by Sophia Schindler
Bellarmine University President Dr. Susan Donovan announced on Feb. 2 an increase in undergraduate tuition and rates for housing and food for the 2024-2025 school year.
Undergraduate tuition will be increased by 4.25% and the rate of housing and food will increase by 5%. Tuition for graduate and second-degree programs are under review.
A breakdown of the tuition increase sent in Donovan’s email on Feb. 2 to the Bellarmine community.
In the email sent on Feb. 2, Donovan said the increase in tuition will continue to offer students with high quality education and give staff, faculty, and students the resources and support they need for “incredible outcomes.”
In an interview with Knights Media Network, Donovan said “it’s tough” and that she understands students’ stress with the tuition increase.
“I was a first-generation college student. I was always on work study and Pell Grant,” Donovan said. “Unfortunately, inflation has caused prices to go up, and we’ve got to keep up.”
Donovan said the biggest use of funds will be toward supporting students.
“We are working on the Student Success Center and going to fundraise for a math lab,” Donovan said.
Denise Brown-Cornelius, the vice president of finance and facilities, said a lot of thought went into the decision, which was not easy one to make.
“We put a lot of thought into this, and said, ‘We need to support our students. We need to provide them with what they need so they get the Bellarmine education that they deserve,’” Brown-Cornelius said.
Brown-Cornelius said the largest increases in the university’s expenses have been utilities and insurance, paired with inflation, all of which have had an impact on Bellarmine’s bottom line and caused the tuition increase.
Incoming students celebrate their arrival on campus during the Week of Welcome. Photo Courtesy of Brendan Sullivan.
A Bellarmine sophomore, who prefers to stay anonymous, said she feels as if the increase in tuition is not the “Bellarmine Difference” she was originally sold and for which was already making a big financial commitment.
She also said that the decision to increase tuition does not reflect Bellarmine’s support for their students.
“I feel like the increases could be more justified if the programs and majors weren’t being cut, and increased funding was actually being seen in already existing needs in students and support for staff,” the sophomore said.
Donovan said Bellarmine has not been able to consistently increase salaries for faculty and staff but she and other administrators are looking on how they can do that.
“I can’t make any promises right now, but that is a priority,” Donovan said.
David Gentry, a pre-med major, also expressed his disappointment with the undergraduate tuition increase. Gentry said the increase in tuition, housing and food is “absurd and awful,” especially after the holiday season.
“I know a lot of families are going to be hit hard with this,” Gentry said. “Some families might not be as effected as others, and that’s fine, but mine certainly will be.”
Brown-Cornelius said she thinks all of the students will be able to continue to afford a Bellarmine education despite the increase.
For students who are concerned about being able to continue to afford an education at Bellarmine, Donovan said she urges them to talk with Financial Aid.
“We definitely want students to come into Financial Aid,” Donovan said. “As soon as we are able to we’re getting financial aid packages out.”
Brown-Cornelius said she believes some graduate and secondary-programs will see an increase but she is not sure if every program will.
“We are going to evaluate each program on a program-by-program level,” Brown-Cornelius said.
Brown-Cornelius said tuition will continue to increase every year while taking into consideration the inflation, the marketplace and university competitors.
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