Scholarships & Grants

Institutional Scholarships

Holy Cross institutional funding is primarily need-based, although a limited number of merit-based scholarships are available to students who qualify.

• Magis Scholarship: Magis Scholarship recipients are among the most talented applicants to Holy Cross each year, and have distinguished themselves in their school and community as top scholars, model citizens, and leaders.  Magis, Latin for "more," reflects the Jesuit invitation to dig deeper, pursue excellence and allow space for attentiveness, and we are confident that Magis Scholarship recipients will embrace that ideal and make the most of the gifts and opportunities with which they have been blessed.  Magis Scholarships are renewed each year for four years provided students are maintaining good academic progress and a satisfactory disciplinary record.
• Faber Scholarship: Faber Scholarships are awarded each year to students identified through the admissions process in recognition of strong academic achievements and commitment to personal growth and responsibility coupled with demonstrated financial need.  Named for St. Peter Faber, one of the first Jesuits, the Faber Scholarship is renewed each year for four years provided students are maintaining good academic progress and a satisfactory disciplinary record.  
• Tuition Scholarships: These are merit-based scholarships offered at the point of admission, with student eligibility determined by the Admissions Office:
  • The Ellis Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship that is offered to a Worcester resident entering their first year at Holy Cross. It is renewable for all four years. There is no separate application for the Ellis Scholarship, and all applicants to to College who reside in Worcester are considered. Finalists will be invited to campus by the scholarship committee for an interview in February.
  • The Brooks Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship offered to a major in the music department.
  • The Bean Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship offered to a major in the classics department.
  • The FitzGerald Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship offered to a major in the classics department.

Institutional Grants

• Holy Cross Grant: Eligibility for a Holy Cross Grant is determined based on financial need as demonstrated through the financial aid application process. Nearly 450 first-year students are awarded Holy Cross Grant funding each year.  Amounts range from $2,500 to more than $60,000, depending on financial need. Students must reapply each year for a Holy Cross Grant. Our goal is to renew this grant each year, although it is subject to change based on demonstrated need.  The level of financial assistance in future years will be impacted by income and asset fluctuations as well as changes in the number of dependent family members enrolled as undergraduate students in a college or university.  Eligibility for all Holy Cross funded grant and scholarship assistance is limited to eight semesters.
• Holy Cross "More Than One" Grant: An institutional need-based grant established to provide greater transparency to students and families.  If your family has more than one dependent enrolled as an undergraduate in a college or university, and you demonstrate financial need, your Holy Cross Grant (or a portion of it), may be designated as a Holy Cross "More Than One" Grant.  Please note that you will not be eligible for this grant in future years when there is no longer more than one in college.  The amount is also subject to change each year based on demonstrated need and how many dependents are enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university.

Eligibility for all Holy Cross funded grant and scholarship assistance is limited to eight semesters.

Additionally, Holy Cross funded grant and scholarship assistance cannot be refunded to a student to cover off-campus housing expenses.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards in order to remain eligible for all financial aid, including grants and scholarships.  SAP is reviewed at the end of each semester.

Federal Grants

The following two grants are administered directly by Holy Cross’ Financial Aid office and are for students with exceptional need.

• Federal Pell Grants: The Pell Grant is a federally funded program with grant amounts ranging from $740 to $7,395 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Student eligibility for this program is determined by federal need analysis.
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG): SEOG is a federal grant program for students who, according to federal need analysis, are determined to exhibit exceptional financial need. Holy Cross is granted a limited amount of funding from this program and priority SEOG eligibility is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients.

Outside Resources

Here is some information on a variety of other options for you to explore to obtain scholarships and grants from places you might not have considered.

• State-sponsored grants: If you are a resident of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or Vermont, Holy Cross expects that you will take advantage of state-sponsored grant programs by applying to them directly. Apply for free online at www.fafsa.gov. The deadlines and further instructions for particular state grants can be found on the FAFSA. 
• Local opportunities: Corporations, foundations, civic groups, parent and school associations, and service clubs routinely offer scholarships to local high school students. Check with your high school guidance office to learn how you can apply for these scholarships.
• Private/National Scholarships: National organizations may also provide scholarship opportunities for students. The list found here is not comprehensive but can be a good place to start your search.
• ROTC scholarships and stipends: The Navy ROTC program at Holy Cross offers full and partial tuition scholarships to selected cadets and midshipmen. A full four-year NROTC scholarship student attending Holy Cross receives a monthly tax-free stipend for expenses during the academic year. The monthly stipend is currently $250 for freshman, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors, and $400 for seniors. Scholarship students also receive a semester book stipend of $375. In addition, students receiving a full NROTC scholarship at Holy Cross also receive a Holy Cross NROTC Scholarship Incentive Grant, which is the equivalent of standard room charges each year. The Incentive Grant is only applicable toward on-campus room charges. For more information, contact the Holy Cross Naval ROTC office at 508-793-2433 or nrotc@holycross.edu.

Army and Air Force ROTC are offered at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and, through the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, Holy Cross students may enroll in one of those programs. A full Army or Air Force ROTC Scholarship student is also eligible for the Incentive Grant, equal to standard room charges each year and is also only applicable toward on-campus room charges. For more information, visit WPI's Air Force Aerospace Studies or Military Science programs.