Scholarships & Grants
We pride ourselves on ensuring that a JCU education is accessible and affordable for all students and families, regardless of their economic backgrounds. Discover scholarships and grants that make JCU possible.
Scholarships
Our merit scholarships are awarded regardless of whether you file the However, we strongly encourage completing the FAFSA to be considered for additional aid, including scholarships that may require a separate application.
Merit Scholarships
Our merit scholarships are designed to recognize and celebrate what students have accomplished throughout high school in hopes that they will share those talents with us. All applicants are automatically considered for one of our merit scholarships, ranging from $18,000 to $30,000 a year — no separate application is required.
Listed scholarship values automatically renew each year for a total of four years, so long as academic and conduct standards are maintained. You’ll be notified of your merit scholarship at the time of admission. Merit awards are determined based on academic performance, rigor of high school curriculum, and standardized test scores (if submitted).
| Scholarship | Starting Amount |
|---|---|
| Magis Scholarship | $28,000 |
| Presidential Scholarship | $25,000 |
| University Scholarship | $21,000 |
| Ignatian Award | $18,000 |
Discovery Visit and Apply Grant
First-year students admitted to JCU for fall 2026 who meet the eligibility criteria will receive this $2,000 grant as part of their JCU financial aid offer.
To be eligible, you must apply for admission to JCU by November 1, 2025, and make an official visit to campus by February 1, 2026. Only your application needs to be submitted by November 1 — transcripts and other materials are not required by this date. An official visit to JCU includes any in-person visit or event hosted by the JCU Office of Admission.
Regional Scholarships for First-Year Students
Regional scholarship opportunities are available to selected students from designated areas, offering additional funding based on where you call home.
Chicago Alumni Chapter Leadership Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
This scholarship is intended for an individual from the Chicago area who has proven that they will be a leader while at JCU.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Thomas M. Tully Family Scholarship
Amount: $25,000 per year for four years
The Thomas M. Tully Family Scholarship is awarded to an incoming first-year student from St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, IL.A GPA of 2.75 is required for renewal.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Howley College Scholars Program
Amount: Up to full tuition and room and board
John Carroll is proud to partner with the Howley Foundation to offer an affordable college experience for low-income (typically full Pell Grant eligible) students who are graduates of Saint Martin de Porres, Benedictine, Villa Angela Saint Joseph, or Saint Joseph Academy high schools.
Students should reach out to the designated Howley Foundation alumni coordinator at their high school to apply.
Say Yes To Education Scholarship
Amount: Up to full tuition
JCU is pleased to provide five scholarship opportunities each year to students attending Say Yes eligible schools in Cleveland, OH. As part of this program, students can receive up to eight semesters of financial support to meet the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees at JCU.
Apply on the .
Andrew "Dewey" McCarthy Scholarship
Amount: $4,300
The Andrew "Dewey" McCarthy Scholarship award recognizes an incoming first-year student who has a demonstrated record of leadership, citizenship, and academic ability and who hails from an East Coast state. The Andrew McCarthy Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by Dewey’s family, friends, teammates, classmates, and co-workers. Since 1983, money has been raised in support of the scholarship, and today the fund is fully endowed. The scholarship has been awarded annually since 1988.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Greater New York City A.M.D.G. Scholarship
Amount: $10,000
The A.M.D.G. $10,000 annual scholarship is awarded to up to five students from the New York City area.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities for First-Year Students
Amount: Full-tuition
Full-tuition, four-year scholarship for a student with 3+ years of Latin in high school who plans to major in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies. Must maintain 3.0 GPA and enroll in Latin/Greek each semester.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Amount: Up to $15,000
Incoming first-year students planning to pursue a science or technology major are eligible to apply for the INnovation for STEM Pre-Professionals: Identity, Research, and EDucation (INSPIRED) Scholarship program. Funded by the National Science Foundation, these scholarships award up to $15,000 per year to students who demonstrate both financial need and strong academic potential in STEM at JCU. Awards are renewable for students who continue to meet the program’s requirements.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Amount: $6,122
Incoming first-year students preparing for careers in healthcare (medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and related fields) are invited to apply for the SANUM Scholars Award. Funded through a grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education and 麻豆社, this scholarship provides $6,122 per year and can be combined with other sources of financial aid.
To be eligible, students must be Ohio residents, admitted undergraduates with a current FAFSA on file, and pursuing one of the following majors: Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry (including Biochemistry), Interdisciplinary Physics (including Biomedical Physics), Nursing, or Psychology with a Neuroscience Concentration.
Apply in myJCU Gateway by January 15, 2026.
Scholarships for First-Year and Transfer Students
Amount: $1,000 annually
The Legacy Grant is available exclusively to first-year and transfer legacy students enrolling at JCU in fall 2026. Eligible legacy students will automatically qualify to receive this $1,000 grant that will renew annually.
Eligible legacy students include those students who have had a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or sibling graduate from JCU at the time of enrolling. Applicants should indicate their legacy connection(s), along with their year(s) of graduation, on their application for admission.
Amount: Up to $3,000
Several scholarships will be awarded through the generosity of the Huntington Foundation to Cuyahoga residents. Scholarships are based on funds being available. Recipients must have a GPA of at least 2.5 and must be majoring in science, math, psychology, or accounting and have demonstrated need.
Scholarships for Transfer Students
Amount: $3,000
Admitted students who have earned an associate’s degree and have completed their last 12 credit hours at a regionally accredited community college are eligible for this $3,000 award.
Amount: $18,000 – $27,000
These renewable scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, the rigor of your college-level coursework, and involvement in extracurricular activities. No separate application is needed.
The Ohio Transfer Council offers multiple non-renewable scholarship opportunities for students transferring from one member institution to another. For more information, including the list of member institutions, deadlines, and application requirements, review the Ohio Transfer Council website.
Amount: $1,000
These scholarships are awarded to members of Phi Theta Kappa and are renewable for a second year. To be eligible, please indicate your membership on your admission application.
Outside Scholarships
Outside scholarships can help you gain additional support for your JCU education. Most applications are due between February and May. Check online resources, libraries, employers, and community organizations.
All legitimate scholarship searches should be free and should not ask for any credit card or bank information. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a scholarship offer or search, please do not hesitate to contact Student Enrollment and Financial Services or the Better Business Bureau.
Outside scholarships must be reported to SEFS. If total aid exceeds cost of attendance by $300+, aid will be adjusted per federal rules:
- Applied to unmet need first
- Then reduces self-help aid (loans/work-study)
- Institutional grants reduced last
Please Note: Students awarded a JCU Faculty & Staff Tuition Grant or Tuition Exchange Grant will have prior merit scholarships replaced by the tuition grant.
Grants
Grants are need-based awards that do not need to be repaid. They represent the largest portion of JCU aid each year and help ensure all accepted students can attend.
Undergraduate University Grants
To be eligible for these grants, undergraduate students must:
- Be enrolled in an approved degree program
- File the
- Meet GPA and renewal requirements specific to each grant
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Meet all reapplication requirements
Individual award renewal criteria can be found in either your myJCU Gateway portal (incoming students) or myJCU Gateway portal (current students).
Federal Grants
JCU helps to administer and facilitate several different federal grant programs for our students. All of these programs require you to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish need and eligibility.
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. The amount of the Pell Grant varies based on the number of credit hours and financial need. The maximum full-time award is $7,395 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The maximum can change each award year and depends on program funding.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program (SEOG) is administered to undergraduate students of exceptional financial need who, without the grant, would be unable to continue their education. The award amount can change based on program funding; the maximum award for 2025-2026 is $1,000. 麻豆社 receives limited funding, so the grant is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
State Grants
The Ohio Department of Education administers the OCOG program, which provides money to Ohio residents in a first bachelor’s degree program who demonstrate the highest levels of financial need as determined by the results of the FAFSA.
To be eligible, FAFSA results must be received by early fall. For a dependent student, both parent and student must be Ohio residents with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $3,750 or less and a maximum household income of $96,000.The maximum award for the 2025-2026 academic year for a full-time student is $5000 annually.
Students eligible for a PA state grant are typically able to use these funds at John Carroll at a discounted rate. The annual rates range up to $600 per academic year. Applicants must fill out the FAFSA application and the PA State Grant Form prior to May 1.
