At 农夫导航, students start with their end goals in mind.
The university is laser-focused on giving students the experiences they need in the classroom and work world to begin and progress through their careers.
Experiential learning is a critical part of the Bellarmine experience, so much so, the university guarantees every student will have the opportunity to land an internship, develop a career plan and build a professional network.
鈥淥ur surveys reveal how incredibly career-ready our students are and how well-poised they are to become leaders in their fields,鈥� said Dr. Lilly Massa-McKinley, assistant vice president of career development and strategic partnerships.
That solid start spells lasting success.
Bellarmine tracks and analyzes graduate outcomes on an ongoing basis and finds that:
- On average, Knights get hired and make more money than graduates from other universities. The average starting salary for BU grads is $50,000. Those who choose to pursue a graduate degree, the average salary is $68,000.
- Bellarmine graduates 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.
- 91 percent of Bellarmine graduates are working within their field of study.
CJ Corsiglia, a nursing major, experienced that readiness firsthand after classes and clinicals gave him the right experience to land a job upon graduation.
鈥淭he opportunities that I found through Bellarmine were endless, which helped me develop what I found my path to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to staying in Louisville, to start working through the networks that I鈥檝e made at Bellarmine, to give back to the school as well as to further my education and develop my career afterward.鈥�
Bellarmine鈥檚 liberal arts foundation emphasizes critical thinking skills so students may navigate the constantly evolving workforce.
鈥淓mployers want employees who didn鈥檛 just learn the mechanics of practicing their skill, but who also learned to think critically, problem-solve and communicate,鈥� said Massa-McKinley.
And, there鈥檚 always leadership and skill-building opportunities on campus through more than 70 student-led groups.
Emily Compton, a recent political science graduate from West Point, Ky., was heavily involved in campus life, including Student Government Association, the Pre-Law Society, Political Science Club and peer tutoring for statistics. Compton is heading to the University of Louisville this fall for law school on a full scholarship.
鈥淢y time at Bellarmine prepared me well for my next steps in life,鈥� she said.