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.
Verified Jun 2026today· COWORK
Merit tiers101 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK
Rules that bite at Catholic University
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Catholic University's own published policy, not generic advice.
renewalThe Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
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).' A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.
capHard $89,486 cost-of-attendance ceiling
Institutional aid at Catholic University cannot push the package past $89,486. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Catholic University
University scholarships apply only to TUITION charges, and merit + need-based aid combined cannot exceed total tuition charges — so housing and food are not covered by these awards.
The TEP award (~85% of tuition) cannot be combined with any other Catholic University scholarship or grant — accepting it forfeits the CUA Scholarship and other institutional awards.
University scholarships are awarded on prior academic performance and are 'not subject to future increases' — the only exception is the Archdiocesan Scholarship.
The Parish Scholarship section must be completed within the Common Application; receipt is not automatic and no adjustments are made after admission/scholarship decisions are rendered.
Who this school is for
Strong Catholic-school and parish-connected applicants who want stackable automatic awards; a Diocese-of-Trenton service-minded student or a legacy family can win the largest named awards.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $89,486 for 2026-2027. Source
Institutional merit aid tiers
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
$17,000-$32,000
The Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship)
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Exceptional academic profile based on quality of high school curriculum, GPA, and class rank (if provided); test-optional — scores not reviewed
Renewal terms
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).'
Notes
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.
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 terms
Renewable for up to four years.
Notes
Receipt is NOT automatic; only one Parish Scholarship awarded per student and no later requests accepted.
Top of high school class, 'A' average in a highly demanding curriculum, significant leadership; nomination in mid-December, 250-word statement, interviews
Renewal terms
Recipients must maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA at all times plus Satisfactory Academic Progress. This is the only university scholarship that IS subject to future increases.
Notes
Competitive/nominated. Dollar amount not stated on the page.
Most Reverend David M. O'Connell Service Scholarship
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
Entering freshman from the Diocese of Trenton, NJ with a demonstrated record of service; no separate application but service resume encouraged; finalists interviewed
Renewal terms
Four-year, full-tuition award.
Notes
One award per year. Full TUITION, not full cost of attendance.
Child of a qualified employee at a TEP-participating institution; home institution determines initial eligibility/deadline
Renewal terms
Continuing students must be determined eligible by their home institution and continue to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Notes
CANNOT be combined with any other Catholic University scholarship or grant. ~10 awarded annually from 80-100 applications. Value figure is for 2025-2026 (aid-year mismatch — see Section C).
Parent employed full-time as faculty/staff at the John Paul II Institute; full-time degree-seeking student
Renewal terms
Renewable as long as the parent maintains continuous full-time employment at the Institute and the student remains matriculated in good standing; up to four years (eight semesters), aggregate max $40,000.
Notes
Can be combined with other CUA merit scholarships up to the value of full tuition.
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.
The cap is a TUITION cap (not a cost-of-attendance cap): 'Merit and need-based aid cannot be awarded above total tuition charges.' University scholarships can only be applied to tuition billed by CUA during fall/spring.
Do I need a separate application for merit scholarships?
No. Consideration for the CUA Scholarship and most named awards is made during the admission application process; applicants who want only merit aid need only complete the admission application. The Parish Scholarship requires completing its section within the Common Application.
How long do scholarships last?
Undergraduate scholarships and university grants remain the same for all four years (up to 8 semesters) unless requirements are unmet or financial circumstances change; they require continuous full-time enrollment (min 12 credits) and Satisfactory Academic Progress.
What is the FAFSA deadline?
Early Action applicants should file by January 1; Regular Decision applicants by February 1. Students filing after April 1 are considered for need-based aid on a funds-available basis. CUA's Title IV school code is 001437; CSS Profile is not required.
How Catholic University compares across our verified dataset
62 of 272 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.
Catholic University is in a recognizable cluster (62 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
247 of 272 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Catholic University is one of them. The cohort minority (25 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Sources used on this page
Every claim is checked against Catholic University’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
