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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Catholic University
Decision sheet

District of Columbia · Research checked 2026-06-03 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Catholic University layers automatic and competitive merit scholarships (the CUA Scholarship plus parish, legacy, and full-tuition service awards) but caps all merit-plus-need aid at tuition charges and bars combining its Tuition Exchange award with any other university scholarship.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

First 3 of 10 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Legacy Grant

$1,000 · Published amount

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: New first-year or transfer student with a parent, grandparent, or sibling who graduated from Catholic University (undergraduate, graduate, or law)

Renewal: Renewable for up to four years; determined only at time of admission.

Other terms: Awarded automatically to all admitted students meeting the legacy criterion; no separate application.

https://financial-aid.catholic.edu/undergraduate/aid-programs/scholarships.html

The Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship)

$17,000-$32,000 · Published range

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Exceptional academic profile based on quality of high school curriculum, GPA, and class rank (if provided); test-optional — scores not reviewed

Renewal: University scholarships may be renewed for up to eight semesters or until you complete your current degree; requires continuous full-time enrollment (min 12 credits) and Satisfactory Academic Progress. Page states amounts are 'not subject to future increases (except for the Archdiocesan Scholarship).'

Other terms: Page describes the figure as the 'current four-year scholarship ranging from $17,000 to $32,000' — wording is ambiguous as to annual vs four-year total; see Section C.

https://financial-aid.catholic.edu/undergraduate/aid-programs/scholarships.html

Parish Scholarship

$4,000 · Published amount

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Parishioner of a Catholic church in the U.S. or U.S. territories; must complete the Parish Scholarship section of the Common Application with the admission application

Renewal: Renewable for up to four years.

Other terms: Receipt is NOT automatic; only one Parish Scholarship awarded per student and no later requests accepted.

https://financial-aid.catholic.edu/undergraduate/aid-programs/scholarships.html

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: University scholarships apply only to tuition charges and are not refundable. Merit and need-based aid combined cannot exceed total tuition charges. Tuition Exchange cannot be combined with any other CUA scholarship or grant; the John Paul II grant and music awards can be combined with other merit up to full tuition.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/catholic-university-of-america/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.