Bellarmine University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bellarmine University charges a net price of $21,499/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $85,996. Graduates earn a median $62,069 ten years after entry, $13,709/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.3 years — a 20-year net return of $188,184, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bellarmine University's 6.3-year payback ranks #546 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 57% of them, and #4 of 51 in Kentucky.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,499/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $85,996 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $62,069 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $13,709/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $188,184 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bellarmine University's own numbers. Net price $21,499 × 4 years = $85,996 total. Median earnings $62,069 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,709 a year of premium. $85,996 ÷ $13,709 = 6.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $188,184. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bellarmine University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $62,069 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bellarmine University students graduate?
64% finish their degree — 36% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $85,996 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,369 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bellarmine University expensive compared with other Kentucky colleges?
Its $21,499 net price runs $7,392 above the $14,107 median across the 51 Kentucky colleges we profile, or $29,568 more across the full degree.