Holy Cross College offers merit scholarships to admitted students who demonstrate exceptional accomplishment, leadership, commitment to service, and intellectual promise. Financial need is not a factor unless otherwise noted. Annual awards range from $23,000 to $10,000

• All First-Year and Transfer applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships.
• Academic performance, as displayed in the transcript and standardized test scores, is the primary factor used to determine eligibility and award level.
• Admitted students who are assigned a merit scholarship will be notified of the award and amount in the admissions decision packet. Not all admitted students will receive a merit scholarship.
• Merit Scholarships are renewable for up to 8 semesters of consecutive fulltime enrollment with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Students who submit the FAFSA often receive additional need-based aid in addition to merit scholarships.

Thanks to generous benefactors, Holy Cross offers endowed scholarships for students who meet award criteria. A few notes about these scholarships:

• All First Year applicants who submit an application for admission and the endowed scholarship application will be considered for these awards.
• Some of these awards require demonstrated financial need; a current FAFSA must be on file for consideration of need-based named scholarships.
• Availability of funds will be awarded beginning in April and continue on a rolling basis.
• Receipt of an endowed scholarship may require an adjustment to previously-offered aid if the total package exceeds cost of attendance.
• By accepting a scholarship, you agree to assist with activities that show gratitude toward the donor as requested by the Office of College Relations, including:
  • Face-to-face meetings
  • Attending donor recognition events
  • Sending thank-you notes as requested

Available scholarships:

John O’Connor Eagle Scout Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to an Eagle Scout who embodies the spirit of the Boy Scouts of America, this scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance. Application requires a short essay response.

Nicholas Spehar Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to a sibling, spouse, or child of someone who has died in the line of military duty, this scholarship may also be awarded to military veterans or the child of an active or retired member of the military. Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance and requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA while attending Holy Cross College. Application requires a short essay response and military documentation.

The Robert & Dorothy Pfiel Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a student who resides in Saint Joseph County and has demonstrated a commitment to serving others. Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance. Application requires a short essay response.

The Hesburgh Scholarship
Awarded to children of Notre Dame employees with financial need who will live on campus in a residence hall. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of on-campus residency and full-time attendance. Application requires a short essay response.

The William and Anna Jean Cushwa Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need. The recipient must have a generous spirit and commitment to fostering educational opportunities for others in need. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance and requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA while attending Holy Cross College. Application requires a short essay response.

Johnny Hardesty Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need. This scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance. Application requires a short essay response.

The Don and Peg Claeys Endowed Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need, this scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters of full-time attendance. Application requires a short essay response.

Other endowed scholarships awarded to current students

The Kirk E. Barbiere Science Scholarship
Awarded to a sophomore Pre-Med or Science major.

The Fontaine Family Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

Fr. Merwyn Thomas Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

Notre Dame Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

The Martin P. Thurin Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

The Firefly Foundation Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

The Jesus Guzman Scholarship
Awarded to students with financial need who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, character and leadership.

The Henry Meers Expended Scholarship
Awarded to a student who demonstrates financial need.

The Joseph T. Sullivan, Sr Scholarship
Awarded to students with financial need who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, character and leadership.

The Tabit Family Scholarship
Awarded to students with financial need who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, character and leadership.

The Michael & Jim Pfiel Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship provides room and meals to athletes.

Local and national organizations provide scholarships for current and incoming Holy Cross students. A few notes on outside scholarships:

• If you receive a private scholarship, notify the Office of Financial Aid so the award can be added to your financial aid notification.
• The receipt of outside scholarships may require an adjustment to previously-offered aid if your total package exceeds the cost of attendance. If adjustments are necessary, offers of campus employment and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans will be reduced before Holy Cross gift assistance.
• Send all scholarship details to [email protected]. Be sure to note if the scholarship is a one-time award or renewable each year.
• Financial assistance is divided and credited evenly to the student account between the fall and spring semesters, unless otherwise noted in writing by the organization.
• If you receive a check directly from a private organization, the check should be endorsed and submitted to the Office of Student Accounts for processing.

As a courtesy, we provide the following links to help you begin your search for private scholarships. We do not, however, endorse any specific private scholarship. Use caution when sharing personal information with third party organizations.

• College Board Scholarship Search
• FinAid!
• Best Colleges

These organizations provide scholarship opportunities for students who reside near Holy Cross:

• The Scholarship Foundation of Saint Joseph County
• Notre Dame Federal Credit Union Scholarship

Holy Cross is a proud member of the National Catholic College Admission Association, which offers a scholarship opportunity for students enrolling at a member institution:

• National CCAA Scholarship

To be considered for a Holy Cross Assistance Grant, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Undocumented students will receive consideration for need-based financial assistance from Holy Cross.

Federal grants

To be eligible for federal student aid you must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States with a valid social security number. In general, students must be degree seeking and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis.

Additionally, students may not owe a refund on a federal student grant, nor be in default on a federal student loan. Eligibility for federal student aid programs is determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is a need-based grant offered to eligible students.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant Program (FSEOG)

Federal SEO Grants assist students demonstrating exceptional financial need in accordance with guidelines and funding allocations established by the Department of Education and the Office of Financial Aid.

Indiana state financial aid

To be eligible for Indiana student aid, you must be an Indiana resident. To be considered a resident of Indiana, a student must be domiciled in the state on or before December 31 of the year preceding application for an award and be continuously domiciled in the state thereafter.

For a dependent student, the determination of residency status is based on the permanent place of residence of the applicant and the parent(s) of the applicant. For an independent student, the determination of residency status is based on the permanent place of residence of the applicant.

This table displays the average scholarship and grant package (not including Federal Direct Loans) an Indiana student entering Holy Cross College as a new student received for academic year 2019-2020, sorted by total family income (AGI) as reported on the FAFSA.

Indiana ranks fifth in the nation in need-based grant aid per undergraduate student, making higher education more accessible and attainable for more Hoosiers. Indiana has two primary grant programs:

• Frank O’Bannon Grant. The Frank O’Bannon Grant includes both the Higher Education Award and the Freedom of Choice Award. Eligibility for the grant is based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The grant may be used towards tuition and regularly assessed fees.
• Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars. Indiana’s 7th and 8th grade students can apply for the 21st Century Scholars Program if their families meet the eligibility guidelines. Students not admitted into the Program can reapply the following year, but—with the exception of students in foster care—all students must apply by June 30 of their 8th grade year.

Holy Cross is a member of the Tuition Exchange, which provides a reciprocal scholarship exchange program for eligible dependents of full-time faculty and staff among its members of over 600 colleges and universities located in 46 states and the United Kingdom. The majority of participating colleges offer only full-time remission for undergraduate degrees.

Notre Dame Portable Tuition Benefit

Holy Cross College has always been grateful for the ways that children and dependents of employees of the University of Notre Dame have contributed to our campus.

In order to recognize the importance of this community, Holy Cross has adopted the following policy for children and eligible dependents of Notre Dame faculty and staff who are eligible for Notre Dame’s portable tuition benefit:

• For each semester the portable tuition benefit is applied to Holy Cross College, children and dependents of eligible Notre Dame employees who are enrolled full-time will be awarded a financial aid package that covers the full cost of tuition and the comprehensive student fees.

Thus, those who are eligible for the portable tuition benefit would pay $0 for tuition and fees.

This benefit does not cover other costs such as:

• Room and board
• Books
• Travel
• Fees specific to a course, event, or program

Children and dependents may qualify for other sources of financial aid to cover these additional charges, however.

In order to cover the full cost of tuition and fees, financial aid packages may include Indiana, federal, and/or institutional aid for which the student is eligible. Holy Cross will work to ensure that each student’s aid package is optimally awarded so that any remaining tuition and comprehensive fees are covered after the Notre Dame portable tuition benefit is applied.

For maximum need-based financial aid consideration, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted to Holy Cross College.

Living on campus

Holy Cross requires its first- and second-year students to live on campus in residence halls. Students who live at home with their parents and commute to campus are exempt from this requirement. Holy Cross has scholarship funds available for Notre Dame employee children and dependents who want to live in on-campus residence halls. For information about this residence scholarship, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Questions?

Notre Dame employees should contact the Notre Dame Office of Human Resources to inquire about eligibility for the portable tuition benefit for children and dependents.

Questions about this policy can be directed to the Holy Cross College Office of Financial Aid.

This policy, officially articulated in 2018, will be applied to students enrolling academic year 2018-2019 and will be applied retroactively to ensure that current Holy Cross students who are eligible children or other eligible dependents of Notre Dame employees will be covered.

To help with your decision to visit the campus, you would become eligible for a one-time $500 textbook grant to use in your first year as a Holy Cross student in the bookstore after making an official visit in the year leading up to your enrollment. Schedule your visit at https://www.hcc-nd.edu/visit-campus/.

Eligibility criteria for the $500 textbook grant:

• Attend an official on-campus information session, Preview Day, or Admitted Student Day at Holy Cross College between August 1st and May 1st during your senior year in high school
• Submit your enrollment deposit by May 1st
• Enroll at Holy Cross College as a new first-time full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking student* the fall immediately following your high school graduation
• No separate application is necessary (FAFSA not required)
• The book grant will be applied as a $250 grant each semester toward the book rental fee

* students enrolled in the Gateway program or are receiving a book stipend through another program are not eligible to receive a book voucher

Recognizing the College’s indelible identity as a Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) institution and the importance of building relationships among those affiliated with the Congregation, Holy Cross College will award C.S.C. Legacy Scholarships to students whose families have supported and participated in the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Specifically, students admitted to Holy Cross College with the following affiliations will be eligible for this award:

• Dependents of Holy Cross College alumni
• Graduates of C.S.C.-affiliated high schools
• Dependents of those employed by C.S.C. parishes, schools, and organizations
• Nieces and nephews of professed C.S.C.
• Dependents of the University of Notre Dame alumni
• Dependents of Saint Mary’s College alumni

The scholarship will be valued at $5,000 per year and is renewable for up to four years of full-time enrollment. The award is subject to all Holy Cross College financial aid policies including, but not limited to, the maximum award policy and Satisfactory Academic Policy standards. Students participating in certain financial aid or enrollment programs are not eligible for this award. These programs include, but are not limited to, Notre Dame Employee Tuition Benefit recipients, Gateway Scholars, and Driscoll Scholars.

Prospective students and current students who may qualify for the scholarship should send an email to [email protected] to begin the awarding process. The Office of Financial Aid retains the right to confirm eligibility.

In honor of the Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a new full-tuition, renewable scholarship is available! Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana, is offering two graduating seniors from a C.S.C. high school the opportunity to start their college journey with a full-tuition scholarship. Please consult with your high school counselor for application details.

Requirements:

• Eligible students must have a 3.2 GPA or above and be an active member of the school and/or local community. Each C.S.C high school counseling department can submit three nominees for the scholarship. Only recommendations from the high school will be considered.
• After nominations are submitted, nominees must apply to Holy Cross College, submit the FAFSA, and provide a recommendation letter from their counselor.
• Once all requirements are completed, the Holy Cross College Scholarship Selection Committee will review and choose 10 finalists.
• Finalists will visit the campus for a formal interview with the President and other leaders of the College. Please note: Travel assistance will be provided.

Timeline:

• November 1: All C.S.C high school counseling departments provide the Holy Cross College Admissions Office with three nominees.
• December 1: Deadline for nominees to apply to Holy Cross College, submit the FAFSA, and provide a counselor recommendation.
• January 11: The Holy Cross College Scholarship Selection Committee will review and choose 10 finalists.
• February 26 & 27: Finalists are invited to campus for a formal interview with the President and other leaders of the College. Travel assistance will be provided.
• March 8: Winners will be notified.

Please note: ALL graduates of C.S.C affiliated high schools will receive a $5,000 C.S.C Legacy Scholarship renewable up to 4 years.

In honor of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, shepherd of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, Indiana will award one full-tuition, renewable scholarship to a student from one of each diocesan high school! This opportunity gives a first-year student a full-tuition scholarship to start their college career. Please consult with your counselor for details.

Requirements:

• Eligible students must have a 3.2 GPA or above and be an active member of the school and/or local community. Each high school counseling department can submit three nominees for the scholarship. Only recommendations from the high school will be considered.
• After nominations are submitted, nominees must apply to Holy Cross College, submit the FAFSA, and provide a recommendation letter from their counselor.
• Once all requirements are completed, the Holy Cross College Scholarship Selection Committee will review and choose one
  recipient from each diocesan high school.

Timeline:

• November 1: High school counseling departments provide the Holy Cross College Admissions Office with three nominees.
• December 1: Deadline for nominees to apply to Holy Cross College, submit the FAFSA, and provide a counselor recommendation.
• January 11: Winners will be notified.

The Indiana Max program is a scholarship program designed to help Indiana high school students afford Holy Cross College. Qualifying students can pay $0 out of pocket for tuition and fees,  with additional assistance for living on campus*.

To qualify, students must:

• Apply and receive admission to Holy Cross College
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Qualify for maximum Federal and Indiana need-based financial aid

Scholarship program details

• Indiana Max students are invited to participate in specialized programming which will help them maximize their potential by taking advantage of the opportunities and resources available to them at Holy Cross College. They receive one-on-one mentorship, as well as participate in programming that will help them transition into and succeed at Holy Cross College.
• Indiana Max students living ion campus will receive a book voucher for required textbooks through the Hammes Holy Cross College Bookstore
• To remain eligible, students must file the FAFSA by April 15th, remain Pell-eligible, and earn 30 credits each academic year.

The primary goals of the program are:

• College performance: Ensure students perform well academically and stay on track to complete college through one-on-one meetings and grade check-ins.
• College engagement: Smooth student transition from high school to college through campus engagement and monthly workshops to build self-efficacy and leadership skills.
• Career preparation: Build students’ employability skills and strengthen connections between academic and applied learning through networking opportunities.

To start the application process, visit hcc-nd.edu/apply.

*Please note: The financial aid package will include Federal Direct Student loans, Federal and State Grants, Holy Cross Assistance Grant, and/or merit scholarships.