BRIDGEPORT, CT – Fairfield Bellarmine, a two-year associate’s degree program affiliated with Fairfield University, has launched a new initiative allowing its students a pathway to Georgetown University, one of the nation’s most selective institutions. The program, formalized through Georgetown’s Community College Preferred Consideration Program, expands access to bachelor’s degrees for students from the Greater Bridgeport region and beyond.
Under the agreement, Fairfield Bellarmine can recommend up to three highly qualified students annually for transfer admission to Georgetown. Even as admission is not guaranteed, nominated students will receive consideration within Georgetown’s competitive transfer process, designed to support students from two-year institutions, including first-generation and non-traditional learners.
“We are delighted to form this partnership with Georgetown, which like Fairfield is a Jesuit university,” said Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., executive director of Fairfield Bellarmine. “Together, we are committed to expanding access in Jesuit higher education so that students may realize their God-given potential and serve their communities. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition, our goal is to ensure that academic promise, not circumstance, determines how far a student can go.”
Fairfield Bellarmine currently offers five academic tracks – Business, Computer Science, Health Studies, Liberal Studies and Education – designed to prepare students for either transfer to four-year universities or direct entry into the workforce. Successful transfer applicants to Georgetown typically maintain a college GPA of 3.8 or higher, alongside a strong high school record.
The initiative comes as Fairfield Bellarmine demonstrates strong student outcomes. A university spokesperson stated the program has achieved a nearly 80% two-year graduation rate, significantly exceeding the statewide three-year graduation rate of under 20% for Connecticut community colleges. The Class of 2025 comprises 35 graduates, with approximately 90% planning to continue their education toward a bachelor’s degree, primarily at Fairfield University. One graduate has been accepted to Stanford University.
This partnership with Georgetown builds upon Fairfield Bellarmine’s existing network of transfer agreements with institutions including Albertus Magnus College and Williams College, all aimed at streamlining credit transfer and facilitating timely degree completion. Fairfield Bellarmine administrators are actively seeking additional partnerships with selective colleges and universities to broaden bachelor’s degree pathways for its students.
The move aligns with a growing trend in higher education, with institutions like Sarah Lawrence College establishing similar transfer programs with community colleges in New York. Sarah Lawrence’s partnerships with SUNY Westchester Community College and Bronx Community College guarantee junior standing, full financial aid, and a two-year path to graduation for admitted students. Westchester Community College also offers guaranteed admission to other SUNY schools and articulation agreements with institutions like Mercy University and Manhattanville University.
Georgetown University has committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of admitted, eligible undergraduate students who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.
