When Daria Ochenkowski, a recent education graduate, was first shopping for colleges, she picked Bellarmine because it felt like home.
鈥淏eing able to walk through campus and pretty much know everyone you walk by is really
cool,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something you don鈥檛 get in a lot of places. You can have
that connection anywhere you go on campus. The relationships
you build with professors are huge as well.鈥�
Those who know Bellarmine say it鈥檚 that kind of close-knit campus life that sets the university apart and makes all the difference for graduates when they enter the work force.
Daria, for example, was able to leverage her work with campus organizations and the community, along with her relationships with her professors, to land a fulltime job as a teacher immediately upon graduating.
鈥淚 loved my community at Bellarmine,鈥� Daria said. 鈥淚 still use my connections there. I鈥檒l call my professor and say, I鈥檝e encountered this challenge, or what do you think about this situation? They鈥檙e still helpful to me, even though I graduated in December.鈥�
For a small, liberal arts university, Bellarmine is big on opportunities to get involved, find your fit and become your best self.
There are more than 70 registered student-created organizations ranging nearly every interest imaginable. Most students participate in at least one.
Learning communities and specialty programs help students get connected and make friends, receive support from faculty and staff and get involved at Bellarmine and beyond. The Office of Identity and Inclusion, and numerous other student groups, engage the Bellarmine community in identity exploration and social justice.
With an average class ratio of 12:1, students find it easy to connect with each other in
the classroom and with
their professors.
"Before Bellarmine, I was very timid,鈥� said Robbie Jones, a senior majoring in business and sports administration. 鈥淚 was not confident in my abilities to be a leader or to even be outspoken. But since I鈥檝e been at Bellarmine, it鈥檚 just a complete switch. I鈥檓 confident in myself. I feel like I can encourage and motivate other people through my leadership.鈥� 鈥�
That personal growth translates to real outcomes for students.
Knights get hired and make more money than graduates from other universities. The average starting salary for BU grads is $50,000. If you choose to pursue a graduate degree, the average salary jumps to $68,000.
That solid start spells ongoing success. Bellarmine alums have the highest earning potential of any Kentucky university 10 years after graduation and earn the highest mid-career salaries of any university in Kentucky.