Navigating Providence College Scholarships and Grants: A Comprehensive Guide to Funding Your Education

The University of Providence is dedicated to making education accessible through a variety of financial aid options. Scholarships and grants form a substantial part of funding for many students. This article provides a detailed overview of the scholarships and grants available at Providence College, with specific information for the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.

Academic Merit Scholarships

Providence College recognizes academic achievements through a generous scholarship program. New freshmen and transfer students applying to the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships as part of their application process, requiring no separate application. Approximately 30% of admitted students receive these merit-based scholarships, awarded solely based on academic performance. Providence College’s merit-based tuition scholarships average approximately $25,000 per year.

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships are awarded based on the coach's discretion for each sports team. These scholarships are applied after academic merit funds have been distributed. Students with 100% institutional tuition scholarships may not be eligible for additional athletic aid. The amount of athletic scholarships varies depending on the sport, budget, team needs, and the talent of each individual student-athlete.

Specific Scholarship Opportunities

Providence College offers several specific scholarships, each with its own criteria and application process.

Roddy Scholarship

The Roddy Scholarship covers tuition, fees, housing, and food costs. Applicants must aspire to a career in the medical profession, planning to attend medical, dental, or optometry graduate school. The scholarship is awarded based on outstanding academic achievement in high school, and no separate application is required for consideration.

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Feinstein Scholarship

The Feinstein Scholarship awards up to $10,000 to students who demonstrate a significant commitment to community service, a proven record of community involvement, and a strong high school academic record. A select group of students receive this scholarship.

Fine Arts Tuition Scholarship

Tuition scholarships of $25,000 per year are offered to students who demonstrate great potential in contributing to the arts on campus through their choice of academic major. The Providence College community values the arts, providing dedicated faculty and top facilities for students to develop their skills.

Cristo Rey Scholarship

Graduates of high schools affiliated with the Cristo Rey Network are considered for the Cristo Rey Scholarship, which covers full tuition. This scholarship does not require a separate application and is awarded by the Office of Admission at the conclusion of Regular Decision, based on academic achievement and personal characteristics. Recipients also have their full demonstrated financial need met. One scholarship is offered to each school in the Cristo Rey Network. Students who qualify for the Cristo Rey Scholarship are encouraged to complete financial aid applications.

St. Rose of Lima Transfer Tuition Scholarship

Academic-based merit transfer tuition scholarships of $23,000 per year are available to transfer students who have demonstrated superior academic performance in college coursework completed before enrolling at Providence College. Students who have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all courses and have taken a rigorous full-time liberal arts program of study will be considered for these awards. A 3.5 cumulative GPA is not a guarantee of a scholarship but suggests the minimum performance necessary to be a competitive candidate. Students must complete a full year of coursework before transferring to Providence College to be eligible for consideration for the St. Rose of Lima Transfer Scholarship. The scholarship is renewable for each year of uninterrupted study at Providence College but will not extend past the expected year of graduation at the time of enrollment. The scholarship is available only for students entering in the fall semester.

Opportunity Program Scholarships

The Providence Opportunity program includes several signature scholarship programs that affirm the College’s commitment to providing a high-quality education for students who may not otherwise consider PC. Students receiving one of the Opportunity Program awards are persistent, motivated, and dynamic, with exceptional potential for leadership in service of their communities and future careers.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship

Since 1968, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship program has successfully graduated well over 600 students who have entered careers in medicine, business, law, education, and religious life. In addition to the scholarship, recipients receive academic advising and mentoring, semester cohort meetings, and designated programs and services as part of their development plan. All first-year students who live in the United States and were admitted through the College’s existing admission process and criteria receive consideration for this scholarship. Demonstrated financial need is a key criterion. The selection committee is interested in students who exhibit exemplary personal qualities, display persistence and motivation to achieve goals, and are involved in a variety of activities, service, or employment experience. Decisions are made by a committee based on the information contained within a student’s Common Application. MLK Scholarship recipients may also qualify for merit-based scholarships, but the total of these scholarships will not exceed full tuition.

Posse Foundation Scholarship

Providence College is a proud partner with the Posse Foundation’s New Orleans chapter. In every incoming class, ten students from Louisiana with exceptional potential, a commitment to their education, and demonstrated leadership in their community are invited to join Providence College through the Posse program.

Internal Scholarships for Study Abroad

Providence College students are encouraged to review the following internal scholarships for study abroad.

The David Family Scholarship

The David Family Scholarship provides funds for Providence College students to study abroad, assisting students who have financial need and show academic merit. All eligible students are automatically considered provided they meet the Office of Financial Aid’s returning student filling deadline.

The Eleanor O’Donnell O’Brien Scholarship

The Eleanor O’Donnell O’Brien Scholarship was established in 1998 by Edward W. O’Donnell ’71 to assist study abroad students. All eligible students are automatically considered provided they meet the Office of Financial Aid’s returning student filling deadline.

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The Marc LePage Memorial Scholarship

The Marc LePage Memorial Scholarship at Providence College was established by Marc’s parents to honor his life. Marc (1971-2002) was involved in art galleries and Civil War site preservation. The family felt it was appropriate to establish a scholarship fund in Marc’s name, as his father was the first Providence College student to study abroad. All eligible students are automatically considered provided they meet the Office of Financial Aid’s returning student filling deadline.

Fr. Philip A. Smith, O.P., Student Fellowships for Study and Service Abroad

The Fr. Philip A. Smith, O.P., Student Fellowships for Study and Service Abroad are awarded on a competitive basis to rising juniors and seniors. The Fellowships enable students to undertake summer study or service at Catholic and Dominican sites outside the continental United States. The Fellowships cover travel, living, and incidental expenses and provide Fellows with a modest stipend.

Navigating the Scholarship Search

The internet is a primary resource for searching for scholarships. It's advisable to avoid fee-based scholarship matching services. Each scholarship typically has different deadlines and application requirements. Prime months for scholarship deadlines are January through April for awards starting the following fall semester. It is crucial to notify the Office of Financial Aid in writing or by using the Report an Outside Resource form if you expect to receive an outside scholarship. Sending a copy of the scholarship notification letter to the Bursar’s Office allows them to add it as a pending payment on your billing statement specific to the semester it will be applied to. The letter must include the total amount of the scholarship and how the money will be distributed to Providence College.

Need-Based Financial Assistance

Providence College’s founding mission includes expanding access to higher education through need-based financial assistance. All institutional need-based grant monies are awarded to undergraduate students based on financial need. An example of need-based institutional funding would be Providence College Grants. The College subscribes to the Institutional Methodology (IM) for institutional need-based aid, which provides a more comprehensive analysis of a family’s ability to contribute. The information provided on the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile application allows the college to utilize a more systematic and objective measurement of a family’s financial situation to determine the amount of financial assistance a family truly needs in order to successfully finance their student’s education. Under the IM model, the College includes a broader scope of information that is not collected on the FAFSA, considering family-owned businesses and home equity as assets. All need-based financial assistance at Providence College is renewable for all four undergraduate years, provided a student adheres to published dates and deadlines, remains in good academic standing, and continues to demonstrate similar financial need each year. Students must reapply for federal financial assistance each year by completing the FAFSA and for institutional need-based assistance each year by completing the CSS Profile.

Family Grants

Family Grants are available when two or more immediate family members attend the college at the same time in the undergraduate program. The tuition of the younger student(s) is reduced by $1,000.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Prospective undergraduate students must submit both the FAFSA & CSS Profile to apply for PC financial aid. Once both are submitted to PC, the financial aid application is complete. Additional documentation, such as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax transcripts for the parent and student, W2 forms, documentation of untaxed income, and statements confirming the number of family members receiving parental support and enrolled in college, may be required. Students must complete the verification process carefully and respond in a timely manner. Applicants are required to complete the appropriate forms each year assistance is sought by the published deadline. All entering freshman applicants for financial aid must submit an official Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile Application. Both forms must arrive at the appropriate processing center prior to published deadlines. The FAFSA is required from those students interested solely in federal financial assistance, while the FAFSA and CSS Profile are required to determine eligibility for need-based institutional assistance. All returning student applicants for financial aid are required to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile Application, ensuring both forms arrive at the appropriate processing center prior to published deadlines. All transfer students are required to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile Application, submitting both forms before the deadlines.

Important Considerations for Financial Aid

Providence College uses the Federal Methodology required by the Higher Education Act (1992), as amended, to determine a student’s eligibility for federal financial aid programs. This methodology allows the College to distribute federal financial aid to eligible students in accordance with federal guidelines. For institutional need-based aid, the College subscribes to the Institutional Methodology, a more comprehensive analysis of a family’s ability to contribute. With that determination of need, the Office of Financial Aid constructs an aid package consisting of grant assistance, work, and loans in accordance with federal regulations, the availability of funds, and institutional policy. Regrettably, College resources are not always adequate to meet the full need of all eligible applicants. All grant and loan funds are credited to the student’s account following the add/drop period of each semester by the Office of the Bursar. Federal work-study funds are never credited to student accounts and should not be used in determining payment of the tuition bill. The receipt of outside assistance, including but not limited to state scholarships, scholarships from private organizations, and high school awards, may result in an adjustment to the original aid offer when the additional assistance provides the student with total funds in excess of calculated institutional eligibility. When it is necessary to adjust an aid offer, reductions will be made based on the institutional need and packaging policy. Changes will be made first to offset any unmet need and then federal loans and work-study awards before adjustments are made to need-based grant. Any aid recipient who withdraws from the College is subject to the refund and repayment policy published in the Financial Information section of the College catalog. All financial aid recipients are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Student Success Center in the Academic Policies section of the catalog, and by the US Department of Education.

Loan Programs

Providence College participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. The FAFSA is the only application required to calculate a student’s loan eligibility within this program. The Office of Financial Aid at Providence College will communicate information and additional requirements. Renewal of need-based aid is not automatic. Students must reapply for need-based federal financial assistance each year by completing the FAFSA. For institutional need-based consideration, both the FAFSA and CSS Profile must be received by the published deadlines. Depending upon your calculated need in subsequent years, your aid award may vary. However, the principal factors used in computing your need are the same every year. These factors include such criteria as family income, assets, household size, and number of family members in college. Be certain to carefully read and follow the directions for completing all of the various applications for financial aid. Late applications for financial assistance are accepted at any time. However, the actual distribution of awards is based on the availability of funds at the time the late application is received.

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant application is included in the FAFSA. Providence College will calculate an award for Pell Grant-eligible students using all application materials. Awards may vary from $711 to $6,895 and are based on a family’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA, the student’s actual enrollment (i.e. summer or academic year), and enrollment status.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are funded by the federal government and awarded by the College to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.

Army ROTC Scholarship

Army ROTC scholarship program provides aid to qualified students at both the high school and college levels.

State and Local Scholarships

State scholarships and grants are available from a limited number of states to students with financial need. Local scholarships and awards are available through social, civic, religious, business, and labor organizations in a student’s local area.

Additional Merit-Based Scholarships

Academic Scholarships are merit-based scholarships which range from approximately $20,000 to $35,000 per year with several levels offered in between. There is no separate application to be considered for a merit-based scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to approximately 30% of admitted students and are done so solely based off academic performance.

Specific Department Scholarships

Sister Gail Himrod Scholarship: Offered by the Department of Music for prospective students intending to major in Music, Music Education, or Musical Theatre. Students must audition to be considered.
McAlister Scholarship: Offered by the Art Department for prospective students intending to major in studio art. A portfolio is required to be considered.
Nagle Scholarship: Offered by the Department of Theatre, Dance & Film for prospective students intending to major in Theatre. Students must audition and demonstrate excellent performance abilities in theatre to be considered.

Merit-based scholarships (except for the St. Rose of Lima) are guaranteed for all four years (8 semesters) as long as the student meets the terms listed on the College’s merit-based scholarship agreement form. If a student receives another source of funding that is designated solely for tuition, the merit award may be reduced since the total of these sources cannot exceed the tuition charge on an annual basis. All freshman candidates filing an application for admission are automatically considered for the Honors Program.

Need-Based Grants

Providence College Grants are awarded to undergraduate students on the basis of need. Providence College Family Grants are available when two or more members of a family attend the College’s undergraduate program at the same time. The tuition of the younger student(s) is reduced by $1,000. This award is determined during the review of the financial aid application. A student who believes they may be eligible, but whose awards do not reflect this grant, should contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Diversity Scholarships

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This full-tuition or half-tuition scholarship assists undergraduate AHANA (African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American) students and others who demonstrate a desire and ability to contribute to Providence College’s diversity. Selections are made by a committee and are based on financial need, academic and leadership potential, and community service. A separate application is required. Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen only; transfer students are not eligible for consideration.
J.F. Cunningham, O.P. This full-tuition scholarship assists undergraduate Southeast Asian students who currently reside in the Greater Providence area and demonstrate a desire and ability to contribute to the College’s diversity. Selections are made by a committee and are awarded to students with financial need, community service, demonstrated leadership potential, and strong high school performance. A separate application is required. Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen only; transfer students are not eligible for consideration.
The Saint Juan Macías Scholarship, originally established in 1988 under a different name, is awarded to undergraduate AHANA (African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American) students and others who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and a desire and ability to contribute to Providence College’s diversity. The scholarship is granted for the full amount of tuition, room, and board. Renewal of this award is contingent upon excellent academic performance. A separate application is required. The scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen only; transfer students are not eligible for consideration.

Endowed and Restricted Scholarships

Individuals, foundations, and corporations generously contribute endowed and restricted scholarships to Providence College to support the educational opportunity of deserving students. If a student is selected as a recipient for an endowed/donor scholarship, the funds will be used to replace and not supplement the original grant awarded. No separate application is necessary to be considered for these funds.

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program is a federally funded, part-time employment program that allows most students with financial need to work both on- and off-campus during the academic year. Full-time summer employment is also available for eligible students. Providence College is committed to providing opportunities for students who are eligible for federal work-study to perform community services off-campus as part of the employment experience.

Federal Direct Loan Program

The Federal Direct Loan Program is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Department of Education. The loan application process (i.e. the FAFSA), the coordination of promissory notes, entrance/exit counseling, and disbursement of funds are all handled by Providence College. No banks or guarantee agencies will be involved in the process. Under current legislation, these loans have a fixed interest rate set annually. Repayment is deferred until six months after graduation, and a variety of repayment options are available. Students who have borrowed from more than one federal loan within this program will be able to consolidate under a single Direct Loan repayment option. The Federal Direct Loan Program is available to all students regardless of family income.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program is available to parents who are interested in borrowing to meet educational costs. Since this program is a part of the Federal Direct Loan Program for students, all loan transactions will be handled by the Office of Financial Aid at Providence College. Parents may borrow up to the cost of education minus any of the student’s financial aid (including work-study and loans).

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