohio sees the same sticker price as a family in Louisville. What changes by state is the Public Price Promise, which is matched to the flagship in your home state, and HOPE Kentucky, which is only for Kentucky residents.
📚 Books Are Already in the Tuition
Bellarmine builds books, supplies, and course materials into full-time undergraduate tuition through its OnCourse program. That’s why its budget shows $0 for books. At most colleges you’d add $1,000 or more a year for books, so keep that in mind when you compare costs side by side.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Bellarmine University
Why does your tuition number differ from Bellarmine’s website?
Bellarmine’s tuition page lists $50,660 as “tuition and fees,” but its own cost worksheet shows that’s tuition alone. Every full-time student also pays an $800-per-semester comprehensive fee. That fee covers activities, technology, printing, and parking. Together that’s $52,260 for the year, and that’s the number we use.
What does housing and food really cost?
Our figure is Bellarmine’s official budget: a mid-priced double room plus the largest meal plan. A first-year double in Kennedy, Newman, or the Siena halls with the smallest meal plan runs about $1,000 less. First-year students also pay a one-time $400 matriculation fee, which covers orientation.
What is the Public Price Promise, and does it cap what we pay?
For qualifying first-year students, Bellarmine lowers tuition, fees, housing, and food to what your home-state flagship charges. For Kentucky families, that’s the University of Kentucky. There are strings attached. You need a 3.5 unweighted GPA, unless you’re a Kentucky resident, where there’s no GPA requirement. You also have to live on campus all four years. And the match uses flagship prices from September 2020. Confirm it’s being offered for your student’s year, since Bellarmine quietly dropped it from its main scholarship list in 2026 while keeping its dedicated page up.
Can a Kentucky student go to Bellarmine tuition-free?
Yes, for some families. HOPE Kentucky Scholars covers 100% of tuition, the comprehensive fee, and textbooks after grants are applied. It’s for Kentucky residents who graduated from a Kentucky high school and qualify for Pell and state aid (CAP and KTG). Your student still pays for housing, meals, and the $400 matriculation fee. The FAFSA has to be in by March 1 every year.
Is the average net price what we’ll pay?
It’s a federal average from a prior year, not your price. Bellarmine itself tells families not to rely on it. Use the Scholarship Estimator for a quick merit preview, then the Net Price Calculator for a fuller picture. Both are linked in the Official Links section below.
Will the scholarship go up when tuition goes up?
Plan on no. Bellarmine scholarships are set as dollar amounts when your student is admitted and renew each year. Tuition increases usually aren’t matched by a bigger award. The Public Price Promise says outright that its award stays fixed for all four years.
November 1: Early Action. Apply here and the scholarship offer arrives in November. It also keeps the full-ride competition open.
December 1: Honors scholarship application due (Bellarmine Scholar and Fellow). Your student must already be admitted.
Early January: Invitations go out for the scholarship competition.
January 15: Priority date for Louisville Century Scholars and the Whitney M. Young Scholars Award.
Early February: Scholars and Fellows competition weekend.
February 1: Scarlet Scholarship priority date and the Alumni Association Legacy application deadline.
March 1: FAFSA deadline for HOPE Kentucky.
May 1: Official campus visit and FAFSA must both be done for the Trustee Scholarship.
Parent rule of thumb: treat November 1 as your real deadline. Everything good at Bellarmine gets easier from there.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Bellarmine University
Bellarmine doesn’t publish a GPA and test score chart. Instead, every admitted first-year student is reviewed for a Scarlet Scholarship, with no separate application. Bellarmine’s 2025-26 figures put the typical admission scholarship between $19,000 and $32,000 a year. February 1 is the priority date, but applying by November 1 gets the offer in your hands in November.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Scarlet Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 1 priority date for Scarlet Scholarship consideration. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$19,000–$32,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with federal and Kentucky state aid, need-based grants, and small add-ons like the Trustee, Legacy, and Catholic High School scholarships. A Bellarmine Scholar or Fellow award absorbs it. Outside scholarships earmarked for tuition can reduce Bellarmine's award.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine does not publish a GPA or test-score grid for Scarlet Scholarships. The amount is set by the strength of the whole application: grades, course rigor, and activities. Bellarmine's 2025-26 figures put the typical first-year admission scholarship between $19,000 and $32,000 a year. It pays tuition only, for fall and spring semesters, and requires full-time enrollment. Bellarmine's online Scholarship Estimator gives a quick preview before applying.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every admitted first-year student receives an institutional scholarship. Stronger grades, harder classes, and real involvement push the amount toward the top of the range.
Automaticgeographic
Bellarmine Direct Scholarship (Louisville)
📅 Deadline: Rolling. Admission and the scholarship are issued once Bellarmine receives the high school transcript. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Louisville public and private high school graduates with a 2.75+ GPA.
🏫 2.8+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
The $19,000 is a guaranteed minimum merit figure, not an extra award layered on top of a separate Scarlet Scholarship. It combines with need-based aid, HOPE Kentucky, and the Catholic High School Scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
Barrier-free admission for Louisville high school graduates with a 2.75+ GPA: automatic admission and a minimum $19,000 scholarship. Students from Archdiocese of Louisville schools with a 3.0+ GPA receive additional scholarship money. Students below 2.75 can still apply through standard admission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Graduates of Louisville public and private high schools with at least a 2.75 GPA.
Automatic
Public Price Promise (State Flagship Match)
📅 Deadline: February 1 priority date for institutional scholarships. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA3.5 unweighted high school GPA (Bellarmine calculates it if your school does not). No GPA requirement for Kentucky residents.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Calculated after other aid. If Bellarmine already costs less than the flagship after aid, there is no extra match money. If a student wins a Bellarmine Scholar or Fellow award, the price match is removed. Outside scholarships, federal aid, and state aid can still lower the cost further.
💡
Strategic Detail
For qualifying first-year students, Bellarmine lowers tuition, the comprehensive fee, housing, and food to the published cost of the flagship university in the student's state of residency. U.S. citizens abroad or in U.S. territories, and students from states with free-tuition programs, are matched to the University of Kentucky. Bellarmine's fine print says the match uses flagship costs published as of September 2020 and will not follow later flagship price changes. Students must live on campus all four years; moving off campus ends the match. The award is fixed at matriculation. Confirm current availability with admissions: in late summer 2026 the program was dropped from Bellarmine's main institutional scholarship list, although its dedicated page remained live.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students who plan to live on campus all four years and whose Bellarmine cost after aid would otherwise run above their home-state flagship. Kentucky students qualify without a GPA cutoff.
Automaticpipelinegeographic
Kentucky Governor Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 1 priority date for institutional scholarships. ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
$32,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Only for students who completed Kentucky's Governor's Scholars Program, Governor's School for the Arts, or Governor's School for Entrepreneurs.
🏫 2.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Functions as the student's main merit award. Recipients can still add the Trustee, Legacy, or Catholic High School scholarships and need-based aid, and can still compete for the full-ride Bellarmine Scholar award.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine awards a $32,000 Governor Scholars Scholarship to entering first-year students who completed GSP, GSA, or GSE. It covers full-time enrollment in fall and spring and renews with a 2.5 cumulative GPA. There is no separate application; the student reports participation on the admission application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Kentucky students who already completed GSP, GSA, or GSE and are admitted as full-time first-year students. This is strong automatic money, but only for students from those specific Kentucky pipeline programs.
Automatic
Trustee Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1 FAFSA deadline. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other institutional and external aid as part of the student's comprehensive award package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine awards $1,500 a year, renewable for four years, to incoming first-year students who complete an official campus visit and file the FAFSA before May 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students who do the practical stuff: visit campus officially, file the FAFSA by May 1, and enroll full time. It is not huge money, but it is a straightforward $1,500 per year families should not leave on the table.
Automaticlegacy
Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: With admission; legacy information must be provided during the application process. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ For children, grandchildren, stepchildren, or step-grandchildren of Bellarmine or Ursuline graduates.
🏫 2.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with automatic merit and other institutional scholarships. Students may also separately pursue the competitive Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship if eligible.
💡
Strategic Detail
Automatic $1,000 annual Legacy Scholarship for eligible incoming legacy students. It is not retroactive, so families need to make sure the legacy connection is included during admission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students with a Bellarmine or Ursuline family connection who actually report that legacy status during the admission process. It is small money, but it is easy money for the families who qualify.
Data last verified Sep 11, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Several awards here are only for specific groups: Louisville graduates, Governor’s Scholars alumni, and legacy families. If your student fits one of those groups, it can be worth more than anything else on this page.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Bellarmine University)
How much is a typical Bellarmine scholarship?
Bellarmine says the typical first-year award runs $19,000 to $32,000 a year, and 100% of incoming first-year students get one. The exact Scarlet amount depends on the whole application: grades, how hard the classes were, and activities. The online Scholarship Estimator gives you a preview before your student applies.
Do test scores matter for Bellarmine merit money?
They can help, but they aren’t required. Bellarmine is test-optional and accepts superscores. The one place scores really matter is the Honors Program, which lists a 28 ACT or 1250 SAT minimum. That’s the path to the full-ride and full-tuition awards.
We live in Louisville. What is Bellarmine Direct?
It’s a shortcut for Louisville public and private high school graduates with at least a 2.75 GPA. Your student fills out a five-minute form and sends a transcript. Admission is automatic, with a guaranteed minimum scholarship of $19,000. Students from Archdiocese of Louisville schools with a 3.0+ GPA get additional scholarship money on top.
My student did the Governor’s Scholars Program. What does that mean at Bellarmine?
It means $32,000 a year. That award goes to first-year students who completed GSP, the Governor’s School for the Arts, or the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. There’s no separate application; your student just reports it on the admission application. It renews with a 2.5 GPA, and your student can still compete for the full-ride Bellarmine Scholar award.
How does the Public Price Promise work with these awards?
It’s applied last. Bellarmine adds up your other aid first, and if you’d still pay more than your home-state flagship, it closes the gap. If you already pay less, there’s nothing extra to give. It requires living on campus all four years, and it’s removed if your student wins a Scholar or Fellow award.
Is there easy money we could miss?
Yes, two pieces. The Trustee Scholarship pays $1,500 a year for completing an official campus visit and filing the FAFSA before May 1. The Legacy Scholarship pays $1,000 a year to children, grandchildren, stepchildren, or step-grandchildren of Bellarmine or Ursuline graduates. Legacy status has to go on the application, because Bellarmine won’t add it retroactively.
Do these scholarships renew?
Yes, as long as your student stays full time and meets each award’s requirements. Bellarmine renews merit scholarships automatically each year; there’s no reapplying. The Governor’s Scholars award requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and the Public Price Promise requires living on campus.
Bellarmine’s two biggest competitive awards, the Bellarmine Scholar (full ride) and Bellarmine Fellow (full tuition), run through the Honors Program. You’ll find them in the Honors section below. This section covers the other competitions: a Louisville pathway program and a legacy award picked by the alumni board.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Bellarmine?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Bellarmine Parent Translation
Scarlet / Governor’s / Direct
This is the merit
Think of these as your student’s main merit award. Most students get one base award, not several.
Bellarmine Scholar / Fellow
Replaces
These top awards absorb the base merit, and they cancel the Public Price Promise.
Public Price Promise
Fills the gap
It only adds money if your cost after aid would be above your home flagship. If you’re already below it, you get nothing extra.
Trustee / Legacy / Catholic HS
Usually yes
Small add-ons you earn by checking boxes. Don’t skip them; together they can be worth several thousand a year.
HOPE KY / Whitney M. Young
Last dollar
These cover whatever tuition is left after grants and scholarships. They don’t pay for housing or meals.
Outside scholarships
Careful
Outside awards earmarked for tuition can reduce Bellarmine’s own scholarship. Ask before you assume they’ll stack.
Bottom line: at Bellarmine, most of the money is decided at admission. The competitions that matter most are the Honors scholarship weekend and, if your student attends one of eight Louisville high schools, the Century Scholars program.
App Requiredgeographicpipeline
Louisville Century Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: January 15 priority deadline. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Only for students at eight named Louisville high schools.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied after other aid. Recipients take part in program activities such as peer mentoring and community service.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Bellarmine by the January 15 priority deadline from one of the eight eligible high schools. Finalists interview with a Bellarmine scholarship selection committee.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
A pathway program for high-achieving students from eight Louisville high schools. Available for up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment while meeting program requirements. When Bellarmine announced its 2022 cohort, it described the award as covering tuition and on-campus housing after other aid; the current scholarship page does not restate the dollar value.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Strong students from Butler Traditional, Central, Doss, Iroquois, Seneca, The Academy at Shawnee, Waggener, and Western high schools who interview well.
App Requiredlegacyneed based
Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1. ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Legacy students only: child, grandchild, stepchild, or step-grandchild of a Bellarmine or Ursuline graduate.
🏫 2.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
This competitive Alumni Legacy Scholarship is in addition to the automatic 1,000 dollar per year Legacy Scholarship, subject to Bellarmine's overall institutional stacking and packaging rules.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted as a legacy student and submit the Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship application to the Alumni Board of Directors by February 1. This is separate from the automatic Legacy Scholarship and requires its own application.
Selection criteria: Selection by the Alumni Board of Directors based on legacy status, academic record, financial need, and the quality of application materials.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded by the Alumni Board of Directors to entering first-year legacy students based on the admission application and financial need. Awards are at least $4,000 ($1,000 a year) and renew with a 2.5 cumulative GPA and full-time enrollment. Separate from the automatic Legacy Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Entering first-year legacy students who submit the extra alumni scholarship application and stand out through essays, involvement, academics, and fit with the alumni board's review. This is not automatic legacy money; only a small group is selected.
Data last verified Sep 11, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Which high schools can apply for Louisville Century Scholars?
Eight: Butler Traditional, Central, Doss, Iroquois, Seneca, The Academy at Shawnee, Waggener, and Western. Students apply to Bellarmine by the January 15 priority deadline, and finalists interview with a scholarship committee. When Bellarmine announced its 2022 class, it described the award as covering tuition and on-campus housing after other aid. The current scholarship page doesn’t restate the amount, so ask the program contact.
How is the Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship different from the regular Legacy Scholarship?
The regular Legacy Scholarship is automatic: $1,000 a year for reporting legacy status. The Alumni Association version is a separate competition picked by the alumni board. It looks at the admission application and financial need, is worth at least $4,000 over four years, and is due February 1. A legacy student can win both.
Does Bellarmine offer athletic scholarships?
Yes. Bellarmine competes in NCAA Division I, and coaches award athletic grants in baseball, basketball, cross country, track, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, lacrosse, volleyball, swimming, and wrestling.
What about ROTC?
ROTC scholarships are available and handled through the military, not Bellarmine’s merit process. The basics are U.S. citizenship, an ACT or SAT taken by November of senior year, a solid GPA, and leadership or activities.
What happens to Bellarmine aid if my student wins an outside scholarship?
Tell financial aid right away. Outside money gets counted as aid. If it’s restricted to tuition, Bellarmine may lower its own scholarship, and you’ll get a revised offer. Outside awards that can pay for housing or books usually hurt less.
A surprising amount of Bellarmine money isn’t won; it’s claimed. It goes to families who check the right box at the right time. Walk through this list before your student hits submit:
Book an official campus visit and file the FAFSA before May 1. That’s the Trustee Scholarship, $1,500 a year.
List any Bellarmine or Ursuline graduate in the family on the application. Legacy money isn’t added later.
Report Governor’s Scholars, GSA, or GSE participation. That’s $32,000 a year.
Kentucky families: file the FAFSA by March 1 to stay eligible for HOPE Kentucky.
Catholic high school graduates with a 3.0+ GPA: make sure the transcript shows it.
Parent translation: none of these need an essay. They just need someone at the kitchen table keeping track.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These are the awards families overlook: last-dollar programs that can wipe out tuition, donor funds your student is considered for without applying, audition-based money, and paths for nursing and transfer students.
Full TuitionAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Onlygeographicneed based
HOPE Kentucky Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: March 1 FAFSA deadline, each year. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and fees last-dollar program
✔ Stackable
⚠ Kentucky residents from Kentucky high schools who are Pell, CAP, and KTG eligible.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar program. It fills whatever tuition and comprehensive fee remain after Pell, KEES, CAP, KTG, FSEOG, and Bellarmine scholarships are applied.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers 100% of tuition, the comprehensive fee, and textbooks for eligible Kentucky first-year and transfer students after institutional, state, and federal grants are applied (loans and work-study are not counted). Not covered: housing, meal plans, the one-time $400 matriculation fee, and certain course fees. Students must be Kentucky residents who graduated from a Kentucky public, private, or home school, file the FAFSA by March 1 each year, and remain eligible for Pell and Kentucky state aid (CAP and KTG). Renewable for eight consecutive semesters with full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible Kentucky students who also qualify for CAP and KTG and never miss the March 1 FAFSA date.
Full TuitionApp Requiredpipeline
Whitney M. Young Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: January 15 priority deadline for Whitney M. Young Scholars consideration. ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition scholarship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Only for participants in the Lincoln Foundation's Whitney M. Young Scholars Program.
🏫 2.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with federal and state scholarships and grants, including Pell, SEOG, CAP, KTG, and KEES, to cover full Bellarmine tuition. The award excludes room, board, and fees and can continue for up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment.
📄
How to Apply
Participate in the Lincoln Foundation Whitney M. Young Scholars Program and apply for admission to Bellarmine by the priority deadline. Students should work with both the Lincoln Foundation and Bellarmine to submit required documentation so the scholarship can be applied once they enroll full time.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based scholarship for Whitney M. Young Scholars participants. There is no separate competitive scoring at Bellarmine beyond maintaining minimum GPA, full-time status, and program eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
In partnership with the Lincoln Foundation, this award combines with Pell, SEOG, CAP, KTG, and KEES to cover full Bellarmine tuition. It does not cover room, board, or fees. Available for up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment with at least a 2.0 GPA. Apply to Bellarmine by the January 15 priority deadline.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are already part of the Lincoln Foundation Whitney M. Young Scholars Program, are admitted to Bellarmine, enroll full time, and meet the program and academic requirements. This is powerful tuition coverage, but it is limited to a very specific pipeline group.
Automaticpipeline
Catholic High School Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1 priority deadline for institutional scholarships. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-year students who graduated from a Catholic high school with a 3.0+ GPA.
🏫 3.0+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with other institutional scholarships and grants, subject to Bellarmine's tuition-specific aid policies and overall package rules.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to first-year students who graduated from a Catholic high school with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Bellarmine does not publish the dollar amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students from Catholic high schools who have at least a 3.0 GPA and enroll full time. This is an easy-to-miss institutional discount for a specific feeder-school audience.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Bellarmine Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Students are considered automatically when they apply to Bellarmine. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Endowed scholarships are usually layered on top of other aid and are often small-to-moderate awards. Some are tied to specific majors, class years, financial need, or donor preferences.
💡
Strategic Detail
Donor-funded scholarships from Bellarmine alumni and friends. Many target a specific major such as art, accounting, or nursing; others support particular student groups, research, or study abroad. Criteria and amounts vary by fund.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who closely match a donor fund's criteria and complete the right internal application. These are classic hidden-gem awards because the best match is often a student in the right major, year, background, or niche category rather than the highest-stat applicant overall.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor specific
Nursing Funding Opportunities (Lansing School)
📅 Deadline: Departmental nursing scholarship deadlines vary, often occurring during the spring term. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Nursing scholarships usually supplement other aid and may be renewed if students continue meeting academic, clinical, program, and donor-specific requirements.
📄
How to Apply
Apply as a Nursing major and, once eligible for upper-level coursework or departmental review, complete the Lansing School of Nursing scholarship or donor-fund applications according to departmental instructions.
Selection criteria: Awards are made based on academic performance, financial need, and alignment with individual donor or partner criteria as determined by the School of Nursing.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine's nursing school lists several employer and government funding paths: the Norton Scholars Program, Baptist Health's Nursing Knowledge Program, the UofL Health Nursing Scholar Program (up to $24,000 with a work commitment), the Kentucky Board of Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund, HRSA Nurse Corps, and the VA Health Professional Scholarship Program. Accelerated BSN students in the Norton or Baptist programs can also receive the Bellarmine Healthcare Partners Scholarship, worth up to $7,500 toward the final semester's tuition. Most employer programs require a post-graduation work commitment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nursing students who are already progressing in the program, remain academically strong, and match donor or partner criteria. Some awards may favor financial need, specific backgrounds, geographic ties, or healthcare partner pathways.
App Requiredtalent
Talent Scholarships in Music
📅 Deadline: Music audition dates and deadlines vary by year. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Music talent awards, including possible Pep Band stipends, often stack with other institutional scholarships but may modify total institutional aid depending on the package.
📄
How to Apply
Major in music and complete an entrance audition. Pep Band stipends may require a separate audition or selection process.
Selection criteria: Awards are based on audition performance and faculty assessment of musical ability, preparation, potential, and program fit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine lists music talent scholarships requiring a music major and entrance audition. Fixed 2026-2027 dollar ranges are not published. Award amounts are determined by faculty review and program funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong musicians who audition early, meet program expectations, and, where applicable, commit to ensemble or Pep Band participation. The award depends on talent, fit, and available funding.
App Requiredtalent
Talent Scholarships in Art
📅 Deadline: Portfolio submission deadlines vary by year and department. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental art scholarships typically stack with general merit awards, though larger talent awards may adjust the student's overall institutional package.
📄
How to Apply
Major in art or meet approved departmental participation requirements and submit a portfolio for faculty review by the published departmental deadline.
Selection criteria: Awards are based on portfolio quality as evaluated by art faculty, with consideration of talent, potential, and program fit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine lists art talent scholarships requiring an art major and portfolio submission. Fixed 2026-2027 dollar ranges are not published. Award amounts are determined by faculty review and available funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Art students with strong portfolios who follow the departmental submission instructions closely. This is one of those awards where talent and paperwork both matter.
App Requiredtalent
Talent Scholarships in Theatre
📅 Deadline: Theatre audition dates and deadlines vary by year. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Theatre talent awards typically stack with institutional merit, though larger departmental awards may change the overall aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Major in theatre and complete a theatre audition with required materials by the departmental deadline.
Selection criteria: Awards are based on audition performance and faculty evaluation of theatrical talent, commitment, preparation, and program fit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine lists theatre talent scholarships requiring a theatre major and audition. Fixed 2026-2027 dollar ranges are not published, and awards are determined by departmental review.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Theatre students who audition well, show commitment to the department, and remain active in productions or related theatre activities. This is talent money, not a GPA-only scholarship.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlytalent
Pep Band & Cheerleading Awards
📅 Deadline: Pep Band and cheerleading tryout timelines vary by year. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pep Band and cheerleading stipends are usually paid in addition to other scholarships and grants, subject to aid packaging limits.
📄
How to Apply
Audition or try out for Bellarmine Pep Band or cheerleading and be selected for participation. Students must maintain required involvement, attendance, performance expectations, and good standing.
Selection criteria: Selection is based on musical or cheer performance ability, reliability, and fit with program needs as determined by directors or coaches.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine institutional materials note awards for students in Pep Band or cheerleading. Specific dollar amounts are not published and may vary by year, role, and program budget.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who successfully audition or try out and are willing to commit to the rehearsal, performance, and game schedule. This is talent-and-participation money, not a general academic award.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Onlytransfer
Silver Scholarship (Transfer Students)
📅 Deadline: Rolling; awarded with transfer admission based on completed application and transcript review. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with other institutional and external aid, but total tuition-specific institutional aid may be adjusted based on the final comprehensive package.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine awards transfer scholarships through the admission review process. There is no separate scholarship application, but families should not assume a fixed amount because the university does not publish a 2026-2027 transfer award grid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students from accredited colleges with at least a 2.0 transfer GPA who enroll full time. The better the transfer record, the more likely the student is to receive a stronger offer, but Bellarmine does not publish a fixed dollar grid.
App Required⚠ Transfer Onlytransfer
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Fall entry: July 15. Spring entry: November 15. Non-Renewable
$32,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ Transfer students who are current Phi Theta Kappa members.
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Bellarmine does not spell out how PTK combines with the Silver Scholarship. Ask transfer admissions how the two are packaged.
📄
How to Apply
Be a current member of your college's Phi Theta Kappa chapter and submit Bellarmine's PTK Scholarship application. A committee reviews applicants.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine lists the PTK Scholarship at $32,000 for incoming transfer students but does not say whether that figure is annual or how it renews. Confirm with transfer admissions.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Community college transfer students who are active Phi Theta Kappa members.
Data last verified Sep 11, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who qualifies for HOPE Kentucky Scholars?
Kentucky residents who graduated from a Kentucky public, private, or home school and qualify for the federal Pell Grant plus Kentucky’s CAP and KTG grants. HOPE covers remaining tuition, the comprehensive fee, and textbooks after other grants. Your student still pays for housing, meals, the $400 matriculation fee, and some course fees. The FAFSA must be filed by March 1 every year.
What is the Whitney M. Young Scholars Award?
It’s a partnership with the Lincoln Foundation’s Whitney M. Young Scholars Program. For students already in that program, Bellarmine combines its money with Pell, SEOG, CAP, KTG, and KEES to cover full tuition for up to eight semesters. It doesn’t cover room, board, or fees. Apply by January 15.
Do we have to apply for endowed scholarships?
No. Bellarmine automatically considers every applicant for its donor-funded endowed scholarships. Many are tied to a major like art, accounting, or nursing, so a clear intended major can help.
My student wants to be a nurse. What extra funding is out there?
Bellarmine’s nursing school works with Louisville’s big hospital systems. The UofL Health Nursing Scholar Program offers up to $24,000, and Norton and Baptist both run tuition programs. Most require a work commitment after graduation. There are also state and federal options, like the Kentucky Board of Nursing Incentive Scholarship Fund and HRSA Nurse Corps.
Are there scholarships for art, music, or theatre?
Yes. Art majors submit a portfolio, and music and theatre majors audition. Pep Band members can earn a stipend through a separate audition, and there are grants for cheerleaders. Deadlines vary by department, so contact them early in senior year.
What if my student starts at community college and transfers?
Transfer students with at least a 2.0 GPA are reviewed for the Silver Scholarship automatically. Phi Theta Kappa members can apply for a separate $32,000 PTK scholarship, due July 15 for fall or November 15 for spring. Students coming from KCTCS or Ivy Tech partner colleges may qualify for a $17,000-a-year total tuition rate that includes books and the comprehensive fee.
Bellarmine calls it an Honors Program, not an honors college. It’s also where Bellarmine keeps its two biggest scholarships. Admission isn’t automatic: students apply separately, and a faculty committee reviews every application.
Test minimum: 28 ACT or 1250 SAT, plus a strong unweighted GPA
Scholarship deadline: December 1, and your student must already be admitted to Bellarmine
Honors Program only (no scholarship): March 1
What to submit: three short written responses (Challenge and Growth, Showcase of Work, Goals and Aspirations) plus a resume
Honors Scholarships
Full RideApp Requiredhonors
Bellarmine Scholar Award
📅 Deadline: December 1. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full ride honors scholarship
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~5 per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors flagship awards like the Bellarmine Scholar Award are usually mutually exclusive with other top institutional merit awards. Families should expect the full-ride award to replace automatic merit rather than stack on top of it.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted before December 1 (apply by the November 1 Early Action date to be safe). Submit the Honors Program application by December 1: three short written responses (Challenge and Growth, Showcase of Work, Goals and Aspirations) plus a resume. If invited, attend the February competition weekend.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic excellence, leadership, alignment with Honors values, written materials, interview performance, and overall performance in the Honors scholarship competition.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Bellarmine's most prestigious first-year award: a four-year full ride covering tuition, fees, room, and board, plus a study abroad stipend and enrollment in the Honors Program. Bellarmine awards five each year. The Honors Program lists a 28 ACT or 1250 SAT minimum. Selected applicants are invited in early January to a February competition weekend with a faculty interview, a writing sample session, and a mock classroom experience. A counselor or teacher recommendation is part of the full-tuition scholarship application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A very small group of Bellarmine's strongest Honors applicants. These students usually bring exceptional academics, leadership, service, strong written responses, and a standout performance during the scholarship weekend.
Full TuitionApp Requiredhonors
Bellarmine Fellow Award
📅 Deadline: December 1. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition honors scholarship
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Five first-year students a year receive full tuition for four years plus a study abroad stipend; room and board are not covered.
👥 ~5 per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors flagship awards like the Bellarmine Fellow Award usually do not stack with other top institutional merit awards. Families should expect this award to replace or absorb automatic merit in the final aid package rather than simply sit on top of it.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted before December 1, submit the Honors Program application (three written responses plus a resume) by December 1, and attend the February competition weekend if invited.
Selection criteria: Holistic evaluation of academic excellence, leadership, service, fit with Honors Program values, written materials, and scholarship competition interview or activities.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Four years of full tuition plus a study abroad stipend and enrollment in the Honors Program. Housing and meals are not covered. Bellarmine awards five each year. Selection runs through the same application and February competition weekend as the Bellarmine Scholar Award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top Honors applicants who make it into the invitation-only scholarship competition and stand out through academics, leadership, service, written responses, and interview performance. This is not a general Honors perk; it is one of Bellarmine's top competitive awards.
Data last verified Sep 11, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Award counts and program rules reflect Bellarmine’s current published policy. Confirm details with the Honors office each year.
Deadline Note: Bellarmine awards five Scholar awards (full ride) and five Fellow awards (full tuition) each year. Invitations to the competition go out in early January, and the weekend itself is in early February. It includes a faculty interview, a writing sample session, and a mock classroom experience. Applications that come in after December 1 can still get your student into Honors, but not into the scholarship competition.
What Honors Actually Looks Like
Honors general education: Your student takes honors versions of required core classes. They go deeper, not longer.
Independent study: In junior year, your student starts designing research with a faculty advisor.
Senior Honors Thesis: The capstone that pulls it all together, and a strong talking point for grad school or jobs.
Honors Program FAQs (Bellarmine University)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student needs a separate Honors application, the 28 ACT or 1250 SAT minimum, and a strong unweighted GPA. A committee picks students holistically.
What’s the difference between the Bellarmine Scholar and Fellow awards?
The Scholar award is a four-year full ride: tuition, fees, room, and board. The Fellow award covers four years of full tuition, so housing and meals are on you. Both come with a study abroad stipend and a spot in Honors.
Does a Scholar or Fellow award stack with the Public Price Promise?
No. If your student wins either award, Bellarmine removes the price match. For almost every family that’s a trade you’d happily make.
Does my student need a recommendation letter?
Yes, for the full-tuition scholarships. Bellarmine asks for a letter from a high school counselor or teacher as part of the scholarship application, so ask early in the fall.
Can international students compete?
Yes. They follow the same application, plus a course-by-course credential evaluation, proof of English proficiency, proof of funding, and at least one recommendation letter.
Bellarmine is small, with roughly 2,400 undergraduates, but it punches well above its size in two places: healthcare careers and paychecks. Classes run small, professors know your student’s name, and the school sits in Louisville’s Highlands, a few minutes from some of the biggest hospital systems in the region. It’s also home to the Thomas Merton Center, a nod to the Catholic, liberal arts roots that shape every major.
Nationally Known Program: Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences: This is Bellarmine’s calling card. It covers nursing, respiratory therapy, medical lab science, and radiation therapy. Students do clinical rotations across Louisville’s healthcare community, and partners like Norton, Baptist, and UofL Health offer tuition help in exchange for working with them after graduation. Respiratory therapy stands out: College Choice ranks Bellarmine’s bachelor’s program #1 in the country.
Physical Therapy: The doctoral PT program ranks in the U.S. News top 150. Strong high school seniors can apply for Direct-to-DPT, which sets them on a path into the doctorate after sophomore or junior year. Typical admits have about a 3.75 unweighted GPA and a 28 ACT, and the application is due May 1.
Rubel School of Business: Business with a liberal arts backbone, which means lots of writing and critical thinking. Bellarmine points to Kentucky state data showing its business grads earn about 53% more three years out than grads from other Kentucky colleges.
Education: The Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education has a strong regional reputation. Bellarmine says most education majors are hired before they graduate.
Career outcomes: Bellarmine reports 99% of grads working or in grad school within six months. Kentucky’s own wage data ranks Bellarmine grads #1 in the state for earnings ten years out.
🔗 Official Bellarmine University Links
Use Bellarmine’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, and costs. When anything on this page and Bellarmine’s site disagree, go with Bellarmine and give the admissions office a call.
Big picture? Bellarmine’s sticker price scares a lot of families off before they ever see the real number, and that’s a mistake. Every first-year student gets a scholarship, typically $19,000 to $32,000 a year. Kentucky families have two more tools on top of that: HOPE Kentucky for tuition, and the Public Price Promise to keep costs in line with UK. Governor’s Scholars alumni walk in with $32,000 a year before anything else is added.
The catch is that Bellarmine rewards families who move early and keep track. Apply by November 1 so the full-ride and full-tuition competition stays open. Book the official visit and file the FAFSA well before May 1. Check every box on the application, from legacy to Catholic high school to GSP. If your student is headed toward nursing, respiratory therapy, or physical therapy, few schools this size have as direct a line into Louisville’s healthcare jobs.
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Written by Leo Dimilo. Leo built CollegeReadyParent.org after working through college costs with his own daughter. He writes free, plain-English scholarship guides for middle-income and first-generation families, with no paywall and no lead generation. More about Leo →
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