Comprehensive Guide to Xavier University Scholarships

Xavier University provides a wide array of scholarships and financial aid opportunities to help students finance their education. These scholarships recognize academic achievement, leadership, community engagement, and specific affiliations. This guide provides a detailed overview of the various scholarships available, their eligibility criteria, and renewal requirements.

Applying for Financial Aid

Xavier University’s scholarship recipients may be eligible for federal and/or state aid. Citizens or eligible non-citizens who receive Xavier institutional scholarships must annually have the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.

Scholarship Adjustments Based on Direct Cost

Xavier scholarships carry no cash value. The sum of institutionally administered or affiliated scholarships, federal grants, state awards, and waivers shall not exceed a recipient’s direct costs, which include tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board.

Merit-Based Scholarships

All students who apply for admission to Xavier are considered for merit scholarships. These scholarships recognize academic excellence and are awarded on a rolling basis.

Academic Scholarship Terms

Academic Scholarships are renewable for up to 8 consecutive semesters. To maintain eligibility, students must:

Read also: Academic Excellence at Xavier

Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 3.1 or higher at the end of each academic year.
Complete at least 30 credit hours each year.

The majority of Xavier University scholarship and grant funds are restricted to tuition only. Exceptions include funds such as Athletic Grants, the Housing Grant, Residence Assistant (RA) Grants, and endowed scholarship funds, which may be applied for charges other than tuition, depending upon the donor’s instructions.

Merit Scholarship Renewal

Merit Scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters at the amount initially awarded. Merit Scholarships are tuition restricted. Students must be enrolled full-time to receive the Merit Scholarship. Full-time enrollment is defined as 12-18 credit hours. If the student requires a partial or full fifth year of full-time undergraduate enrollment due to a special or unforeseen circumstance, they must appeal for continuation of their Merit Scholarship by contacting the Office of Student Financial Services. Students who withdraw from Xavier during the refund period may have their Merit Scholarship prorated to their remaining charges. This counts as a semester of use.

The Musketeer Forever Scholars Program

The Musketeer Forever Scholars program offers at least $30,000 in annual scholarships to high-achieving Ohio and Greater Cincinnati high school graduates who hold at least a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Need-Based Grants

Students who have remaining financial need after all other scholarships, grants, and loans have been awarded may qualify for need-based grants from Xavier University. The amounts of these grants vary depending upon the level of financial need.

Specific Scholarship Programs

1831 Partner Award

Incoming freshmen from one of Xavier’s partner high schools may be awarded this tuition-restricted scholarship, which is renewable for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate enrollment.

Read also: Townsend's Transfer

St. Xavier 1831 Scholarship

Awarded only to incoming freshmen in the 2024 graduating class of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.

ROTC Scholarship

For incoming freshmen who are awarded a merit scholarship and subsequently receive a ROTC scholarship, the value of the merit scholarship will be honorary only, since the ROTC scholarship and incentives will be valued at more than the original scholarship offer.

Housing Grant

This grant may be awarded to incoming freshmen for use toward on-campus housing costs only. The grant can be renewed as long as the student continues to reside in campus housing.

Family Grant

This grant is available to families with more than one dependent undergraduate student enrolled full-time at Xavier during the same semester. Two siblings enrolled full-time would each receive a $1,000 family grant per academic year ($500/semester). If three or more siblings enroll simultaneously, each student will receive a $5,000 family grant per academic year ($2,500/semester). The Family Grant is not automatically awarded as we are unable to identify siblings.

Study Abroad Grants

Students who participate in a non-Xavier sponsored study abroad program are not eligible to use any Xavier-funded grants or scholarships, including study-abroad grants, for the period during which they study abroad. Study abroad grants awarded to students are to be used in the semester of student’s study abroad program.

Tuition Exchange and FACHEX Program

Each year Xavier determines how many undergraduate dependents of employees can be certified to be considered for the Tuition Exchange and/or FACHEX program. The award is for full-time students (12-18 hours) and only covers the cost of tuition. Part-time hours, certain study-abroad programs, summer enrollment, or credit hours in excess of 18, will not be covered. Students receiving this benefit will be liable for a user’s fee. If awarded, the FACHEX or Tuition Exchange grant replaces other Xavier-funded scholarships and grants.

Dependent Tuition Remission

Dependent Tuition Remission employment benefits, combined with other awarded Xavier entrance scholarship and grant aid, cannot exceed 90% of the cost of tuition. Remaining tuition charges in excess of 90% of tuition cannot be covered with any other Xavier-funded programs. Students who are awarded Xavier entrance scholarships and grants, and then receive an employee tuition remission benefit of 90%, will forfeit the dollar value of those scholarships and grants, but will retain the right to use those funds should tuition remission become unavailable to them in future years.

Scholarship Opportunities Based on Specific Criteria

MCAT Scholarship

Xavier understands that not everyone is a natural “test-taker,” so they do not require the MCAT for admissions. Throughout your time with them, they will help you become comfortable with taking medical exams during your studies. In the meantime, they want to recognize students who have taken the initiative to write the MCAT.

Women In Stem Scholarship

XUSOM is a proud supporter of increasing gender inclusivity in the medical field.

Congressman John Lewis Equality Memorial Scholarship

Congressman John Lewis stood to fight inequities in all aspects of his life.

NY State University Scholarship

At XUSOM, they are committed to their students having a comprehensive global experience as patients come from all parts of the world with all sorts of background.

Civic Duty Scholarship

XUSOM encourages its graduates to give back to the community in all ways that they can.

Medical Field Work Experience Scholarship

XUSOM understands that career plans and paths change.

Veterans Scholarship

XUSOM is very thankful to all of their veterans.

Edgecliff Scholars Award

The Edgecliff Scholars Award provides scholarships to incoming first-year and transfer students who have been accepted for admission to Xavier University and are Edgecliff alumni relatives (children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren). Scholarship amounts vary from year to year. Selection is made by the Edgecliff Scholars Committee in conjunction with the Office of Alumni and the Office of Student Financial Services.

Indiana Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Xavier University Alumni residing in the State of Indiana. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year to incoming first-year students who are residents of Indiana. The amount of the award varies and is a non-renewable, one year scholarship.

Legacy Scholarship

The Legacy Scholarship is funded by donations from the State of Ohio Collegiate License Plate Program. Incoming first-year students who are lineal descendants (children or grandchildren) of Xavier University graduates are considered. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. The scholarship can be renewed for up to 4 years so long as the student remains in good academic standing with the University. The amount awarded each year varies.

Ohio Department of Higher Education STEM Scholarship

This scholarship, funded in partnership with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, is awarded annually to incoming first-year students majoring in STEM fields. Students must be Ohio residents.

Williams Scholarship

The Williams Scholarship is awarded annually in the amount of $3,000 to four incoming first-year students. The recipients must declare a major in the Williams College of Business, be in good academic standing, and fulfill service requirements to the College.

Community-Engaged Fellows Program

This four-year scholarship is awarded annually to incoming first-year students who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership or initiative in the area of community engagement or service through their school, community or church, and who have shown high academic achievement. The Community-Engaged Fellows are involved in a host of diverse, hands-on community opportunities throughout the Cincinnati region drawing upon principles of social justice, community building, and public policy.

Winter-Cohen Family Brueggeman Fellows Program

The Winter-Cohen Family Brueggeman Fellows Program at the Brueggeman Center offers up to 8 students each year the chance to combine a year of intensive independent study with an international immersion experience. The program is highly competitive and draws from graduate and undergraduate students from all four colleges and a wide range of disciplines.

Internal Scholarships

Albert J. Scholarship

Criteria: Minimum 2.5 CGPA to apply.
Awarded to a full-time sophomore, junior or senior with demonstrated financial need; must file the 2026-27 FAFSA form.

John L. Scholarship

Criteria: Minimum 3.0 CGPA to apply.

Scholarship

Criteria: Minimum 3.2 CGPA to apply.
Awarded to a full-time undergraduate with financial need; must file the 2026-27 FAFSA form.

Lt. Scholarship

Criteria: Awarded to a full-time undergraduate student with demonstrated financial need.

Scholarship for College of Arts and Sciences Students

Criteria: Awarded to students in the College of Arts and Sciences who have completed at least 24 credit hours at Xavier and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

William J. Scholarship

Criteria: Awarded to students in the Williams College of Business who have completed at least 24 credit hours at Xavier and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Paul L. Scholarship

Criteria: Awarded to a Xavier student who will be a senior in the 2026-27 academic year.

O’Connor Scholarship

The O’Connor Scholarship is awarded in recognition of outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement and contribution to Xavier. Students must request a nomination for this scholarship from the chair of their academic department in January. Students in ABSN or APEX/ADC programs are not eligible to apply.

Thomas G. Scholarship

Criteria: Awarded to a Xavier student who will be a junior or senior in the 2026-27 academic year.

Savage Scholarship

The Savage Scholarship is awarded in recognition of commitment to, and excellence in, the humanities. Students must request a nomination for this scholarship from the chair of their academic department in January. Students in ABSN or APEX/ADC programs are not eligible to apply.

Sustainability Committee Scholarship

Criteria: Awarded to a full-time sophomore, junior or senior as Sustainability Student intern position on Sustainability Committee. Tuition restricted.
For more info: Contact the Chair of the Sustainability Committee, Dr. Benjamin D.

Maintaining Scholarship Eligibility

After being awarded a scholarship, the scholar/awardee will be required to maintain eligibility for the scholarship in order to commence and continue to receive scholarship payments. Failure to maintain ANY of the continuing eligibility criteria will terminate the scholarship. After the date the scholarship committee has determined an awardee is no longer eligible, no further scholarship payments will be made to or on behalf of the awardee.

To maintain a scholarship for each of the four semesters of junior and senior year, each awardee must maintain full-time enrollment, a minimum grade point average, and financial need as determined by up-to-date information from the Office of Financial Aid. Each scholarship recipient must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours per semester) at XULA for consecutive Fall and Spring Semesters. Scholars who pause or interrupt their full-time enrollment will lose eligibility for this scholarship. Part-time enrollment (less than 12 credit hours per semester) at XULA will NOT maintain eligibility for this scholarship. A failure to maintain full-time enrollment for consecutive Fall and Spring Semesters will result in termination of the scholarship. If the scholarship committee determines the awardee is no longer eligible for the scholarship based on enrollment, after the date of this determination no further scholarship payments of any kind shall be made.

Additional Information

Outside Resources

Students are encouraged to seek assistance from outside sources. Student aid, including outside resources, may not exceed the student's total Cost of Attendance (COA) for the academic year. Depending upon the awarding guidelines established by the outside scholarship provider, the scholarship or some other piece of previously awarded federal or institutional aid may have to be reduced if the scholarship causes the COA to be exceeded, or if the awarding of the scholarship causes any of the provider’s terms to be violated. There are rare exceptions to this policy.

Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA)

College-funded gifts, cash advances, and/or cash equivalents (e.g., gift cards) provided to an enrolled student must be included as Estimated Financial Assistance (EFA) and accounted for in the student’s financial aid package. Any amount given by the university due to the student’s enrollment must be counted; there is no minimum. If the student is packaged up to their total Cost of Attendance and has no room for additional awards, the cash or gift cards may replace other awards or loans previously packaged.

Departmental Scholarships

Various departments on campus offer scholarships based on program of study.

Application Process

Before accessing scholarship and honors applications you must submit your application for admission to Xavier, either through the Common Application or the Xavier application.

Cost of Attendance

Annual tuition for full-time undergraduates in 2025-2026 is $52,430. On-campus living expenses (housing and food, double occupancy) are about $14,520 per year. These are total institutional expenses. They do not include all fees, textbooks and personal expenses.

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