Class of 2024 outcome downloads: All students | Student-athletes
A comprehensive survey of last year’s Bellarmine University graduates shows that they
significantly outperform their peers from other colleges in two areas –- starting
salaries and ease in finding their first job.
According to the university’s “first destination survey,” which yielded career outcome
information for 82% of the Class of 2024, an impressive 99% of graduates successfully
secured employment, enrolled in further education or committed to military or volunteer
service programs within six months of graduation. This outcome is 14% higher than
the national average for all U.S. colleges and universities. 97% of those who are
working are already employed full-time in their field of study.
Additionally, according to data from the Kentucky Center for Statistics, Bellarmine
graduates earn more on average than graduates from any other Kentucky college or university.
For those who earned bachelor’s degrees, their starting average salary was $53,000.
For those completing graduate degrees, their starting average salary was $68,000.
Over a 40-year career, a Bellarmine degree will deliver a $1.9 million return on investment
through higher salaries, according to a study by Georgetown University’s Center on
Education and the Workforce.
The outcomes for Bellarmine’s NCAA Division I student-athletes are even more impressive.
For the third year in a row, 100% of graduating student-athletes achieved career success
or continued their education within six months of graduation, with 98% working full-time
in their field of study.
While students come to Bellarmine from 42 states and 40 nations, 72% of all graduates
remain in the Louisville metro area after graduation. Impressively, 49% of graduates
who came to Bellarmine from outside Louisville remained in the metro area after graduation,
creating a significant net positive impact on the Louisville region’s economy.
Hannah Mitchell graduated from Bellarmine in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal
Justice Studies and now works as an education advocate at a local nonprofit organization,
The Book Works. She credits her Bellarmine education and support from the Office of
Career Services for her ability to find a job.
“Entering college as a criminal justice major, I thought I was set on what I wanted
to do," said Mitchell. "I thought there was only one career for me, but through my
experience at Bellarmine, I was exposed to many more options that aligned with the
intersection of my criminal justice and community activism interests. My new position
here not only fulfills my purpose of service but also aids in my endeavors as a future
civil rights lawyer. My experiences at Bellarmine taught me that the path to my future
is a journey and prepared me to be successful no matter what career I choose!”
While Bellarmine graduates are making a difference in organizations of all sizes,
the five employers who have hired the most graduates from Bellarmine’s Class of 2024
are Norton Healthcare, UofL Health, Baptist Health, Jefferson County Public Schools
and the Archdiocese of Louisville.
"Each year, our First Destination Survey shows that our graduates achieve career success
at remarkable rates that exceed benchmarks in higher education,” said Dr. Susan M.
Donovan, Bellarmine’s president. “This speaks to both the remarkable character and
quality of our students, but also to the education they receive, which pairs personalized
academic instruction with an impressive array of internship and service opportunities
where they put their education into real-world practice before they graduate.”
Here is a breakdown of employment by industry for Bellarmine’s 2024 graduates:
Healthcare 42%
Business 30%
Education & Community Impact 20%
Technology & Analytics 6%
Other 2%