Salve Regina awards holistic, automatically-considered academic scholarships with no published dollar grid, plus a donor-funded OCHRE program (up to full tuition for invited Ambassadors), a full-cost-of-attendance SEAS STEM package, and a published $25,000-$28,500/year Rhode Island Guarantee for CCRI transfers.
Verified Jun 20264 days ago· COWORK
Merit tiers61 automatic on stats
Last verifiedJun 2026Analyst COWORK
Rules that bite at Salve Regina
The trip wires we'd flag in a custom playbook. Each is derived from Salve Regina's own published policy, not generic advice.
renewalAcademic Scholarships: renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out
Renewable for up to four years as long as you maintain the required cumulative GPA (set in a signed scholarship agreement; specific GPA not published) and remain enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program. GPA evaluated at the end of each academic year; one-time probationary semester if you fall below, then loss of the scholarship. 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 Salve Regina
FAQ: 'if you receive a merit scholarship, the amount is set for four consecutive years and cannot be increased.' The award is flat for all four years.
The renewal GPA is set in a signed scholarship agreement at acceptance and is not published on the website. If you fall below it, you get only a one-time probationary semester; after that 'you will lose your eligibility for the academic scholarship.' Families should ask for the exact GPA in writing.
FAQ: 'If all other financial information remains approximately the same, financial aid will be decreased $3,500 for the academic year' when you move off campus; the catalog confirms institutional aid is reduced because the off-campus cost of attendance is lower. The Rhode Island Guarantee scholarship is also $3,500/year lower for off-campus students ($25,000 vs. $28,500).
FAQ: because study-abroad students no longer pay Salve for room and board, aid decreases — 'The average decrease in aid per semester is $1,750.'
Salve will not cut scholarships/grants unless required by law, but 'we may need to reduce federal need-based loans or federal work-study if an outside scholarship exceeds your need' — and employer tuition benefits are counted as a resource before need-based aid is calculated. Students must report outside awards.
OCHRE Ambassador caps at TUITION ($53,600 in 2026-27), not the $80,886 resident cost of attendance. SEAS's own footnote limits 'full cost of attendance' to tuition, housing and food, says 'some additional fees may be required,' and the package 'may include a small percentage in federally sponsored student loans.'
OCHRE requires a minimum of 24 credits EACH YEAR and a cumulative GPA of 2.70 'or higher each semester' — a per-semester check, stricter cadence than the annual review for regular academic scholarships.
Merit consideration needs no aid application, but renewal of financial aid 'is not automatic' — all returning students must refile the FAFSA annually, the priority deadline is March 1, and 'Late applicants may receive reduced funding.' The OCHRE Ambassador and SEAS awards also require the FAFSA (or ISAFA).
The CCRI transfer guarantee explicitly excludes nursing, education and dual/accelerated programs, and requires a 3.0 minimum GPA with an associate degree.
First-year page: post-graduate-year or college coursework during a deferral triggers re-evaluation that 'may also affect your academic merit scholarship and/or financial aid offer.' Catalog: merit scholarships 'are available only to full-time undergraduate students. Graduate students and students in their 5th year of the accelerated 5-year master's program are not eligible.'
Who this school is for
Students with strong GPAs in rigorous coursework who want automatic merit consideration without test scores or a separate application, plus mission-fit students (service/social-change profiles) eyeing OCHRE, need-eligible STEM majors, and CCRI associate-degree transfers with a 3.0+.
Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $80,886 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.
Amount not published
Academic Scholarships
ApplicationRenewable
GPA
Not published — based on high school GPA, course selection, class rank
SAT
Optional; considered if submitted
ACT
Optional; considered if submitted
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
All new undergraduate students automatically considered at the time of acceptance; no separate application; holistic review; no published dollar/stat grid
Renewal terms
Renewable for up to four years as long as you maintain the required cumulative GPA (set in a signed scholarship agreement; specific GPA not published) and remain enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program. GPA evaluated at the end of each academic year; one-time probationary semester if you fall below, then loss of the scholarship.
Notes
Automatic CONSIDERATION for all new undergraduates, but the review is holistic and the school publishes no GPA/test award grid and no dollar amounts, so automaticOnStats is false. Per the FAQ, the amount is set for four consecutive years and cannot be increased.
Apply for first-year admission via Common Application by an admission deadline; qualified students who meet donor preferences are identified by the Office of Admissions; no separate scholarship application; holistic selection
Renewal terms
Renewable for four consecutive years or completion of the bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. Recipients must complete a minimum of 24 credits each year with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher each semester.
Notes
Described only as 'a generous grant' — no dollar amount published. Funded by donors; tied to the University's mercy/social-justice mission.
By invitation only to a select number of accepted students; competitive; requires a 500-word essay or five-minute video on leadership/service/social change; need-aware — requires FAFSA (US) or ISAFA (international), with preference to demonstrated financial need
Renewal terms
Same OCHRE renewal terms published on the page: renewable for four consecutive years or completion of the bachelor's degree; minimum 24 credits each year with a cumulative 2.70 GPA or higher each semester.
Notes
'Up to full tuition' — tuition only ($53,600 for 2026-27), not full cost of attendance ($80,886 resident).
Competition for first-year and transfer students majoring in dance, music, theatre arts or studio art; awarded based on auditions or portfolio reviews; supporting materials due Nov. 15 (ED/EA I), Jan. 15 (EA II), Feb. 15 (RD); transfers reviewed on a rolling basis
Renewal terms
Recipients must major in dance, music, theatre arts or studio art and remain in good academic standing to renew the award each year.
Notes
Explicitly stacks on top of academic merit: 'in addition to any academic grants.' The merit overview page says 'may be valued up to $2,000 per year' while the dedicated arts page says 'valued at $2,000 per year' — minor wording conflict noted in Section C.
Major in biology, chemistry or mathematics; demonstrated financial need (FAFSA required); qualified applicants are invited to interview with program faculty after admission
Renewal terms
Package covers four years 'providing the student remains in good academic standing.'
Notes
The page's own asterisk narrows 'full cost of attendance' to tuition, housing and food; some additional fees may still be charged, and the package may include federally sponsored student loans. NSF S-STEM funded; need-based eligibility gate, so it is a merit-plus-need hybrid.
Rhode Island Guarantee (CCRI transfer scholarship)
AutomaticRenewable
GPA
3.0 minimum (CCRI cumulative)
Requirements & details+
Eligibility
Associate degree (complete or anticipated) from the Community College of Rhode Island; nursing, education and dual/accelerated programs are not included; guaranteed admission, no application fee
Renewal terms
Annual scholarship for the student's remaining two years; renewal conditions beyond the two-year term are not published on the page.
Notes
$28,500 per year for on-campus residents; $25,000 per year for off-campus residents. All students admitted through the program are eligible, with published GPA/degree criteria and no separate competition, so automaticOnStats is true.
Outside scholarships do not reduce Salve scholarships or grants unless required by law; if an outside award exceeds financial need, Salve may reduce federal need-based loans or work-study first (loan-first displacement). Salve's own arts award stacks on top of academic merit. Institutional aid is reduced when students move off campus (about $3,500/year) or study abroad (about $1,750/semester), and employer tuition benefits are counted as a resource before need-based aid.
FAQ: outside scholarships are a 'benefit'; scholarships/grants are not reduced unless required by law; federal need-based loans or work-study may be reduced if the outside award exceeds need. Students must inform the Office of Financial Aid of outside scholarships. Catalog adds that the University has 'very flexible policies' on posting outside scholarships and that ROTC recipients 'may keep their full merit award up to budget (off campus reduction still applies).' The merit award amount itself is set for four years and cannot be increased.
Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.
AmountAmount not publishedEligibilityCurrent/deserving students; criteria vary by donor fund. Applications open at the beginning of the spring semester for awards granted the following year; the Salve Regina Endowed Scholarship application is due Wednesday, April 1.
Donor-funded supplements to existing financial aid offers; applied for through an online form.
AmountTuition and tuition-related fees onlyEligibilityCompetitive, qualified students; contractual service obligation to the U.S. Army.
Catalog: 'The amount of the ROTC scholarship covers tuition and tuition-related fees only for the year. Students may keep their full merit award up to budget (off campus reduction still applies). Students may also keep all need-based aid if it does not bring them over need.'
There is no separate application for academic or OCHRE scholarships — you are considered automatically when you apply by an admission deadline: Nov. 1 (early action I / early decision), Jan. 5 (early action II) or Feb. 1 (regular decision). Visual and performing arts scholarship supporting materials are due Nov. 15 (ED/EA I), Jan. 15 (EA II) or Feb. 15 (RD). The FAFSA priority deadline for financial aid is March 1.
Is the merit scholarship renewable?
Yes — academic scholarships 'are guaranteed for four years as long as you maintain the required criteria,' meaning the required cumulative GPA (set in a signed agreement, evaluated at the end of each academic year) and full-time undergraduate enrollment. Fall below the GPA and you get a one-time probationary semester before losing the award.
Do I need SAT/ACT scores to get a merit scholarship?
No. Salve is test-optional and states: 'All applicants are eligible for merit scholarship consideration whether or not they submit SAT or ACT scores.'
Will an outside scholarship reduce my Salve aid?
Salve does 'not reduce scholarships or grants, unless required by law,' but may reduce federal need-based loans or federal work-study if the outside scholarship exceeds your financial need. You must inform the Office of Financial Aid of outside awards.
Can my merit scholarship increase if I do well at Salve?
No. 'The amount is set for four consecutive years and cannot be increased.' Salve suggests monitoring the website for additional scholarships (e.g., endowed scholarships, application due April 1) that open during the year.
What happens to my aid if I move off campus or study abroad?
Moving off campus: aid is decreased about $3,500 for the academic year (the off-campus budget is lower). Studying abroad: the average decrease is $1,750 per semester because you no longer pay Salve for room and board.
What does the 2026-27 year cost?
For a resident student: tuition $53,600, comprehensive fee $1,000, housing and food $20,300, for a total estimated cost of attendance of $80,886 (including books, personal, transportation and loan-fee estimates).
How Salve Regina compares across our verified dataset
99 of 751 verified schools in our dataset use loan-first displacement.
Salve Regina is in the modest minority (99 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Salve Regina 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 Salve Regina’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
