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Saint Michael's College · Vermont

Saint Michael's Merit Aid

Saint Michael's has shifted its merit story from a published dollar grid to a set of price-certainty programs: out-of-state students pay their home state's flagship in-state tuition (Flagship Match), Vermonters under $100K AGI pay $0 tuition, and the Book Award is a nominated full-tuition prize — all starting Fall 2026.

Verified Jun 20268 days ago· CC
Merit tiers81 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst CC

Rules that bite at Saint Michael's

The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Saint Michael's's own published policy, not generic advice.

  • renewalSaint Michael's College Book Award for Community Engagement: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

    Renewable each year for a maximum of four years of full-time enrollment at Saint Michael's College in good standing. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Common merit-aid mistakes at Saint Michael's

  1. The match pins only TUITION to your home flagship's in-state tuition and fees. Saint Michael's own fees, housing, and food are charged separately and are not included, so the all-in bill is the matched tuition PLUS those costs.

  2. That 2026-27 'Total' ($49,950 tuition + $19,550 food/housing + $2,950 comprehensive fee) is the before-aid price. The Flagship Match, Free Tuition Vermont, Commuter, and International programs reset tuition well below this for many students.

  3. It is a counselor-NOMINATED full-tuition prize tied to junior year; nominees must then submit their admission application by December 1st of senior year. It is holistic and competitive, not stats-automatic.

  4. The dollar range and SAT/ACT cutoffs come from a 2018 Saint Michael's news release and are Vermont-nomination-only. Confirm current-year amounts and cutoffs with the aid office before budgeting.

  5. Community Commitment (full tuition under $100K AGI) and the Edmundite Grant are NEED-based and FAFSA-verified each year. Free Tuition Vermont is income-tested but renewal-gated at a 2.5 GPA; Community Commitment renewal requires a 3.2 GPA and living on campus.

Who this school is for

Out-of-state students who want their bill pinned to their home state flagship's in-state tuition, Vermont and near-campus families who qualify for the income- and distance-based commitments, and strong service-minded juniors who can be nominated for the full-tuition Book Award. Note: dollar-amount merit tiers are not published; awards are quoted in your individual admission/aid offer.

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $72,450 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.

Full tuition

Saint Michael's College Book Award for Community Engagement

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

High school junior (U.S. or international); must be nominated by their school counselor; should embody a sincere commitment to community service, issues of peace and justice, and concern for others. Nominees must submit their application for admission by December 1st of their senior year.

Renewal terms

Renewable each year for a maximum of four years of full-time enrollment at Saint Michael's College in good standing.

Notes

A nominated, holistic full-tuition award — NOT automatic on stats. The nomination happens junior year; the student must then apply for admission by Dec 1 senior year. Contact: bookaward@smcvt.edu.

Source

Varies — set equal to your home sta…Varies — set equal to your home state flagship public university's in-state tuition and fees (after institutional scholarships)

St. Mike's Flagship Match

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Out-of-state students, including first-year and transfer students, enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond. Tuition is matched to the in-state tuition and fees of the flagship public university in the student's home state, after institutional scholarships are applied.

Renewal terms

Described as a tuition model for students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond; the page does not state a separate per-year renewal GPA for the match itself.

Notes

Price-certainty program, not a fixed dollar award — the value depends entirely on the student's home state flagship. IMPORTANT: Saint Michael's College fees are charged separately and are NOT included in the matched tuition amount, so the all-in bill is the matched tuition PLUS Saint Michael's fees, housing, and food. Currently enrolled students are not eligible.

Source

Full tuition…Full tuition (Vermont residents living on campus with household AGI of $100,000 or less)

Free Tuition Vermont

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
Maintain a 2.5 GPA to continue full tuition
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Vermont residents who plan to live on campus with household adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less; tuition is fully covered after the allocation of Pell, SEOG and VSAC grants. New and transfer students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond.

Renewal terms

To continue to receive full tuition, you must maintain a 2.5 GPA.

Notes

Income-based price program (need-tested via FAFSA/AGI), but renewal is merit-gated at a 2.5 GPA. Tuition is covered AFTER Pell/SEOG/VSAC grants are applied. Fees, housing, and food are not part of this tuition coverage.

Source

$11,500 per year tuition…$11,500 per year tuition (after institutional scholarships)

Commuter Commitment

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Residents within 35 miles of campus who do not require room and board (commuters); new and transfer students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond.

Renewal terms

Described as a set per-year tuition model for students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond; no separate renewal GPA stated on the page for this program.

Notes

Set commuter tuition price; the $11,500 is after institutional scholarships and is tuition only (commuters do not pay room/board). Fees may apply separately.

Source

$22,500 per year tuition…$22,500 per year tuition (after institutional scholarships)

International Student Scholarship

ApplicationRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

International and U.S. territory students; new and transfer students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond.

Renewal terms

Described as a set per-year tuition for students enrolling Fall 2026 and beyond; no separate renewal GPA stated on this page.

Notes

Set international tuition price after institutional scholarships. This is tuition only; fees, housing, and food are additional.

Source

$13,000 minimum up to full tuition

Presidential Scholarship (Vermont students)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
A- average or higher in a challenging college preparatory high school curriculum; top 10% of graduating class
SAT
1300 SAT (post-March 2016) or higher
ACT
27 ACT or higher
Requirements & details
Eligibility

Reserved for Vermont's top students nominated by a Vermont high school; also evaluated on leadership qualities, commitment to community service, and potential to contribute to the Saint Michael's community.

Renewal terms

Can be renewed each year for a maximum of four years of full-time enrollment in good standing.

Notes

Vermont-only, nomination-based, competitive (a small cohort of top recipients receives full rides). Sourced from a 2018 Saint Michael's news release describing the program — treat dollar figure and exact cutoffs as STALE-RISK and confirm current-year terms with the aid office before relying on them.

Source

$2,500 per year

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship (transfer students)

AutomaticRenewable
View requirements
Eligibility

Transfer students who have been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society automatically qualify; no separate application.

Renewal terms

Renewed annually.

Notes

Automatic for inducted Phi Theta Kappa transfer students and stated as 'additional' — i.e., it adds on top of other transfer merit aid. Transfer-only.

Source

Full tuition coverage…Full tuition coverage (household AGI under $100,000; assets $150,000 or less)

St. Mike's Community Commitment (need-based, income-tested)

ApplicationRenewable
GPA
Maintain a 3.2 GPA after the first year (renewal); live on campus
Requirements & details
Eligibility

NEED-BASED. Household adjusted gross income under $100,000 per year and assets (excluding retirement accounts and primary residence) of $150,000 or less, verified each year via FAFSA. Both incoming and current students; began the academic year starting Fall 2025.

Renewal terms

Students must maintain a 3.2 grade point average for each successive year after their first, and are required to live on campus to continue receiving the scholarship. FAFSA must be filed each year to re-confirm the $100,000 AGI threshold.

Notes

NEED-BASED (income- and asset-tested), included here because it is the headline affordability promise. Covers TUITION only — students remain responsible for academic fees and housing (merit scholarships/other aid may be directed toward those). Renewal is merit-gated at a 3.2 GPA plus an on-campus residency requirement.

Source

Lesser-known scholarships at Saint Michael's

Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

AmountVariesEligibilityRenewable scholarship awarded to Fine Arts majors; requires a formal declaration of a major in Art, Music or Theater and an audition or interview.

Requires a SEPARATE application/audition — deadline April 15 prior to fall entrance. Contact Professor Bill Ellis, wellis@smcvt.edu. No dollar amount published.

Source

AmountVariesEligibilityRenewable scholarship awarded to Fine Arts majors; requires a formal declaration of a major in Art, Music or Theater and an audition or interview.

Requires a SEPARATE application/audition — deadline April 15 prior to fall entrance. Contact Professor Bill Ellis, wellis@smcvt.edu. No dollar amount published.

Source

AmountVariesEligibilityAwarded in consideration of financial need as determined by the FAFSA, other financial resources, and academic merit.

NEED-BASED. FAFSA is the only application required (school code 003694); March 1 priority deadline. Award amounts are subject to annual change.

Source

AmountVariesEligibilityStudents participating in Air Force ROTC through Norwich University or Army ROTC through University of Vermont Military Studies courses.

Externally administered military scholarships; contact the respective ROTC programs.

Source

Saint Michael's merit aid FAQ

  • Do I have to apply separately for merit scholarships?

    For most awards, no — 'Students are automatically considered for these scholarships based upon their application for admission to the College.' Exceptions that DO require a separate application/audition include the Fine Arts Fairbanks and Paulin scholarships (deadline April 15) and the nominated Book Award (admission application due December 1st of senior year).

  • What is the application deadline for the full-tuition Book Award?

    Nominated students must submit their application for admission by December 1st of their senior year. The nomination itself comes from a school counselor during junior year.

  • How much will I actually pay under the Flagship Match?

    Out-of-state students pay tuition equal to the in-state tuition and fees at their home state's flagship public university, after institutional scholarships. Saint Michael's fees, housing, and food are charged separately and are not part of the matched amount, so your total bill is higher than the matched tuition alone.

  • Are these scholarships renewable?

    Yes for the named awards (Book Award up to four years; Presidential up to four years; Phi Theta Kappa renewed annually). The income-based programs have GPA renewal conditions: Free Tuition Vermont requires a 2.5 GPA, and the need-based Community Commitment requires a 3.2 GPA after the first year plus living on campus.

How Saint Michael's compares across our verified dataset

  • 669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Saint Michael's 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 Saint Michael's’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

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