Only undergraduate students are eligible for consideration for the following university and federal grants. Read further for grant details, additional policies, and regulations below.

  • Federal Pell Grant Program

    The Federal Pell Grant is a federal need-based grant program awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. You apply for it automatically by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The amount you receive is based on your SAI and the number of credit hours for which you are enrolled each term. If either of the above conditions change, your grant will be adjusted. You must reapply each year to reestablish your eligibility. The maximum award amount varies annually according to an appropriation from Congress. Students must file a FAFSA each year to establish their continued eligibility for need-based financial assistance. Full-time award amounts will be prorated for partial enrollment.

  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

    This institutionally administered federal need-based grant is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. You apply for it automatically by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements to first receive a Federal Pell Grant before being considered for a SEOG Grant. Additionally, awards are based on the time of application and the availability of funds. Students must file a FAFSA each year to establish their continued eligibility for need-based financial assistance. To be given priority consideration for the grant, students must meet the application deadline. May be replaced by endowed scholarship funds.

  • Catholic University Need-Based Grant

    The Catholic University Need-Based Grant is awarded to undergraduate students based on demonstrated significant financial need. The grant is designed to assist students in meeting a portion of their unmet need. The amount you receive is based on your Student Aid Index(SAI) and your remaining need after all other sources of aid are considered. If any of the above conditions change, your grant may be reduced. This award is not subject to future increases. You must reapply each year by filling a FAFSA to reestablish eligibility. Funding for this program is limited, so offers are made annually on a first-come, funds-available basis. This award is renewable for up to eight semesters or until you complete your current degree program, whichever comes first. Transfer students' length of eligibility is prorated based on the number of credits hours accepted by their academic departments. You must maintain continuous full-time enrollment status (a minimum of 12 credit hours) in a degree program and must be registered by the end of the add/drop period (as published in the University Announcements and Schedule of Course Booklet) each semester. This award can be applied only to tuition charges billed by Catholic University during the academic year (i.e. during the fall and spring semesters). In the future, a portion or all of your Catholic University Need-Based Grant may be funded through one of our donor-sponsored scholarship funds. Changes to the funding source for your Catholic University Need-Based Grant may be made any time during the year.

  • Sibling Grant(New Admitted Students after Fall 2024)

    For new first-year, undergraduate students admitted for Fall 2024 and after. The University recognizes the changes made by the FAFSA Simplification Act eliminating the number in college in the federal need calculation.  This $5,000 grant is awarded to new students with multiple siblings in college, as answered on FAFSA. A separate application is not required. Verification of number in college may be required. This award is automatically renewed with the completion of the FAFSA each year and more than one in college reported. The grant is valid for up to eight semesters or until completion of the current undergraduate degree program, whichever comes first.   A student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment status (minimum of twelve credit hours) in a degree program, meet all other scholarship requirements, and be registered by the end of the add/drop period (as published in the University Announcements) each semester.  This award is only applicable toward tuition charges. The grant will be removed if only one student is enrolled in college.

  • State Grants & Scholarships

    Most states provide grants for eligible residents. Although many states do not allow their awards to be used at institutions in other states, generally awards from the following states may be used at Catholic University: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. You should contact your State Higher Education Administration for eligibility requirements and application procedures.

  • Federal Teach Grant

    Catholic University does not currently participate in the Federal Teach Grant Program.

  • Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

    Federal Pell Grant eligible students whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer are eligible, under the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, to receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant award.

    To qualify, a student must:

    • Be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant award based on the FAFSA SAI.
    • Have a Federal Pell Grant eligible SAI 
    • Be less than 24 years of age OR enrolled at an institution of higher education at the time of their parent or guardian’s death.

    A public safety officer is defined as:

    • An individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or chaplain;
    • An employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who is performing official duties of the agency, if those official duties–
      • are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and
      • are determined by FEMA to be hazardous duties;
    • An employee of a state, local, or tribal emergency management or civil defense agency who is performing official duties in cooperation with FEMA, if those official duties–
      • are related to a major disaster or emergency that has been, or is later declared to exist with respect to the area under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; and
      • are determined by the agency to be hazardous duties;
    • A member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew who, as authorized or licensed by law and by the applicable agency or entity, is engaging in rescue activity or in the provision of emergency medical services; or
    • A fire police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with state or local law as an officially-recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned, special event.

    A parent or guardian includes non-custodial parents, step-parents, and parents of independent students. In all cases, the parent/guardian status at the time of death is the qualifying eligibility criterion. This may be different from the current parent/guardian status.

    If you meet the above criteria please contact us to complete the application and submit it along with all supporting documents to our office.

    If a student is determined to be eligible and continues to meet all eligibility criteria, the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship will automatically carry forward into future academic years.

  • Catholic University Family Grant

    This award is only available to students admitted before Fall 2024. If a family has two or more dependent children of the same family who are concurrently registered as full-time students (attempting a minimum of 12 credit hours) at The Catholic University of America, pursuing their first undergraduate degrees, the older sibling(s) is eligible for a Catholic University Family Grant of $2,000 per year. The Family Grant is only offered in the fall and spring semesters, no summer awards are available. No student will be considered eligible for the Family Grant because he or she is married to a student or because of concurrent enrollment of a parent. Catholic University Family Grants are partially credited each semester to the student’s account. The Family Grant Application must be submitted before or during the semester in which the award is to be credited. Retroactive requests for a Catholic University Family Grant will not be considered. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue eligibility. An application from our forms page must be submitted each year.

University scholarships and grants can only be applied to tuition charges billed by The Catholic University of America during the academic year (fall and spring semesters) and are renewed up to eight semesters or until you complete your current degree, whichever comes first. Aid must be accepted each academic year. University scholarships and grants require that a student maintains continuous full-time enrollment status (a minimum of 12 credit hours) in a degree program and is registered by the end of the add/drop period (as published in the University Announcements and Schedule of Course Booklet) each semester. Students are responsible for adhering to all requirements.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined in the University Announcements and under the Policies section of the Financial Assistance Web site.

Degree programs and other academic changes could impact your scholarships and grants. Consult with a Financial Aid Counselor to review your options before making changes.

Please note that university grants will be prorated if you complete your degree early. This is based on the number of credits enrolled during the final semester. University grants are awarded for the academic year(Fall/Spring) and cannot be applied entirely to one semester.