Head-to-head comparison
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville vs Bellarmine University: which has better ROI?
Option A Louisville, KY
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville
- Net price / year
- $18,540
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,480
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Louisville, KY
Bellarmine University
- Net price / year
- $21,499
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,069
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,160 in 5.7 years versus 6.3 years at Bellarmine University, on median earnings of $61,480 vs $62,069 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | Bellarmine University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,540 | $21,499 |
| Total net cost | $74,160 | $85,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,480 | $62,069 |
| Median debt | $24,166 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $188,240 | $188,184 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Galen College of Nursing-Louisville or Bellarmine University?
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville, at $18,540 a year after aid versus $21,499 — a gap of $2,959 a year, or $11,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Galen College of Nursing-Louisville or Bellarmine University graduates earn more?
Bellarmine University graduates report a median $62,069 ten years after entry, $589 more than the $61,480 at Galen College of Nursing-Louisville. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Galen College of Nursing-Louisville or Bellarmine University?
Galen College of Nursing-Louisville: its completers carry a median $24,166 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Bellarmine University, a difference of $834. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Bellarmine University, against 61% at Galen College of Nursing-Louisville. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.