St. John’s Merit Scholarships

All applicants to St. John’s are automatically considered for merit scholarships without any additional paperwork. Those receiving merit scholarships are among the strongest applicants to the college, assessed on a holistic basis including academic performance, application essays, and other personal qualities indicative of top students at St. John’s.

Merit scholarships can range from $1,000 to full-tuition scholarships. The extremely limited number of full-tuition scholarships are restricted to students who apply Early Decision and Early Action.

Students must maintain good academic standing at St. John’s to keep merit scholarships, and most merit scholarships are automatically renewable for up to four years of study.

St. John’s Need-Based Grants

Most students at St. John’s receive some need-based grants from the college. Applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents seeking need-based grants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents seeking need-based grants must submit the CSS Profile. Depending upon your financial need, you may be eligible for a small grant or grants close to the full cost of tuition.

St. John’s need-based grants are made possible by donors to the college, including those who contributed to the $300 million capital campaign. You may be asked to write a note of appreciation to a donor who provided these funds.

Federal Need-Based Grants

The US government provides federal Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) to students whose financial need falls above a certain threshold. You are automatically considered for these grants when you submit the FAFSA. In a typical freshman class at St. John’s, more than 20% of students are receiving Pell Grants.

Federal Yellow Ribbon and Military Grants

St. John’s College values military service and provides Yellow Ribbon funding to every qualified applicant who is accepted, and matches VA funding to cover the entire cost of tuition and fees at St. John’s.

Maryland Need-Based Grants

The state of Maryland offers residents various need-based grants through the Maryland Higher Education Commission: the Guaranteed Access Grant and the Educational Assistance Grant. In order to be considered for these grants, students must submit their FAFSA by their priority deadline of March 1. Please note that St. John’s priority deadline is February 1. Below is a list of Maryland’s need-based grants.

New Mexico Need-Based Grants

New Mexico State Incentive Grants were created to provide aid for undergraduate students with substantial financial need. This need-based award varies from $200 to $2,500 per year. Part-time students are eligible for pro-rated awards. These grants are for New Mexico residents only and are not transferrable outside the state.

New Mexico residents who are accepted to St. John’s Santa Fe campus automatically receive the New Mexico Grant.

SAGE Scholars

St. John’s is a proud member of the SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards program. Students earning Tuition Rewards through SAGE must comply with the eligibility requirements and can earn Tuition Rewards toward the cost of tuition at St. John’s. If you receive scholarships, grants, tuition remission, Tuition Exchange, or other funds from St. John’s exceeding the value of your Tuition Rewards, or if you receive veteran’s benefits exceeding the value of your Tuition Rewards, then your Tuition Rewards are incorporated into those scholarships, grants, tuition remission, Tuition Exchange, funds, or veteran’s benefits. St. John’s reserves the right to adjust any financial aid offer from the college, including Tuition Rewards, if, for example, you receive outside scholarships that exceed the cost of tuition.

Other Outside Scholarships and Grants

Outside scholarships can help provide additional funding for students. Using this route can take a lot of time and research on the part of the student but the efforts will be worth it if awarded. While there is no guarantee that your submission will be awarded, it is an opportunity that should not be overlooked when looking for ways to supplement your financial aid package.

While many of these organizations are well established and reputable, we also would like to request that you err on the side of caution. With so many opportunities it is impossible for our office to research each organization therefore, please be attentive to potential scams. No scholarship should ask you for money, a credit card, or tell you that you are guaranteed to be selected. Please make sure you are doing your due diligence to protect yourself from these scams.

Students must report all outside scholarships that you expect to receive to the Office of Student Financial Aid when you become aware of them. Your financial aid award will be reviewed and may be adjusted according to institutional policies and federal regulations. You will be notified of any adjustments. Total financial aid, including outside scholarships, cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

The link below provides resources for students who are interested in researching private scholarship opportunities. These resources are for informational purposes only and the inclusion of these websites does not constitute an endorsement from the college. Please make sure that you verify all requirements and deadlines with the organization as St. John’s cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

See Private Scholarship Information