Catholic Scholarships

We created the following guide to help Catholic students find and apply scholarships based on their faith and values. We’ve also compiled useful information on ways students can strengthen and boost their faith while on and off campus, as well as the reasons why Catholic and non-Catholic students choose to attend the many Catholic colleges and universities throughout the nation.

Many Catholic colleges offer scholarships as a means of attracting the nation’s brightest students, and also to offset the higher tuition costs that come with attending a private university. There are many different private and organizational scholarships available to Catholic students as well. Here are 20 of the commonly pursued Catholic scholarships:

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Tuition at private Catholic colleges far exceeds tuition at state-sponsored colleges and public universities. According to the College Board’s Trends in Higher Education report, in-state tuition at public four-year state colleges was just under $10,000 for the 2017-2018 academic year, and nearly $35,000 for private four-year institutions. It can be even higher at top-tier Catholic institutions.

For many students, winning a scholarship to a Catholic college is a priority to help offset these steep tuition costs. Following these five tips can help students find additional Catholic school scholarships.

Scholarships are important because they reduce students’ need for federal financial aid, such as loans that have to be paid back. Graduating from college with a cumbersome financial student debt load can lead to default – in fiscal year 2014, more than 580,000 students defaulted on their loans.

Although most scholarships have their own set of requirements for applicants, they typically include some basic requirements, such as applicants’ high school or college grades, SAT or ACT scores, and financial need. For certain colleges, high-achieving students with stellar GPAs are placed into consideration for institutional merit-based scholarships simply by applying to the college. Colleges use merit-based aid to attract the best students to their campuses.

Organizing and compiling all relevant materials, as well as tracking due dates and deadlines, is of utmost importance when applying for Catholic scholarships. Students also can follow these three tips to help them sail through the application process and hopefully land a Catholic scholarship.

Grades often are the first thing scholarship committees review. Students whose grades place them in the top percentile of applicants stand a better chance of making the final cut.

Academic merit is but one important criteria for winning a scholarship. Scholarship committees often seek academically talented students who also have demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to community service and Catholic involvement. Extra-curricular activities can include athletic accomplishments, being a part of school clubs and organizations, or involvement in service and stewardship. Students who are highly engaged in high school and in their communities – as well as in their Catholic faith — often continue those trends during their university studies and make for exemplary college students.

Some scholarships require a personal nomination, such as a letter of recommendation from a high school principal or a campus professor. Many require personal essays, as well as in-person interviews. The essay is where scholarship committees learn more about candidates, while the interview is often the deciding awarding factor. Winning essays should be creative, hold a consistent theme, convey applicants’ strengths and commitments, and be well-written. For interviews, applicants can conduct mock interviews with key academic personnel or until they’ve polished their approach and speaking skills.

Catholic colleges and universities differ from other postsecondary institutions in that institutional leaders have a concerted focus on four guiding principles that are intertwined with all educational curriculum. They are:

These are the tenets that make attending Catholic college different from non-faith-based institutions. Here are some other things to consider and frequently asked questions about attending a Catholic university.

The following institutions are popular choices for Catholic college students:

Located in Omaha, Neb. Creighton is committed to developing students’ Jesuit Catholic values and traditions. Students are challenged to reflect on their relationship with God, the importance of service, individual worth and cultural diversity. Faculty and staff strive to teach principles that can better society, promote critical thinking, and foster an ethical understanding of the complex issues facing the world.

The first postsecondary institution in the city of Boston, this college is grounded in Jesuit Catholic ideals – students are encouraged to develop not only intellectually, but ethically and spiritually as well in order to better live in service of others. The college was founded in 1863.

DePaul is the largest Catholic College in the U.S. with campuses in Chicago and Lincoln Park, Ill. Faculty integrate service opportunities into curriculum, and the university features more than 45 institutions and centers whose focus is on social justice. The university’s educational programs are rooted in Catholic and Vincentian history, spirituality and service.

Georgetown is the country’s first Catholic and Jesuit college. It is a global research institution committed to developing student faith, civic engagement and service opportunities through academic scholarship and cultural programs. The college was founded in 1789.

Many colleges and universities have dedicated gathering places for Catholic students. Here are some of the most common meeting places where students can join their peers, engage in service, and find resources to strengthen their faith journey.

School isn’t the only place where Catholic students can find support – many Catholics who’ve left home for college become integral members of the local parish near their university. These five resources also can help Catholic college students on their educational and faith journeys.

This site created by Fr. Felix Just, a former teacher at Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara University, is a repository of Catholic resources that includes audio conferences, various electronic materials that delve into the New Testament, full text of the Roman Catholic Mass, resources for further study of world religious and much more.

CRS offers many free downloadable prayer books to help students better connect with and live their faith. CRS also features a university program for students to engage with other students, faculty and staff as Catholic ambassadors.

The mission of this collegiate college outreach is to share the Catholic faith with college students through missionary, local events, discipleship and national conferences. Catholic students also can find faith resources on their campus through FOCUS.

Groups such as The National Catholic College Admission Association, the National Catholic Educational Association and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities can help students find news, resources and choose a school that meets their needs and faith expectations.

Strengthening Catholic faith and identity is a primary mission of Catholic colleges and universities. There are many ways students can increase their Catholic identity on campus, including:

Stacy Caprio graduated from Boston College, a Catholic college, in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She is an online marketer who enjoys running A/B tests, writing articles, and helping businesses grow.