'Bellarmine Direct' provides barrier-free admission and scholarships for qualified Louisville high school students

Qualified students graduating from Louisville high schools can receive automatic admission to Bellarmine University under a new initiative that provides these students more options for an affordable education in their hometown.

'Bellarmine Direct' allows Louisville students from public and private high schools who have earned at least a 2.75 grade point average to use a streamlined admission process through an online form that takes less than five minutes to complete. Once Bellarmine receives a Bellarmine Direct applicant's high school transcript, that student will be automatically admitted with a minimum scholarship of $18,000. There is no cost to apply.

After completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the student will receive a personalized financial aid package to demonstrate that a Bellarmine education is priced competitively and can even be free.

"In recent years, we have found very clearly that students who earn at least a 2.75 GPA from Louisville high schools perform very well at Bellarmine, and we know that 70% of students who graduate from Bellarmine stay in Louisville and contribute to the local economy through the workforce," said Dr. Susan M. Donovan, president of Bellarmine University. "A Bellarmine degree is a path to unrivaled outcomes, and our commitment to Louisville through Bellarmine Direct is to help more qualified local students see how this path to success through Bellarmine is viable for them by reducing barriers in the college admissions process."

Donovan noted that 99% of Bellarmine's Class of 2023 were either employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, according to the school's survey of 2023 graduates. Those Bellarmine graduates are paid more on average than graduates from any other institution in Kentucky, according to data from the Kentucky Center for Statistics. Three years after graduation, Bellarmine bachelor's degree recipients living in Kentucky earn a median income 19% higher than the average median income for those holding bachelor's degrees from all Kentucky institutions.

"Bellarmine University has recognized that qualified JCPS students excel at Bellarmine, and we have in turn seen Bellarmine graduates excel as teachers in our classrooms and leaders in our district," said Dr. Marty Pollio, Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools. "The opportunity to keep more of our outstanding seniors in Louisville by making sure they can easily explore another option for college is a win for our community."

Pollio added that JCPS will partner with Bellarmine for rapid delivery of student transcripts once a student has applied for admission through Bellarmine Direct and will encourage counselors to nominate students for direct admission. Bellarmine has similar agreements with all nine of the high schools within the Archdiocese of Louisville.

"Bellarmine and the Archdiocesan schools have a long history of partnership in embracing the values and benefits of a Catholic education, and Bellarmine Direct offers our graduating students the opportunity to continue to benefit from a Catholic education while remaining connected to the Archdiocese," said Dr. Mary Beth Bowling, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Catholic high school graduates earning at least a 3.0 GPA receive an additional scholarship at Bellarmine.

Louisville high school students who don't quite have a 2.75 GPA are still highly encouraged to apply for regular admission based on their high school achievements, as GPA is only one factor the university considers for admission. In some cases, Bellarmine can offer options including provisional admission to a summer bridge program at no cost and even the chance to reapply through a streamlined transfer process after earning community college credit.

"Through our education partnerships with Bellarmine, we know they are preparing students for great healthcare careers in nursing and respiratory therapy," said Leslie Martin, director of workforce development for Norton Healthcare. "Simplifying the application process means more students can earn a quality degree from Bellarmine, which will help our workforce and, ultimately, our community."

Bellarmine is committed to making college affordable by offering generous financial aid options and initiatives. For example, the Public Price Promise guarantees that eligible students can receive a private liberal arts education for a cost equivalent to that of their home state's flagship public university. The Hope Kentucky Scholars Program supports eligible students who are Kentucky residents and graduate from a Kentucky high school, offering them full tuition coverage if they are Pell Grant and Kentucky state grant recipients. These are among the ways students can access a high-quality education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

The Bellarmine Direct application is available online at https://application.bellarmine.edu/portal/Bellarmine_Direct.