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Niagara scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$53,255per year · 2024-2025 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Niagara is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 9 published awards, and one is based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
9 school sources to explore

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

Step 1 of comparing your list

Check the rules that could cut this.

Check Niagara free in 30 seconds. Then see how it ranks against the rest of your list.

Checking merit aid at Niagara

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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. Incoming Freshmen Scholarships & Grants (Niagara Trustees' Scholarships, NU Presidential Scholarships, Deans' Scholarships, NU Achievement Awards, NU Grants)$15,000-$25,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Incoming Freshmen Scholarships & Grants (Niagara Trustees' Scholarships, NU Presidential Scholarships, Deans' Scholarships, NU Achievement Awards, NU Grants)

    $15,000-$25,000 per year

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

    GPA
    Not published — eligibility determined by a thorough evaluation of the high school transcript and/or submitted standardized test scores
    SAT
    Not published
    ACT
    Not published
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Incoming Freshmen Scholarships & Grants (Niagara Trustees' Scholarships, NU Presidential Scholarships, Deans' Scholarships, NU Achievement Awards, NU Grants)

    Who qualifies

    Must be accepted as a full-time matriculated undergraduate; awards prorated for 6-11 credit hours per semester

    How to keep it

    Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order for the funds to be renewed each year. Catalog adds: renewable up to three years of undergraduate study with continuous enrollment.

    Worth knowing

    Five named award levels on one first-year merit ladder; the school publishes amounts only, with no GPA/ACT/SAT cutoff grid. Catalog states levels are set at initial enrollment and are not upgradable, and a student may receive only one NU academic/merit-based scholarship.

  2. Transfer Scholarship / Transfer Award (GPA grid)$14,000-$21,000 per yearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Transfer Scholarship / Transfer Award (GPA grid)

    $14,000-$21,000 per year

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

    GPA
    2.50-2.79 = $14,000; 2.80-3.09 = $16,000; 3.10-3.39 = $18,000; 3.40-3.69 = $19,000; 3.70 & above = $21,000 (cumulative GPA from prior colleges/universities)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Transfer Scholarship / Transfer Award (GPA grid)

    Who qualifies

    Full-time matriculated transfer students who do not already hold a bachelor's degree; no application required; FAFSA advised but not required

    How to keep it

    Scholarships and awards are renewable for up to three years; students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

    Worth knowing

    Published GPA grid; the page states there is no application for the transfer scholarships/awards.

  3. Phi Theta Kapa Merit Scholarship$24,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Phi Theta Kapa Merit Scholarship

    $24,000 per year

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

    GPA
    3.00 cumulative QPA (per the PTK eligibility entry on the same page)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Phi Theta Kapa Merit Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Phi Theta Kappa membership documentation required; a student may receive funding from Alpha Beta Gamma or Phi Theta Kappa, but not both

    How to keep it

    Scholarships and awards are renewable for up to three years; students must maintain satisfactory academic progress.

    Worth knowing

    Top transfer-merit line on the transfer grid; spelled 'Phi Theta Kapa' in the table (typo preserved). PTK members can also compete for an additional PTK Honors Scholarship of $3,000/year (two awarded per semester, application and essay required).

  4. Full Flight ScholarshipFull tuition (a value of at least $39,000 per year)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Full Flight Scholarship

    Full tuition (a value of at least $39,000 per year)

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

    GPA
    None beyond admission — 'If you are accepted to Niagara University, you meet all the academic requirements for the program.'
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Full Flight Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    First-year students only (not available to transfers); New York State resident per TAP eligibility guidelines; eligible for the Maximum Pell Grant (typically SAI below 0); must file FAFSA (school code 002788) and NYS TAP

    How to keep it

    If your family income exceeds the annual maximum, you will no longer be eligible. However, if your income stays within that limit, the funding will be available to you for your full four years at Niagara University. You must remain a New York State resident.

    Worth knowing

    TUITION-ONLY, last-dollar program: TAP, Pell and other grants apply first and Full Flight covers the remaining tuition balance. It is NOT a full ride — housing, food, fees and other costs are not covered. Students whose tuition is fully covered by military or employer benefits are not eligible.

  5. Purple Eagle Leadership Award$25,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Purple Eagle Leadership Award

    $25,000

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

    GPA
    Minimum 90 GPA (100-point high school scale)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Purple Eagle Leadership Award

    Who qualifies

    For high school juniors; nomination by a counselor, teacher, community leader or mentor required; nominations due by April 1; must demonstrate leadership, community engagement and service values

    How to keep it

    Awarded $25,000 and a book award renewable up to 4 years.

    Worth knowing

    Cannot be combined with other merit scholarships — choosing it means giving up the freshman merit ladder award.

  6. Vincentian Scholars ProgramTrustee-scholarship level plus up to $5,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Vincentian Scholars Program

    Trustee-scholarship level plus up to $5,000 per year

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

    GPA
    Must maintain a high grade point average (no admission cutoff published)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Vincentian Scholars Program

    Who qualifies

    Selective program with service/social-justice commitments alongside local community partners

    How to keep it

    Up to $5,000 per year as long as they maintain satisfactory academic performance and fulfill scholarship responsibilities; described as a four-year program.

    Worth knowing

    Elite four-year scholarship program funded by the Glynn family; stacks a $5,000/year supplement on top of trustee-level merit.

  7. Eagle Experience Scholarship$1,250 per year, up to $5,000Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Eagle Experience Scholarship

    $1,250 per year, up to $5,000

    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 Eagle Experience Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Attend an in-person or virtual undergraduate admissions event, then apply by deadline (Fall 2026 freshmen: Nov. 15, 2025); first-time incoming 2026 students only; NUSTEP scholarship recipients and readmits not eligible

    How to keep it

    Applied to your financial package for each year that you attend Niagara University.

    Worth knowing

    Visit-based add-on. Not available to students receiving a full-tuition benefit. Subject to the rule that merit plus additional scholarships cannot exceed 75% of tuition and fees, so some offers may be reduced or canceled. Does not cover study-abroad/off-campus direct costs.

  8. Canadian Freshman Scholarship (Canadian Admissions page)$24,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Canadian Freshman Scholarship (Canadian Admissions page)

    $24,000 per year

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

    GPA
    Not published — 'Tuition is variable and depends on the level of merit scholarship and other grants that you receive. Once we have your marks from high school or other post secondary institutions, we can calculate this'
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Canadian Freshman Scholarship (Canadian Admissions page)

    Who qualifies

    Canadian freshmen; OSAP-eligible institution

    How to keep it

    Renewal terms not stated on the Canadian Admissions page; general NU merit renewal rules (satisfactory academic progress) presumably apply — confirm with admissions.

    Worth knowing

    The Canadian Admissions page advertises '$24,000 per year available to Canadian freshmen' — note this differs from the $25,000 top Trustees' award on the main grid; treated as the Canadian-specific headline figure.

  9. NUSTEP Scholarship$3,000 per yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    NUSTEP Scholarship

    $3,000 per year

    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 NUSTEP Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Earn at least a B- (80) in NUSTEP dual-enrollment course(s) and enroll at Niagara the fall semester after high school graduation

    How to keep it

    Applicable for up to four years of full-time, continuous undergraduate study at Niagara University.

    Worth knowing

    Granted on the NUSTEP course grade rather than overall GPA/test scores. Cannot be combined with the Eagle Experience Scholarship.

Lights up against Niagara'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 ruleNUSTEP Scholarship: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

Applicable for up to four years of full-time, continuous undergraduate study at Niagara University. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Aid capHard $53,255 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at Niagara cannot push the package past $53,255. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes Niagara different

Niagara pairs a flat five-level freshman merit ladder ($15,000–$25,000/year, no published stat grid) with the Full Flight free-tuition guarantee for New York Pell-max families — but a strict one-merit-award rule and a 75%-of-tuition-and-fees stacking cap limit how awards combine.

Merit tiers91 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 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 Niagara'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. The catalog states 'A student may be awarded only one academic/merit-based scholarship from Niagara University.' The Purple Eagle Leadership Award page likewise says it 'cannot be combined with other merit scholarships,' and NUSTEP cannot be combined with Eagle Experience.

  2. The Eagle Experience page warns: 'The combination of a student's merit with additional scholarships cannot exceed 75% of tuition and fees so some offers may be reduced or canceled.' Families stacking add-ons (Eagle Experience, Housing Grant, legacy, area grants) can see offers cut at this ceiling.

  3. Full Flight is a tuition-only, last-dollar program: TAP, Pell and other grants apply first and it covers only the remaining tuition balance. Housing ($13,400+ per the 2024-25 cost sheet), food, fees, and books are not covered.

  4. The Full Flight page states you must remain a New York State resident ('If you change your residency to another state, you will no longer be eligible') and 'If your family income exceeds the annual maximum, you will no longer be eligible.' It is also not available to transfer students, and students whose tuition is fully covered by military or employer benefits are ineligible.

  5. The catalog states 'Scholarship levels are determined at time of initial enrollment and are not upgradable.' The award you enter with is the award you keep.

  6. The Scholarships & Grants page says Monteagle grants 'act as placeholders until the university determines the availability of endowed scholarships. Endowed scholarships may replace some or all of your Monteagle grants' — endowed awards can displace existing need-based grants rather than stack.

  7. Per the catalog, students in the RN Completion Program, Accelerated Nursing Program and the Ontario Teacher Education Bachelor Degree Program are not eligible for NU academic/merit-based scholarships, and students receiving full tuition remission from any program are also ineligible.

  8. The catalog limits NU scholarship/grant/tuition-remission amounts for study-abroad/off-campus enrollees 'to the difference between Niagara University charges and the direct cash payment by Niagara University to the study-abroad or off-campus program,' and the Eagle Experience award 'does not cover the direct cost of study abroad or other off-campus programs.'

  9. The $1,250/year ($5,000 total) Eagle Experience Scholarship requires attending an admissions event AND applying by deadline — Nov. 15, 2025 for Fall 2026 freshmen; readmits and NUSTEP scholarship recipients are not eligible.

  10. Merit amounts are prorated for less-than-full-time enrollment (minimum six credit hours per semester), and per the catalog 'No institutional grant/scholarship is available for less than half-time attendance.' Renewal also requires continuous enrollment and satisfactory academic progress, with renewal limited to three years of undergraduate study.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Strong-transcript freshmen who want a predictable five-figure merit award without a separate application, New York State residents eligible for the maximum Pell Grant (who attend tuition-free via Full Flight), Canadian students, and community-college transfers with a 2.50+ GPA who hit an automatic published award grid.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $53,255 for 2024-2025. Source

Cost and graduation facts

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

Average annual net price by family income at Niagara, academic year 2021-22
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$9,564
$30,001–$48,000$11,510
$48,001–$75,000$17,322
$75,001–$110,000$20,355
$110,001+$22,990
All income levels (average)$17,248

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$39,345
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$17,248

That works out to roughly a 67% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $51,632 (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
75%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
80%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$25,475 (~$270/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$56,196
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
37%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
65%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Outside scholarships only trigger an aid adjustment if total aid would exceed the cost of attendance (or the student's aid eligibility cap); below that ceiling, awards are not displaced.

Verified policy language (2026-07-02): It is your responsibility to notify us of any additional financial aid awards, (private scholarships, etc.) that you receive. The need for financial aid far exceeds the funds available, so it is important that we do not over-fund one student while rejecting another due to lack of funds. Revision of your financial aid package may be required. ... The Office of Financial Aid at Niagara University reserves the right to adjust financial aid awards based on changes in credit hours, residency status, income verification and/or receipt of other funds, including other NU awards. ... The sum of all financial aid received may not exceed cost of attendance. Separately, the school's own award-stacking rules: Niagara allows only ONE institutional academic/merit-based scholarship per student, applies all NU scholarships/grants to tuition and fees first, freezes the merit level at initial enrollment (no upgrades), and caps a student's merit plus additional scholarships at 75% of tuition and fees. A student may be awarded only one academic/merit-based scholarship from Niagara University.' Students receiving full tuition remission from any program are not eligible for NU merit scholarships, and NU merit cannot be combined with NU employee tuition remission. (per https://catalog.niagara.edu/undergraduate/financing-education/institutional-programs/)

Source

Other Niagara scholarships worth checking

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

Amount$1,000 per year ($2,000 each if more than one legacy sibling enrolls at the same time)EligibilityUndergraduates with a parent, stepparent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and/or sibling who graduated from Niagara University

Contact the financial aid office for the application link.

Source

Amount$2,000 per yearEligibilityUndergraduates who reside in Rochester NY, Syracuse NY, Downstate NY, or Ontario, Canada

Geography-based grant.

Source

Amount$2,500 per yearEligibilityUndergraduate students who will be living on campus

Renewable as long as living on campus.

Source

Amount$5,000 per yearEligibilityOut-of-state full-time transfer students who reside on campus

Renewable as long as living on campus and pursuing undergraduate studies. Cannot be combined with the Housing Grant.

Source

Amount$1,000 per yearEligibilityTransfer students who graduated from SUNY Erie, SUNY Niagara, Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee Community College, or Monroe Community College

Renewable for undergraduate studies.

Source

Amount$2,500 per yearEligibilityActive Alpha Beta Gamma members with 3.00 cumulative GPA (transfer students); proof of membership required

A student may receive funding from Alpha Beta Gamma or Phi Theta Kappa, but not both.

Source

Amount$3,000 per yearEligibilityAdditional competitive opportunity for all PTK Merit Scholarship recipients; required application and essay

Two scholarships awarded per semester.

Source

Amount$6,000 per year stipendEligibilityNatural-science majors admitted to the NUSTAR research program (B or better in HS biology/chemistry/environmental science, application + interview); progression requires 3.5 GPA

Research stipend plus conference travel funding; application review begins February 1.

Source

Amount$1,500 one-time 'signing bonus' scholarshipEligibility10 NU students enrolled in the College of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management, with a focus on sport management

Includes mentorship from Buffalo Sabres leadership and possible paid internship for select rising juniors.

Source

Amount25% tuition discountEligibilityMembers of a Roman Catholic religious order (priest, brother, nun)

Contact the financial aid office to be considered.

Source

AmountFull tuition, fees, books, room (double) and board (if living on campus) for up to four yearsEligibilityUndergraduates with a high school average of 92 or higher, significant financial need, and demonstrated leadership/participation in school and community activities

The award's name did not render in the fetched page text; contact your admissions counselor for additional information (as the page instructs).

Source

AmountUp to the value of tuition and fees (up to three awards annually)EligibilityStudents from the Buffalo and Syracuse city school districts who meet residency, high school attendance and income eligibility requirements

Funded through a combination of NYS TAP, Federal Pell, institutional merit award and Say Yes funding.

Source

Niagara merit aid FAQ

  • What is the scholarship deadline?

    There is no separate application or deadline for the freshman merit ladder (eligibility is determined from your admission file) or the Full Flight Scholarship ('There is no deadline, though we strongly recommend submitting your admissions application, FAFSA, and NYS TAP applications as soon as possible'). The Eagle Experience visit scholarship has hard deadlines: Nov. 15, 2025 for incoming Fall 2026 freshmen (Spring 2026 transfers Nov. 15, 2025; Summer 2026 transfers April 15, 2026; Fall 2026 transfers July 15, 2026). Purple Eagle Leadership Award nominations are due by April 1.

  • Is the Full Flight Scholarship a full ride?

    No. It is a full TUITION grant (a value of at least $39,000 per year) and a last-dollar program — TAP, Pell, and other grants apply first and Full Flight covers the remaining tuition balance. Housing, food, fees and other costs are not covered, and you must be a New York State resident eligible for the Maximum Pell Grant.

  • Can I combine two Niagara merit scholarships?

    No. The catalog states a student may be awarded only one academic/merit-based scholarship from Niagara University, and the Purple Eagle Leadership Award cannot be combined with other merit scholarships. Smaller add-ons (Housing Grant, Eagle Experience, legacy/area grants) can be layered, but combined merit-plus-scholarships cannot exceed 75% of tuition and fees.

  • What do I need to keep my merit scholarship?

    Maintain continuous full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress; awards are renewable for up to three years of undergraduate study (four years total). No specific renewal GPA is published — confirm the SAP standard with the financial aid office.

  • Do Canadian students get merit scholarships?

    Yes — the Canadian Admissions page advertises '$24,000 per year available to Canadian freshmen,' and tuition 'depends on the level of merit scholarship and other grants that you receive' once NU reviews your marks. Both campuses are OSAP-eligible.

  • Do transfer students need to apply for merit scholarships?

    No — 'There is no application for the transfer scholarships/awards.' Awards run from $14,000/year (2.50-2.79 GPA) to $21,000/year (3.70+), with $24,000/year for documented Phi Theta Kappa members. Full Flight is not available to transfers.

See sources and other schools

How Niagara compares

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

    Niagara 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.

    Niagara 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 Niagara’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Niagara merit aid

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