The starting point
USF (Jesuit) publishes seven named Fall 2026 merit tiers from $17,000 to $37,000 — awarded automatically from a USF-calculated core GPA, tuition-only, with a flat $25,000 Araoz award replacing the grid for direct-admit nursing students and a stackable $5,000 Catholic/Jesuit high school award.
More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.
Awards to discuss
The 3 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Fall 2026 First-Year Merit Scholarships (University / Presidential / Provost / Hilltop / Ignatius / Dons / St. Francis)
$17,000-$37,000 · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: Awarded based on your USF-calculated GPA in core academic subjects (no public GPA-to-tier mapping)
Eligibility: All applicants automatically considered; no additional application
Renewal: Renewable each year for up to four years, as long as you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress toward your degree.
Other terms: Tier amounts: University $37,000; Presidential $35,000; Provost $33,000; Hilltop $31,000; Ignatius $29,000; Dons $27,000; St. Francis $17,000. Merit scholarships can only be applied to TUITION. The GPA cutoffs for each tier are not published — do not invent them.
https://www.usfca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships
Araoz Nursing Scholarship (Hilltop first-year nursing program)
$25,000 · Published amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Students admitted to the Hilltop first-year nursing program — they are excluded from the standard merit grid
Renewal: Renewal terms stated for merit scholarships generally: renewable up to four years with Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Other terms: Replaces (does not add to) the standard merit tiers for direct-admit nursing students — a nursing admit cannot also hold the $37,000 University Scholarship.
https://www.usfca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships
Charles E. Cross Award for Catholic High School Students
$5,000 · Published amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Graduating or graduated from a Catholic or Jesuit high school
Renewal: Renewable for up to four years (three years for transfer students), provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester.
Other terms: Applied toward the cost of tuition.
https://www.usfca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships
Ask before you decide
- Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
- What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
- How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?
Recorded stacking policy: USF says private scholarships should supplement, not replace, university-funded aid, but only states that a reduction of aid 'may be required' to remain compliant with federal or state financial aid regulations — the published policy names no specific dollar threshold, cost-of-attendance cap, or trigger point; confirm the actual mechanism with the financial aid office.
Our unanswered questions / Family notes
