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The merit-aid verdict at Paul Quinn
Paul Quinn is the nation's first Urban Work College: there is no published GPA/test merit grid — instead every residential full-time student works 300-400 hours a year to earn a Work Program Scholarship ($7,000 on-campus; $13,000-$18,000 corporate), and Honors College students can compete for a full cost-of-attendance package.
Common merit-aid mistakes at Paul Quinn
Paul Quinn publishes no merit grid. The financial aid page says only: 'We offer a limited number of institutional scholarships. Selection and renewal criteria may vary.' The headline awards are the Work Program Scholarship (earned by working) and competitive Honors College scholarships.
All residential, full-time students are REQUIRED to participate in the Work Program regardless of financial need, working 300-400 hours per academic year (10-20 hours/week) to earn the scholarship and stipend. It is compensation-linked aid, not a stats-based merit award.
The Honors College FAQ states explicitly: 'acceptance does not guarantee a scholarship, you will be prioritized for one of the two scholarships available through the program. Although we may not be able to provide a scholarship to every student...'
Honors scholarship holders must maintain a 3.0+ GPA (Vistra) or 3.25+ GPA (Strada) and participate in the Duke Mentor Program and Work Program career workshops — well above the college-wide 2.0 SAP minimum for keeping financial aid generally.
The Admitted Students page warns: 'If you do not complete a financial aid application, you will not be eligible for financial aid. This will result in a balance in your billing account that you can pay with student loans and/or a payment plan.'
Financial aid awards are packaged for full-time enrollment (12+ credits); on Census date enrollment is locked in, and 'If you are not enrolled full-time on Census date, your aid may be adjusted accordingly.'
The Schedule of Fees adds a Comprehensive Health Insurance and Health Services Fee of $1,810/year (on-campus); 'Comprehensive Insurance may be waived with submission of coverage documentation each term.' Without an approved waiver you are billed for both plans.
The Honors College FAQ states: 'Unfortunately, we are currently not accepting transfer students.'
PQC's SAP policy applies to 'financial assistance at PQC of any type (federal, state, institutional, or outside scholarships/grants)' — a 2.00 cumulative GPA and 67% completion pace are required to keep receiving aid.
Who this school is for
Students who want a low-cost private HBCU experience and are willing to work 10-20 hours a week as part of their education; high-GPA students (3.5+ HS GPA) who get into the Honors College can compete for a full cost-of-attendance package via the Vistra or Strada scholarships.
Federal cost and outcome data
Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Paul Quinn, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.
Average annual net price by family income at Paul Quinn, academic year 2021-22
Family income
Average net price paid
$0–$30,000
$11,443
$30,001–$48,000
$12,053
$48,001–$75,000
$13,626
$75,001–$110,000
$15,230
$110,001+
$18,556
All income levels (average)
$12,709
Sticker price vs. what students actually pay
Total cost of attendance (sticker), AY 2021-22
$23,587
Published tuition & fees, AY 2022-23
$13,498
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$12,709
That works out to an average 46% discount off the sticker price above — both figures come from the same federal AY 2021-22 Scorecard report, not a number the school itself published.
Outcomes for students who enrolled here
Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
27%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
49%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$23,373
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$29,288
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
84%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
83%
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.
$7,000
Work Program Scholarship (On-Campus)
ApplicationRenewable
View requirements+
Eligibility
All residential, full-time students are required to participate in the Work Program regardless of financial need; students work between 300 and 400 hours per academic year (10-20 hours per week).
Renewal terms
Earned each year through required Work Program participation (300-400 hours per academic year); page states the award is per year but does not publish separate renewal criteria.
Notes
This is not a stats-based merit award; it is earned through mandatory work participation. Students also receive a cash stipend. Students not eligible for federal aid may be eligible for institutional work program scholarship opportunities.
Completion of Career Skills Course, Microsoft Office Suite (MOS) certification, a year of on-campus work experience, and more than 25 hours of professional development workshops; placement depends on student interests and corporate partner staffing needs.
Renewal terms
Stated as a per-year amount; eligibility for the Corporate Work Program begins after completing the Career Skills course, MOS certification, a year of on-campus work experience, and 25+ hours of professional development workshops (typically years 2-4).
Notes
Amounts vary per student depending on interests, campus needs, and corporate partner staffing needs.
Honors College Scholarships (Vistra Scholarship & Strada Scholarship)
ApplicationRenewable
GPA
High school GPA: 3.5+ on a 4.0 scale (Honors College admission)
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Accuplacer scores meeting PQC cut scores for English and Math (Writing 249+, Math 245+ preferred); essay/personal statement, letters of recommendation, interview, leadership and community service; admission to the Honors College does NOT guarantee a scholarship — admitted students are prioritized for one of the two scholarships available; not open to transfer students.
Renewal terms
Maintain a 3.0+ GPA (Vistra Scholarship) or 3.25+ GPA (Strada Scholarship) and participate in the Duke Mentor Program and Work Program career workshops; package covers up to five years.
Notes
The page describes the package as full cost of attendance 'which includes tuition, fees, and room and board.' Per-scholarship dollar amounts for Vistra and Strada are not published. Honors students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing in the Honors College.
Not published; the financial aid page states only that a limited number of institutional scholarships are offered.
Renewal terms
Selection and renewal criteria may vary (no specifics published).
Notes
No GPA/test grid, award names, or amounts are published on the financial aid page. Families should ask the aid office directly which institutional scholarships exist and what the criteria are.
Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.
AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityTexas residents; must complete the Texas Residency Questionnaire to be considered. State (not institutional) grant.
Texas residents who want to be considered for the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) must complete the Texas Residency Questionnaire; requests are sent by the Office of Financial Aid after a student confirms intent to enroll.
The Honors College FAQ (as of 2026-06-07) shows 'Application Opens: November 22, 2025' and 'Application Close: April 29, 2025' — the close date printed precedes the open date and appears to be a typo or stale text. Decisions are 'typically released on a rolling basis, with notifications sent by April 30 for regular decision applicants.' Confirm the exact deadline with Honorscollege@pqc.edu.
Does Paul Quinn have automatic merit scholarships based on GPA or test scores?
No grid is published. The financial aid page states only that the college offers 'a limited number of institutional scholarships. Selection and renewal criteria may vary.' Its signature aid is the Work Program Scholarship earned through required work.
How much is the Work Program Scholarship?
On-Campus Work Program students receive a $7,000 per year Work Program Scholarship; Corporate Work Program students typically receive $13,000-$18,000 per year. Students work 300-400 hours per academic year and also receive a cash stipend. Amounts may differ per student.
Is the Work Program optional?
No. 'All residential, full-time students are required to participate in the Work Program regardless of their financial need.'
What does the Honors College scholarship cover?
Qualified Honors students 'receive a full cost-of-attendance package, which includes tuition, fees, and room and board for up to five years' — but acceptance into the Honors College does not guarantee a scholarship; admitted students are prioritized for one of the two scholarships (Vistra, 3.0+ GPA to maintain; Strada, 3.25+ GPA).
What does Paul Quinn cost?
Per the published Schedule of Fees (Summer 2025-Spring 2026; tuition $435.75/credit hour), estimated direct costs are: Full-Time On-Campus $30,639.75/year (including the mandatory Summer Bridge term; fall+spring is $24,618), Full-Time Commuter $15,668/year, Full-Time Online $13,458/year. These are direct costs (tuition, fees, housing, meals), not a full cost-of-attendance budget, and 2026-27 figures were not yet posted.
Do I need to file the FAFSA?
Yes — submit the FAFSA (PQC school code 003602) or, for Texas residents not eligible for federal aid, the TASFA. 'If you do not complete a financial aid application, you will not be eligible for financial aid.'
How Paul Quinn compares across our verified dataset
668 of 750 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Paul Quinn is one of them. The cohort minority (82 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 Paul Quinn’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
