Navigating Scholarships at Saint Francis University

For many prospective students, the cost of higher education is a significant concern. Saint Francis University (SFU) aims to make education accessible through various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarships offered at SFU, along with other financial aid resources, to help students and their families navigate the college financing process.

Understanding the Cost of Attendance

Before diving into scholarship opportunities, it's crucial to understand the overall cost of attending Saint Francis University. Tuition is $45,700, which is less expensive than the national average cost of tuition of $47,097. These figures include tuition and fees that support various campus services like library access, gym facilities, student centers, technology, and health services.

However, the total cost of attendance, encompassing tuition, fees, food, housing, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses, amounts to $61,500. The net price, which reflects the average cost after deducting aid and scholarship funds from the total cost, is $52,122 for students receiving need-based aid.

Financial Aid at Saint Francis University

Financial aid is available to help students cover college costs and is typically awarded based on either need or merit.

Need-Based Aid

Need-based aid is determined by a family's ability to pay for college, as calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At SFU, the average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students was $9,046. In the fall of 2023, 72% of first-year students received need-based financial aid.

Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study programs. The average need-based self-help aid awarded to first-year students was $4,857.

Merit-Based Aid

Merit-based aid, also known as non-need-based aid, is awarded based on academic achievement or specific talents. The average non-need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students at SFU, excluding athletic scholarships, was $26,419.

Saint Francis University strives to meet a significant portion of its students’ financial aid needs, achieving a rate of 54%.

Scholarship Opportunities at Saint Francis University

Scholarships are a form of financial aid that doesn't require repayment, making them a highly desirable option for students. They can be need-based, merit-based, or awarded based on various criteria such as community service, unique hobbies, personal background, or a parent's affiliation with an employer or the military.

Saint Francis University provides merit scholarships to all full-time traditional undergraduate students. These scholarships are automatically considered upon acceptance to the university and are based on GPA.

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Scholarship Name	Amount	GPA
President’s Scholarship	$22,000	4.0
Trustee’s Scholarship	$20,000	3.75
Regent’s Scholarship	$18,000	3.5
Founder’s Scholarship	$17,000	3.25
Dean’s Scholarship	$16,000	3.0
Achievement Scholarship	$15,000	2.75
St. Bonaventure Scholarship	$14,000	2.5

Additional SFU Awards

Franciscan Award: Open to Catholic High School Graduates with an amount of $10,000 ($2,500 each year for all four undergraduate years). It is an automatic consideration with a complete SFU application.
PEACE Award: Open to Graduates of PEACE Partner Schools with an amount of $10,000 ($2,500 each year for all four undergraduate years).
Scholarship and Entrepreneurship for Economic Development (SEED) Scholarship: Open to all business-related majors (accounting, business administration, economics, finance, management Information systems, management, management, or marketing). Students awarded the scholarship will be required to perform internships at the Saint Francis University Small Business Development Center. Amount: $76,000 (2 recipients) ($22,500 each year for all four undergraduate years).Minimum requirements are a 3.0 GPA and an 1100 SAT (Math and Critical Reading). Qualifying students will be notified directly and must complete the application process. Note: The SEED Scholarship will replace any Saint Francis University academic award.
Transfer Student Scholarship: Transfer Scholarships are only available to students seeking their first baccalaureate degree. Amount: $15,000 - $25,000 per year. The scholarships are renewable each year as long as the student remains in good standing with Saint Francis University and maintains a 3.0 QPA.
International Student Scholarship: International Scholarships are only available to students seeking their first baccalaureate degree. Amount: $15,000 - $25,000 per year. The scholarships are renewable each year as long as the student remains in good standing with Saint Francis University and maintains a 3.0 QPA.
Hugh O'Brian Youth Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding students with high academic credentials who have participated as Hugh O'Brian Youth Ambassadors. Amount: $1,000 per year. Proof of participation is required for consideration.
Isaac Award Scholarship: High school juniors and seniors who participate in high school theatre/musical programs and the Altoona Community Theatre's Isaac Awards programs are eligible to apply. Amount: $1000 one time. Must apply separately.

Scholarship Competition

High-achieving high school seniors are invited to compete for a full- or partial-tuition scholarship at the Saint Francis Scholarship Competition. The Scholarship Competition Days consist of an essay competition and group interviews with faculty and staff. This scholarship is not stackable with merit scholarships, and other financial aid received might affect the scholarship offer.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Antoinette Murray Scholarship: A scholarship valued at up to $5,000 annually. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for application details.
Franciscan Alliance Scholarships: Education benefits are extended to qualifying Franciscan Alliance coworkers and dependents at the Fort Wayne campus or Crown Point site.
Transition to Teaching (T2T) Program Scholarship: Indiana residents in the Transition to Teaching program may be eligible for a one-time scholarship of up to $10,000, provided by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). This need-based scholarship is for Indiana students with a bachelor’s degree transitioning into teaching.
Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure (I-SEAL) Program: Scholarship opportunities are available for students pursuing a special education license through a transition-to-teaching program.
Donor-Funded Scholarships: Endowed scholarships are designed to be permanent and live in perpetuity. They can be created with gifts totaling a minimum amount of $25,000. The principal of the fund is invested to produce income, and an annual award is made to a student or students. The principal remains untouched, so the endowment can last into perpetuity. Annual scholarships can be established with a commitment of $5,000 over five years.

External Scholarship Resources

Saint Francis University also provides a list of external organizations that offer scholarships:

SageIT: A $1,000 scholarship with application deadlines.
Trial Pro, P.A.: Scholarship opportunities.
Scholarships.com: A scholarship matching service.
Student Scholarships: A large collection of scholarships.
Sallie Mae: Helps students search for scholarships.
Wells Fargo CollegeSTEPS Sweepstakes: A chance to win $5000.
Just Porter Scholarship Program: Supporting education with financial aid.
PNC Education Loan Center Achiever Scholarships: A chance to win $2000.
Mechanism Ventures Grants: Funding for Black students and recent graduates.
Teacher.org Scholarship: A $2500 scholarship for education students.
Varsity Tutors Scholarship Contest: A monthly chance to win a $1000 scholarship.
Discover’s ‘College Covered’ Scholarship Program: A chance to win $2500.
PACAC Scholarships: One-year non-renewable scholarships for high school seniors.

Saint Francis Healthcare Scholarship Program

Funded by the Saint Francis Foundation and the Saint Francis Auxiliary, this program offers scholarship opportunities for students pursuing careers in healthcare or professionals seeking to advance their healthcare careers. Applicants may receive one scholarship per year for a maximum of two years.

Student Loan Debt at Saint Francis University

It's important to be aware of student loan debt and its potential impact on your financial future. Ideally, your total student loan debt should be less than your anticipated starting salary after graduation.

At Saint Francis University, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $27,000. The median monthly federal loan payment (repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for these borrowers is $286.

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Additionally, 41% of graduating students at Saint Francis University took out private loans, with an average of $33,511 in private loan debt at graduation. The average total indebtedness of the 2024 graduating class was $56,547, with 77% of graduating students having borrowed some type of loan.

Tips for Scholarship Applications

Research: Use free scholarship websites to find scholarships that match your profile. The more applications you submit, the higher your chances of receiving one.
Essays: Start writing essays early. Common themes include future plans, career goals, and influential figures.
Learn from Winners: Review past winning applications, essays, and other materials.
Organization: Organize scholarships by deadline date to plan your application strategy.
Activity Profile: Maintain a list of your activities, including your responsibilities.

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

Be cautious of scholarship scams. If you have to pay money to get money, it's likely a scam. Victims of these scams lose millions of dollars each year. Scam operations often mimic legitimate government agencies, grant-awarding foundations, educational lenders, and scholarship search services.

Additional Financial Aid Resources

Federal Student Aid Ombudsman: Helps resolve disputes and other issues related to federal student loans.
Mapping Your Future: Provides information on selecting a school and paying for college.
StudentAid.gov: Offers information on eligibility requirements for U.S. scholarships and grants.

Other institutions

St. Francis College Visit Scholarship: Students who attend an event at St. Francis College-such as Open House, Admitted Student Day, Scholarship Day, or Academic Showcase Days-receive an additional $500 scholarship for participating. With a maximum of $2,000 in Visit Scholarships available.
Robert J. McGuire Scholarship: This program provides economic opportunities, workforce readiness to first-generation college students.
Cabrini Scholarship: St. Francis College is proud to partner with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in facing the ongoing nursing shortage in New York State and the nation, with a steadfast commitment to promoting a healthier New York City. The Mother Cabrini Nursing Scholarship at St. Francis College offers financial assistance to nursing students, with a focus on those from high-achieving, low-income or historically excluded backgrounds.
Alumni Grad-itude Tuition Discount Program: The Alumni Grad-itude Tuition Discount Program is open to any SFC alumni. Alumni who meet these requirements will be eligible to pay just $475 per credit for both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship: Special consideration is given to full-time transfer students who hold membership in Phi Theta Kappa and meet the established requirements of a 3.5 GPA with 60 accepted transfer credits upon entry to St. Francis College. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is available for students entering St.

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