Tuition

Bellarmine's tuition for 2007-2008 is $12,800 per student, which includes all fees. Bellarmine's educational program is available to every young man who could benefit from it and who fulfills the entrance requirements, no matter what the financial status of his family. Over the past 15 years, Bellarmine has proudly been able to increase its Scholarship Endowment Fund. The earnings from this fund, the Parent Pledge program, and a substantial contribution from the Jesuit Community work together to make a Bellarmine education a possibility for all students. Bellarmine's regents, administration, and parents work energetically and enthusiastically toward increasing the amount of money available each year.

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Financial Aid / Work Grant Program

Bellarmine is deeply concerned that its educational program is available to every young man who could benefit from it and who fulfills the entrance requirements, no matter what the financial status of his family.

Bellarmine's work energeticallyand successfully toward increasing the amount of money available for financial aid each year.

How Financial Aid Works

Financial Aid is granted purely on the basis of need and includes a Work Grant component that requires each student with aid work a number of hours at the school. The exact number of hours worked depends on the amount of financial aid awarded. Work Grant responsibilities can be scheduled in such a way that they will not interfere with normal school and extracurricular activities.

How to Apply

Please contact the Business Office for a Financial Aid application. Applications for the 2008-09 school year will be available beginning on December 26, 2007. You may call Cindy Bailey at (408) 294-9224, ext. 223, or email her at cbailey@bcp.org to request an application package. In your request please include the parent's name and address, the name of the student and the year that he will graduate.
All completed financial aid forms for the 2008-09 school year must be returned to Bellarmine's Business Office. For entering Freshmen the forms must be received no later than February 8, 2008; for returning students the forms must be submitted by February 15, 2008. The completed application package must include the Bellarmine Financial Aid application, a form from the Private School Aid Service (P.S.A.S) and a copy of your Federal Income Tax return for 2007, and a check for $20 made out to P.S.A.S. If your income tax returns for 2007 have not been completed please submit a copy of your 2006 return along with copies of your W-2's for 2007. The applicant should also complete the narrative description on the P.S.A.S forms that describe your specific circumstances such as recent job loss, or chronic illness that would not be identifiable in the family's income tax information. After initial review for completeness, Bellarmine will forward the forms to Private School Aid Service (P.S.A.S.) for analysis. Failure to include all forms and fee and submit by deadline date could jeopardize the financial aid request. Applications must be made for each year a family desires financial aid.
A committee at Bellarmine will review your application and make a final determination. Incoming Freshmen families will be notified of the amount of Aid at the same time as the acceptance letters. For returning students, families will be notified of the Aid amount approximately one month before the deposit for the new year is due.
Students who receive Financial Aid/Work Grant must receive a passing grade to each subject at the end of each semester. Grants are subject to review on academic grounds at the conclusion of each semester.
Students who fail to complete assigned Work Grant hours will be penalized up to $2,000 in Financial Aid for the following year.

Admission FAQ

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Bellarmine is a little far away. What are my commute options? Hide: CARPOOL We provide families the opportunity to obtain the contact information of other students living in their zip code area, in order to facilitate the process of finding families with whom to carpool. Bellarmine is a short distance from Highways 87, 280, 880 and 101. TRAIN CalTrain stops at Bellarmine’s College Park station four times a day. ♦ If you live north of Bellarmine, the morning train arrives at school at 7:59, in plenty of time for the day’s first class at 8:15. The train leaving Bellarmine after school for the ride home departs at 3:08 pm. ♦ If you live south of Bellarmine, the morning train arrives at 7:58, again in time for the first class at 8:15. The train leaving Bellarmine after school is at 4:32. CalTrain offers a 50% discount to all student riders, making the train economical as well as convenient. For those students who have after school commitments, Bellarmine provides a free shuttle service which departs from campus each day at 5:20 for the Diridon Station, where students can catch a train home. Bellarmine’s administration coordinates with athletic coaches to make sure that practices are held early enough for student athletes to take this shuttle. A full copy of the Cal Train schedule is available online at: http://www.caltrain.org/schedule.html BUS The Route 22 VTA bus stops at the corner of The Alameda and Taylor/Naglee Streets, which is just a few blocks from Bellarmine. The Route 22 bus also services both the Santa Clara and Diridon train station. Busses run approximately every fifteen minutes. You can view of copy of this bus schedule online at: http://www.vta.org/schedules/SCA_22EA_WK.html
What makes a Jesuit school unique? Hide: I think the fact that Bellarmine incorporates morals, ethics, and values into daily teaching is what distinguishes it from other private and public schools. Personally, I think the best example of this teaching was in Social Justice class where we would discuss current events and attempt to investigate each side of the issue from a moral or ethical perspective. This kind of supplement to our standard, academic education is what makes Bellarmine’s Jesuit education unique.
- Peter Singh ‘06

A Jesuit school like Bellarmine represents faith, community, and a shared goal of working for the Greater Glory of God. Once you’ve attended a Jesuit school, you share a common bond with men and women worldwide.
- Justin Lam ‘06

Bellarmine puts a real emphasis on building Men for Others, but it also builds future leaders in Silicon Valley that are self-aware and world-aware. The students and graduates are able to adapt to a rapidly changing world with confidence. They can energize others with heroic ambitions and passion for their work while also treating each individual with respect and integrity.
- Pat Haines, parent of two graduates and one current student.
If I go to Bellarmine, will I ever see any girls? Hide: Yes, all the time - just not in the classroom. You’ll see girls at mixers, games, dances, and on weekends. The amount of contact with girls is up to you.
- Luke Council ‘04

In reality, Bellarmine is a place where meeting girls is not that difficult. Mixers, track practice, or just hanging around are all examples of seeing girls on campus. The only place where girls are absent is in the classroom.
Is it hard to get into Bellarmine? Hide: Bellarmine typically receives approximately 900 applications each year. Most of these applicants are talented and qualified. Bellarmine is able to accept 40 to 45 percent of these applicants. The Admissions Committee looks at the following criteria: grades from 7th and 8th grade classes (“A’s” and “B’s” are encouraged. Each “C” reduces an applicant’s chances of admission. A “D” or an “F” might eliminate an applicant from consideration.); committed involvement in at least two co-curricular activities; standardized test scores from 7th and 8th grade as well as an entrance exam score; and recommendations. Bellarmine gives preference to Catholic applicants although 25 to 30 percent of the student body is non-Catholic.
How much homework is there every night? Hide: The only honest answer to this question is: “it depends.” The amount of homework will depend on the course load a student takes as well as on the student’s work habits. Upper division classes usually require additional time due to the level of the classes, but the workload is manageable.
What kind of classes will I take? Hide: Bellarmine offers a broad array of classes for you to take. We have courses in English, Fine Arts, Math, Science, P.E., Social Science, Religious Studies, Foreign Language, and Computer Science. Check out our Course Catalog for specific classes and to see what electives are available. Our goal is to offer an academic program designed to instill in you an intellectual curiosity and a world view that values faith, love, and justice.
What kinds of opportunities will I have to explore Fine Arts at Bellarmine? Hide: Whatever your artistic talents or interests might be, we have something for you at Bellarmine. We are proud to offer an extensive Arts curriculum covering more than 12 creative disciplines. Classes range from the traditional visual (Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture) to the musical (Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Music Appreciation) to the high tech (Photography, Graphic Design, Digital Video Production).
- Kevin McMahon ’90, Graphic Design and Digital Video Production Teacher Bellarmine has a terrific Fine Arts department. You can choose from so many different classes. And for those who want to go beyond the course offerings, the fine arts teachers are always happy to assist in any personal projects, and will gladly assist those who wish to continue further than the curriculum.
- Dean Clark ’06.
Can I be part of a Bellarmine sports team? Hide: Bellarmine fields teams in 13 sports over three seasons. While there are tryouts for many sports at Bellarmine, each season has at least one no-cut sport. Bellarmine also has an intramural program allowing students to play their favorite sport during lunch.
What kinds of activities does Bellarmine offer? Hide: Essentially, if you can dream it, there’s an activity for it - sports, student leadership, ethnic/cultural, community service, even clubs that celebrate the Beatles or ping pong.
- Justin Lam ‘06 Bellarmine has more than 60 student clubs and organizations in which you can develop your talents and share your knowledge and interests with others
Will my family be able to afford Bellarmine? Hide: Bellarmine’s tuition for the 2006-2007 school year is $11,800, but financial aid is available. Generous alumni, parents and friends make possible the finest financial aid program in the greater Bay Area. Aid is granted purely on the basis of financial need. An important fact to note is that Bellarmine’s tuition is similar to that of other Catholic high schools in the area and significantly lower than other private high schools.
What does the phrase "man for others" mean? Hide: Fr. Pedro Arrupe, former Superior General of the Jesuits, coined the phrase “man for others” in a speech he delivered in 1973. The phrase has since become the motto of most Jesuit schools. Arrupe explained that the challenge of Jesuit schools is to foster “men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men and women completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for others is a farce.” That is the challenge that Bellarmine students rise up to meet: to live in solidarity with the poor, and with a commitment to creating a more just society. Whether it is reaching out to the poor or disadvantaged in the community outside of Bellarmine or helping a fellow student who is struggling in math class, it is in the giving of the heart, whether in matters big or small, that defines being a “man for others. ”
- Michael Lee ’06 It means looking into the face of every man, woman, or child and seeing him or her as my brother or my sister. We are then called to increase our capacity to share God’s unconditional love, to act with compassion, and to stand with our struggling brothers and sisters.
- Anne Maloney, Assistant Director of Christian Service