Students looking for ways to reduce the cost of a college education can explore scholarships and grants offered by the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Holy Cross provides several forms of financial aid, including institutional scholarships, need-based grants, federal grants and other funding opportunities.
The college says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all entering students. Families earning $100,000 or less with reasonable assets may also qualify for a full-tuition grant under the college’s current financial-aid policy.
Scholarships at Holy Cross
Most institutional funding at Holy Cross is based on financial need. However, the college also offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships.
Magis Scholarship
The Magis Scholarship is awarded to highly talented students who have demonstrated strong academic achievement, leadership and involvement in their schools and communities.
Recipients can have the scholarship renewed for up to four years, provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet the required disciplinary standards.
Faber Scholarship
The Faber Scholarship recognizes students with strong academic records, personal responsibility and demonstrated financial need.
The award can also be renewed for four years when recipients maintain the required academic and disciplinary standards.
Full-Tuition Scholarships
Holy Cross also has several scholarships that can cover full tuition for qualifying students.
These include the Ellis Scholarship, which is available to qualifying Worcester residents entering their first year.
Other full-tuition opportunities include the Brooks Scholarship for students majoring in music, as well as the Bean and FitzGerald Scholarships for students majoring in classics.
The college also offers an Organ Scholarship, a four-year full-tuition award for a qualifying high school senior planning to major in music or combine music with another discipline.
Holy Cross Grants
Grants are another major part of the college’s financial-aid programme.
Unlike loans, grants generally do not have to be repaid.
The Holy Cross Grant is awarded according to demonstrated financial need. The college currently says nearly 450 first-year students receive this grant each year, with awards ranging from $2,500 to more than $60,000, depending on financial circumstances.
Students must reapply for the grant each year. Future aid can change if a family’s income, assets or number of dependants in college changes.
More Than One Grant
Holy Cross also offers a “More Than One” Grant.
This need-based assistance is designed for families with more than one dependent enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university.
Eligibility and the amount of assistance can change from year to year based on financial need and the number of family members attending college.
Federal Grants
Eligible students may also receive federal financial assistance.
Holy Cross administers programmes such as the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG).
SEOG funding is limited, and priority is given to students who qualify for Federal Pell Grants and demonstrate exceptional financial need.
Who Can Apply?
Students seeking financial assistance should complete the required financial-aid application process.
Holy Cross uses financial information to determine eligibility for need-based assistance. The college says applicants may be considered for the grants and scholarships for which they qualify.
Students should also pay attention to academic requirements. Holy Cross requires students receiving financial aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Students are encouraged to look beyond college-funded scholarships.
Holy Cross points students toward outside scholarships offered by foundations, civic organisations, schools, corporations and other groups.
The college also warns students to be careful with scholarship scams. Students should not pay a fee simply to search for scholarships, and they should be suspicious of messages claiming they have won an award they never applied for.
Important Information for International Students
Students outside the United States should carefully review the college’s current admissions and financial-aid requirements before applying.
Not every federal or state grant listed by Holy Cross is available to international students. For example, federal grants such as Pell and SEOG are tied to U.S. federal eligibility rules.
Therefore, international applicants should rely on the official Holy Cross admissions and financial-aid information when determining which forms of assistance they may qualify for.
How to Apply
Students interested in Holy Cross scholarships and grants should:
- Apply for admission to the College of the Holy Cross.
- Complete the required financial-aid applications.
- Provide all requested financial documents.
- Review the financial-aid offer carefully.
- Check individual scholarship requirements and renewal conditions.
- Search for additional outside scholarships from reputable organisations.
Students should also check the official college website regularly because scholarship requirements, award amounts and deadlines can change.
Official Scholarship Information
Students can view the latest scholarship and grant information directly on the College of the Holy Cross website.
