Scholarships and Grants
Institutional Grants and Awards
Academic Scholarships
The University of Saint Joseph values academic excellence and encourages you to excel. Scholarships are designed to recognize students’ past academic performance prior to enrolling at USJ as well as your future academic promise.
These scholarships are awarded to students at the time of admission and are renewable to a maximum of four years if you maintain full-time enrollment status and the required grade point average. Transfer and international students may qualify for academic scholarships as well. These scholarships include:
- McAuley Scholarship: Established in memory of the university’s founder, Sister Catherine McAuley, this scholarship represents the highest honor for first year students graduating from a Catholic high school and requires exceptional academic merit. The scholarship celebrates the tradition of excellence in Catholic education and provides students the opportunity to continue studying at a college enriched by faith and a commitment to service.
- Trustee Scholarship: Named in honor of our past and present Boards of Trustees, this scholarship represents the highest honor for first year students from all other high schools and requires exceptional academic merit.
- Presidential Scholarship: Named in recognition of the University of Saint Joseph presidents from our founding in 1932 through present. This award represents one of the highest honors at the University of Saint Joseph and recognizes those students with the strongest academic records among our pool of applicants each year.
- Deans Scholarship: This scholarship represents the liberal arts and academic traditions of our founding deans and provosts, recognizing both strong academic performance and strong future potential within the liberal arts and sciences traditions.
- University of Saint Joseph Scholarship: The university’s long tradition of fostering academic achievement, personal, and community growth are recognized in this award. Recipients demonstrate both strong past academic performance and strong future potential.
- Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship: Available for community college transfer students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
- Community College Presidential Scholarship: For Connecticut community college transfer students. This scholarship recognizes exceptional academic achievement in community college coursework from among our pool of applicants each year.
- Community College Achievement Scholarship: Available for transfer students from Connecticut’s community colleges who demonstrate strongest academic achievement in their community college enrollment.
- Community College Transfer Award: Fostering academic growth and encouragement for Connecticut community college transfer students, recipients are selected from among those applicants who demonstrate strong academic performance and continued potential for academic success.
- Girl Scout Gold Award: Students who complete the gold award through the Girl Scouts organization are eligible for a one-time $1,000 scholarship at the University of Saint Joseph. The University is proud to offer this scholarship because it recognizes the shared commitment of the Girl Scout organization and Mercy colleges in promoting community service and women's leadership.
University of Saint Joseph Grant - This grant is awarded to full-time students who demonstrate financial need. It is based on the information provided by the student on her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Endowed Scholarships - Thanks to the generosity of donors, the University of Saint Joseph has more than 65 endowed scholarships. Students who apply for financial aid are automatically considered for these scholarships.
State Grants
Capitol Scholarship Program - provides state grants to help talented and needy students pay for college. The Connecticut Department of Higher Education administers the program. Contact your guidance office for more information or visit CTDHE on line at http://www.ctdhe.org/
Connecticut Independent College Grant - This is a state grant administered by the University and awarded to Connecticut residents who demonstrate financial need based on the data provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Federal Grants
The Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant are both federal grants that are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and meet certain criteria established by the U. S. Department of Education.
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) - The ACG is designed for students entering their first or second year of college. Currently students are eligible to receive up to $750 for their first year of student and up to $1,300 for their second year. In order to be eligible, students must be eligible to receive a Pell grant and have completed a rigorous high school program of study as defined by their state department of education. Second year recipients must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0.
SMART Grant - These grants are designed for Pell eligible students entering their third or fourth year of undergraduate study and are majoring in the computer sciences, engineering, certain life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and a select group of foreign languages. Eligible students can receive up to $4,000 per year.
The TEACH Grant Program provides assistance for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students who qualify academically (3.25 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale) and agree to teach for at least four years as full-time "highly qualified" teachers within eight years of completing, or otherwise ceasing to be enrolled in, the program for which she/he received a TEACH Grant. Service must be in high-need fields in public or not-for-profit elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.
Eligible full-time students may receive $4,000 per year, up to a maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study, and $8,000 for graduate study. The grant is reduced for part-time students.
The law identifies the following as high-need fields:
Bilingual education
English language acquisition
Foreign language
Mathematics
Reading Specialist
Science
Special education, or
Another field documented as high-need by the Federal government, a State government, or a Local Education Agency, and approved by the Secretary. (This field must be listed in the Department's annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.)
The TEACH Grant converts to an unsubsidized Direct Loan if the student fails to complete any part of her obligation. The loan, plus interest, must be repaid.
Click here for more detailed information about the Federal Teach Grant and to complete the Agreement to Serve (ATS).
If you are interested in applying for the TEACH Grant, please submit the USJ Teach Grant Application (PDF: 2pp., 89K) after completing the Agreement to Serve (ATS).
Yellow Ribbon Program and Veterans Services
Through the University of Saint Joseph’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, Veterans who received benefits under the new GI Bill may be eligible for a full tuition waiver. The University of Saint Joseph will also review a Veteran’s service experience in awarding college credit. The Office of the Registrar administers Veterans programs, including the Yellow Ribbon Program, at the University of Saint Joseph. For more information, visit their Veterans Services Website.
Outside Scholarships
Students are also encouraged to apply for any outside scholarships that are available through different towns, civic organizations, or companies. Students are required to report these scholarships to the Financial Aid office. Outside scholarships will first be applied to remaining account balances, second to reduce Perkins, Stafford, PLUS and/or Alternative Loan(s), and lastly to replace Institution and/or State funds. For outside scholarship opportunities click here.
For more information on scholarship opportunities, contact Financial Aid at 866.442.8752, e-mail financialaid@usj.edu, or stop by the office on the second floor of Mercy Hall, Room 219.
