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Catholic University scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$89,486per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Catholic University awards automatic merit on admission. Catholic University does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jun 2026
3 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. The Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship)$17,000-$32,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    The Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship)

    $17,000-$32,000

    Published rangeNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for The Catholic University of America Scholarship (CUA Scholarship)

    Who qualifies

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

    How to keep it

    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).'

    Worth knowing

    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.

  2. Legacy Grant$1,000AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Legacy Grant

    $1,000

    Published amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Legacy Grant

    Who qualifies

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

    How to keep it

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

    Worth knowing

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

  3. Parish Scholarship$4,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Parish Scholarship

    $4,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Parish Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    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

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to four years.

    Worth knowing

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

  4. Archdiocesan ScholarshipAmount not publishedNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Archdiocesan Scholarship

    Amount not published

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Archdiocesan Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Top of high school class, 'A' average in a highly demanding curriculum, significant leadership; nomination in mid-December, 250-word statement, interviews

    How to keep it

    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.

    Worth knowing

    Competitive/nominated. Dollar amount not stated on the page.

  5. Most Reverend David M. O'Connell Service ScholarshipFull tuitionNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Most Reverend David M. O'Connell Service Scholarship

    Full tuition

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Most Reverend David M. O'Connell Service Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Entering freshman from the Diocese of Trenton, NJ with a demonstrated record of service; no separate application but service resume encouraged; finalists interviewed

    How to keep it

    Four-year, full-tuition award.

    Worth knowing

    One award per year. Full TUITION, not full cost of attendance.

  6. Basselin Scholarship Program50% tuition waiver plus scholarships for remaining tuition, room, and boardNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Basselin Scholarship Program

    50% tuition waiver plus scholarships for remaining tuition, room, and board

    Published coverage or packageNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Basselin Scholarship Program

    Who qualifies

    Must be admitted into the Basselin Fellowship Program (philosophy)

    How to keep it

    Tied to continued participation in the Basselin Fellowship Program.

    Worth knowing

    Students 'may be permitted to combine this assistance with other aid depending on the aid program and the student's year in college.'

  7. Karen Laub-Novak Art and Faith Scholarship$5,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Karen Laub-Novak Art and Faith Scholarship

    $5,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Karen Laub-Novak Art and Faith Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    First-year student admitted to Studio Art or Art History major; online portfolio (10-15 pieces) and faith-and-art essay; finalists interviewed

    How to keep it

    Renewable scholarship totaling $20,000 over four years, plus up to $6,500 research/travel support.

    Worth knowing

    Up to two students selected per year.

  8. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (Transfer Students Only)$3,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (Transfer Students Only)

    $3,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (Transfer Students Only)

    Who qualifies

    Transfer applicant who is an active PTK member at a two-year college; must provide PTK certificate with application

    How to keep it

    Renewable award.

    Worth knowing

    Transfer-specific award; separate track from first-year merit.

  9. Tuition Exchange Scholarship (TEP)Approximately 85% of tuition (2025-2026)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Tuition Exchange Scholarship (TEP)

    Approximately 85% of tuition (2025-2026)

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Tuition Exchange Scholarship (TEP)

    Who qualifies

    Child of a qualified employee at a TEP-participating institution; home institution determines initial eligibility/deadline

    How to keep it

    Continuing students must be determined eligible by their home institution and continue to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

    Worth knowing

    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).

  10. John Paul II Institute Employee Grant$10,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    John Paul II Institute Employee Grant

    $10,000

    Published amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    Start with the award’s published eligibility.

    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for John Paul II Institute Employee Grant

    Who qualifies

    Parent employed full-time as faculty/staff at the John Paul II Institute; full-time degree-seeking student

    How to keep it

    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.

    Worth knowing

    Can be combined with other CUA merit scholarships up to the value of full tuition.

Lights up against Catholic University's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office. Award terms and residency rules change; some awards differ for in-state and out-of-state students. Always confirm at the school’s source page.

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The fine print

Renewal ruleThe 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.

Aid 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.

Basilica Dome Tower Mall at Catholic University Of America

Basilica Dome Tower Mall at Catholic University Of America

What makes Catholic University different

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.

Merit tiers101 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJun 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

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

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Catholic University's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

What families often miss

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. University scholarships are awarded on prior academic performance and are 'not subject to future increases' — the only exception is the Archdiocesan Scholarship.

  4. 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.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work 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.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $89,486 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Catholic University, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Catholic University, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$17,358
$30,001–$48,000$17,895
$48,001–$75,000$24,723
$75,001–$110,000$28,295
$110,001+$37,651
All income levels (average)$29,561

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$58,378
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$29,561

That works out to roughly a 61% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $75,481 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
79%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
87%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$26,000 (~$276/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$73,250
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
27%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
56%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

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.

Source

Other Catholic University scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityTop applicants to certain fields; automatic consideration during admission review

Awards limited; no separate application

Source

AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityBachelor of Music applicants who complete the required audition

Can be combined with other merit-based awards

Source

AmountUp to median cost of on-campus room and boardEligibilityStudents who earn a full-tuition Army/Navy/Air Force ROTC scholarship

Non-refundable; applied only to housing and food

Source

AmountFunds existing CUA scholarship/grantEligibilityCannot apply directly; funds a portion or all of your CUA Scholarship or Need-Based Grant

60+ named donor funds listed

Source

Catholic University merit aid FAQ

  • 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.

See sources and other schools

How Catholic University compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    Catholic University is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Catholic University is one of them. The cohort minority (84 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.

Compare with similar schools

  • American merit aid. District of Columbia private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • Gallaudet merit aid. District of Columbia private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • GWU merit aid. District of Columbia private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.
  • Oklahoma Wesleyan (OKWU) merit aid. Oklahoma private school — compare automatic merit, amounts, and stacking.

Keep exploring Catholic University merit aid

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