Fairfield Bellarmine Partners With Quinnipiac University on New Transfer Pathway

Fairfield Bellarmine graduates now have a direct route to a bachelor’s degree at Quinnipiac, expanding the program’s transfer options to eight institutions.

Fairfield Bellarmine, Fairfield University’s two-year associate’s degree program, has established a new transfer pathway with Quinnipiac University. The agreement expands opportunities for Bellarmine students who want to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree. It also adds another Connecticut institution to Bellarmine’s growing network of partner schools.

Beginning with the Class of 2027, Bellarmine graduates who maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 will be eligible to apply to Quinnipiac. Admitted students can apply their Bellarmine credits toward a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree in a range of majors, and they will be eligible for financial aid at Quinnipiac

“We are delighted to partner with Quinnipiac to create another pathway to a four-year degree for our Bellarmine graduates,” said Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., executive director and vice provost of Fairfield Bellarmine. “Quinnipiac and Fairfield are not only neighbors, but we share a commitment to expanding access to higher education and creating opportunities for Connecticut residents to contribute to the development of their home state.”

Fairfield Bellarmine follows a 2+2 pathway model. Students choose from four academic tracks sponsored by Fairfield’s undergraduate schools: business, computer science, health studies, or liberal arts, and earn an associate’s degree in two years at the Bellarmine Campus in Bridgeport. They are then eligible to transfer credits toward completion of a bachelor’s degree in two more years at Fairfield University or a partner institution such as Quinnipiac.

“Every student deserves the support to finish what they started in higher education,” said Thomas Ellet, chief experience officer at Quinnipiac University. “Institutions like ours have a responsibility to the communities where we reside, and this partnership creates a connected pathway for local students to continue from Bellarmine to a bachelor’s degree at Quinnipiac.”

Fairfield Bellarmine has been delivering strong student outcomes with a 77 percent two-year graduate rate, while Connecticut community colleges have a three-year rate under 20 percent. In addition, 92 percent of Bellarmine students go on to a 4-year college or university program. This summer, the program welcomed 80 new students to its Class of 2028 cohort.

With the addition of Quinnipiac, Bellarmine students can now choose from eight bachelor’s degree pathways:

• Fairfield University
• Quinnipiac University
• Albertus Magnus College
• Georgetown University
• Loyola University New Orleans
• Regis College
• University of Bridgeport
• Williams College

About Quinnipiac University 

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. The university enrolls 9,800 students in more than 100 degree programs through its Schools of Business, Communications, Education, Computing and Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Nursing and the College of Arts & Sciences.

Quinnipiac is ranked 51st in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” and is also recognized by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review’s “The Best 392 Colleges.” The university is expanding innovative programs for both traditional and adult learners and developing dynamic corporate partnerships. Quinnipiac recently completed a significant capital expansion on its main campus, including a state-of-the-art new School of Business and an interdisciplinary science and innovation hub. 

For more information, please visit qu.edu. Connect with Quinnipiac on Facebook and Instagram and follow Quinnipiac on X @QuinnipiacU. 

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