There are over 70 million registered Catholics in the United States. There are also millions of dollars in scholarships available for college-bound students, including scholarships designed with religion in mind. If you are a student who identifies with Catholicism, you could qualify for some great scholarship opportunities. Requirements vary depending on the award (some require more involvement in the faith than others, for example), but here are just seven scholarships for Catholics to start with.
1. Catholic United Financial Post-High School Tuition Scholarship
Amount: $300 – $500
Deadline: April
Catholic United members are welcome to apply for their scholarship that awards $300 for attending a non-Catholic school and $500 for attending a Catholic school. It’s a one-time, non-renewable award that is open to any type of college student, including those who are returning to school as an adult as long as it is your first post-high school degree.
To be eligible, students must have been a member of Catholic United for at least 2 years prior to applying. Applications are accepted through the organization’s Member Portal.
2. Italian Catholic Federation First Year Scholarship
Amount: $400
Deadline: April (Though it can vary)
This $400 scholarship for Catholics from the Italian Catholic Federation is specifically for students who are practicing Roman Catholics, have a family member as a member of the organization, and/or be of Italian descent.
Students must also
- Be attending a public or Catholic high school in California, Nevada, or Illinois
- Be entering their first year of college
- Students that win this award then become eligible to enter further scholarships for Catholics through the program: $500 for sophomores, $600 for juniors, and $1,000 for seniors
- Have a 3.2 GPA minimum
- Demonstrate financial need
- Display skills in leadership
- Participate in volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and work within the Italian Catholic Federation if applicable
3. Knights of Columbus Scholarships
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: April
If you or your parents are members of the Knights of Columbus, you may qualify for one of their many undergraduate degrees. In order to be eligible, students must also be entering their first year of college and be attending a Catholic college or university within the United States.
The different scholarships for Catholics that the Knights of Columbus offers students include:
- Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria Scholarships
- John W. McDevitt (Fourth Degree) Scholarships
- Percy J. Johnson Endowed Scholarships
- Anthony J. LaBella Endowed Scholarships
- Frank L. Gourlarte Endowed Scholarships
It’s important to note that some of these awards are based on financial need. The Knights of Columbus also offers a number of other scholarships for Catholics that are for graduate degrees, seminary studies, and more.
4. Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship for Women Discerning Priestly Ordination
Amount: $2,200
Deadline: April
The Lucile Murray Durkin Scholarship For Women Discerning Priestly Ordination is open to women and non-binary undergraduate and graduate students who want to be an ordained Catholic priest. However, the scholarship is also open to those seeking ordination in any denomination.
To apply, students must submit a 1,000-word essay, video, artwork, or audio on one of the prompts provided. Some of the current topics include your thoughts on being called to ordained ministry, the gifts you’d bring to ordained ministry, and your vision of women and non-binary priests in the Catholic Church. Applicants must also provide two letters of recommendation from academic or spiritual mentors that can attest to the individual’s faith and calling.
5. Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic Schools Scholarships
Amount: Up to $4,000
Deadline: May
The Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic Schools offers three scholarships for Catholics: the Del Papa-Grimaldi-Gabriele Endowment Fund Scholarship, the Lilo Wendell Scholarship, and the McLaughlin Scholarship.
The Del Papa-Grimaldi-Gabriele Endowment Fund Scholarship is for high school seniors and first-year college students who live in the Archdiocese of Detroit. One or more students will win about $2,000 each, and any religion is welcome to apply. However, in order to be eligible (and win), students must:
- Demonstrate good moral character
- Show a willingness to support themselves and others
- Show trustworthiness
- Demonstrate financial need
- Have a minimum 2.0 GPA and maintain that average
- Be attending college full time
The Lilo Wendell Scholarship is for high school seniors and first-year college students who are Catholics and the daughters of single mothers in Detroit. Awarding around $4,000, applicants are judged on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and financial need. Students must also write an essay about how the scholarship would be used and the importance of faith in their lives.
The McLaughlin Scholarship is another scholarship for Catholics but there is no application process. Students are instead recommended by their high school guidance counselors.
6. W.K. Robinson Scholarship
Amount: $500
Deadline: February
Students of all faiths in the state of Michigan are eligible to receive this $500 scholarship as long as they are a current and active member of their faith. Applicants must also be involved in their community, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, submit three references including one that is faith based, and write an essay on how the student will use their education to better their community.
7. Catholic Community Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Up to $1,000
Deadline: April
The Catholic Community Foundation in Arizona offers a number of scholarships for Catholics that are bound for college. Students must be attending high school within the Diocese of Phoenix and be a practicing, registered Catholic in order to apply. The awards include
- The Briana Tigue Medina Nursing Scholarship Fund
- For students who are earning an undergraduate degree in Nursing
- Awards $1,000
- Preference will be given to students who are attending Saint Mary’s Catholic High School
- The Ralph M. Knight Chemistry and Engineering Scholarship
- For students who plan to study engineering, chemistry, or a related field in college
- Awards $5,000
- Angel Scholarship for Social Work, Peace, and Justice Studies
- For students who are entering into some fields related to social work and public health
- Awards $5,000
- FullCircle “Solid Foundation” Scholarship Fund
- For students who are in the Full Circle Program
- Awards $1,000 annually
The Foundation also has K-12 school scholarships for Catholics including the Catholic Community Foundation Scholarship Program and the Christian Service Award Scholarship.
How Else Can You Find Scholarships for Catholics?
Did you know that you don’t have to make spreadsheets, cross-reference Google searches, and track down every award out there on your own? Using databases is a fantastic way to quickly find scholarships for Catholics – or just about any religion out there! College Raptor has its own Scholarship Search tool that has helped countless students search for awards, identify the scholarships for Catholics, and apply to them quickly and easily. Thanks to these tools, scholarship searching doesn’t have to take hours. And if new scholarships for Catholics pop up that you qualify for, you’ll receive an email alerting you!
Another way to find scholarships for Catholics is to talk to your local Church leaders. Many local awards go unnoticed simply because they don’t gain traction like the bigger names. Your Church leader may be able to point you in the correct direction of some groups or organizations that do help students afford higher education. The Church may have programs of its own, too.
This list will definitely help you get off on the right foot if you’re on the lookout for scholarships for Catholics, but it is by no means an exhaustive list. Using a Scholarship Search tool like ours will allow you to quickly identify religion-based awards, including ones you qualify for. Ready to get started? Sign up for free here to start locating scholarships for Catholics like yourself!
| Lender | Rates (APR) | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
6.97%-15.03%* Variable
5.99%-14.00%* Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CITIZENS |
 |
6.37% - 16.70% Variable
4.50% - 15.49% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT SALLIE MAE |
 |
4.98% - 16.70% Variable
4.07% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT CREDIBLE |
 |
6.07% - 11.31% Variable
4.39% - 10.39% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT LENDKEY |
 |
6.22% - 16.08% Variable
4.09% - 15.66% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ASCENT |
|
|
6.54% - 11.08% Variable
3.95% - 8.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ISL |
 |
5.62% - 18.26% Variable
4.11% - 15.90% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT EARNEST |
 |
4.98% - 12.79% Variable
8.42% - 13.01% Fixed
|
Undergraduate and Graduate
|
VISIT ELFI |
