Financial Aid

The Catholic University of America offers a wide variety of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study appointments to new and continuing students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Federal funds are, by statute, awarded solely on the basis of financial need as determined by a federally approved needs analysis system. These funds are available to as many qualifying students as funding will allow.

Application Procedure

Prospective applicants should request information and forms from the Office of Financial Aid or visit the financial aid Website. Applicants for the Columbus School of Law, School of Nursing, and the National Catholic School of Social Service should contact the school dean’s office for information on funds administered by those schools. Those interested in graduate assistantships should write directly to the school or department (where applicable.)

A completed application for admission must be on file by February 1 to be considered for The Knights of Columbus, The Board of Trustees and the St. Vincent Pallotti scholarships. We recommend that students applying for the other merit-based scholarships also submit their applications by February 1. Admission is required before financial aid is granted. Those graduate applicants who wish to be considered for federal aid must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.)

To be considered for graduate scholarships, applicants must submit scores on the General Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination, even if the scores were not required in connection with the application for admission. Graduate scholarships are usually awarded for September entrance and for up to three (3) years, with reapplication required annually.

Applicants for graduate assistantships who are international students, not permanent residents of the United States, or who are members of religious institutes and orders with a vow of poverty, are not required to submit either the FAFSA or the CUA application.

International Students

Government-funded scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial support are restricted to United States citizens or resident aliens. Graduate students who are not citizens are eligible for very limited University-funded aid. All international students must be prepared to meet the costs of education and living expenses in this country with personal or family funds or with funds from other institutions.

For additional information concerning financial aid, the applicant should contact the Institute of International Education, the American consulate in the applicant's country, or the government of that country.

Federal Programs

Due to limited grants and scholarships, many students rely on loans to cover at least some portion of educational costs. Educational loans are available to graduate students. Many Catholic University aid recipients use some type of educational loan(s). Using student loans to finance a portion of your education is an investment in your future, provided that you understand and plan for these loans. When considering education loan options, it is very important that you obtain the best possible loans available to you in terms of interest rates and repayment options.

When considering financing options for a graduate school education, two (2) goals should be to make manageable monthly payments and to minimize the total cost of education. In order to meet both of these goals, we suggest the following:

Utilize the monthly payment option to spread payments out over the semester rather than paying in full at the start of the term..
Investigate the terms of available loan programs if you decide to borrow.
Combine loans and payment plan options to meet the amount that needs to be financed.

A student loan is a serious obligation, which must be repaid with interest. Educational loans carry specified interest rates and repayment schedules. You will be informed of these at the time the loan is made, and you must adhere to the schedule to avoid defaulting on the loan. Some educational loans defer repayment until you graduate or are no longer enrolled. In most cases, federal student loans are the most favorable type of educational loans for students and parents. Before applying for any loan, you should review the general loan information for the various educational loan programs you are considering before applying for a loan.

The information contained in this section is subject to change or modification as state and federal regulations and/or institutional policies are revised.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance at The Catholic University of America is available to assist degree seeking graduate students in obtaining loan financing by certifying loan eligibility for federal and commercial loan programs. Federal student loans include the Federal Direct Stafford (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) Loan and Federal PLUS Loan for Graduate Students.. For further information about any federal program, visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

To apply for any federal loan, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the applicable school year. In addition, you must be admitted as a degree-seeking student and be enrolled at least half-time.

A student who is a member of a religious order that directs his or her course of study and who also takes a vow of poverty is eligible for unsubsidized federal loans or commercial loans. Subsidized federal funding is not available to a student that meets both of the above criteria.

A. Federal Direct Loan

Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Education and are administered by The Catholic University of America. It is the U.S. Department of Education's major form of self-help aid and is available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. There are two (2) types of Federal Direct Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. The primary difference between the two loans is the point at which interest begins to accrue:

Subsidized Loan Interest is paid by the federal government while the student is enrolled. Interest begins to accrue and the student's six (6) month grace period begins when the student borrower graduates, ceases to be enrolled, or drops below half-time enrollment.
Unsubsidized Loan Interest begins to accrue at the time of disbursement. Borrowers can pay the accumulating interest while in school or may capitalize the interest.

Graduate students are only eligible for unsubsidized loans. All Federal Direct Student Loans are disbursed in two (2) equal portions, half in the fall and half in the spring; unless otherwise informed or requested. A student must be enrolled at least half time of 4 or more credits while meeting all basic eligibility requirements (including Satisfactory Academic Progress) in order to receive a Federal Direct Student Loan. You will begin to repay your loan at the end of a six (6) month grace period that begins once you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.

B. Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are available to graduate students if they are credit-worthy applicants. A graduate student may borrow up to the total Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) less financial aid resources received. The student can borrow to help pay for educational expenses at Catholic University, as long as they are enrolled at least half time in 6 or more credits in a degree program while meeting all basic eligibility requirements (including Satisfactory Academic Progress). A student does not have to show financial need to borrow a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. However the Federal PLUS Loan is a credit-based loan, so the U.S. Department of Education will perform a credit check on the applicant.

Please note that each new loan you receive requires a separate payment each month. The interest rate is fixed and published annually at studentaid.gov. Repayment begins sixty (60) days after the full disbursement of the loan, and any changes to the loan must be executed by The University’s Office of Student Financial Assistance within 14 days of disbursement of the loan. Student must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to apply for the loan.

C. Federal Work Study

Federal work study positions are offered on a funds available basis to eligible students. No separate application is required to receive a work-study position; all that is required is a completed FAFSA. Eligible students will be notified of the work-study award in his/her Aid Notification Letter. Eligibility is determined based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), your enrollment status, and your remaining need after all other sources of aid have been considered.

Graduate Assistantships funded by the Federal Work-Study Program are offered on a funds available basis to eligible students.

D. Traineeships

Agencies of the federal government may provide traineeships for graduate study in the Schools of Nursing and the National Catholic School of Social Service.

Interested students should write directly to the dean of the appropriate school.

F. Veterans Benefits

The university, through the Office of Enrollment Services, works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans and dependents eligible to participate in the VA’s education benefits programs.

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs which has Education Benefits Counselors available at

888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551). Once a student has determined his/her eligibility for benefits they should contact the Office of Enrollment Services to discuss how to apply those benefits to their program of studies at the university.

Once a student has begun using VA education benefits at the university it is their responsibility to check in with a Veteran Certifying Official in the Office of Enrollment Services every semester for re-certification of benefits. Additionally, students making changes to their enrollment after they have been certified for a semester are responsible for contacting a Veteran Certifying Official so that any necessary adjustment to benefits can be processed.

Students utilizing VA education benefits should be aware of their financial responsibilities to the university.

The university will not assess financial penalties (late payment fees and/or interest charges) or enforce holds on registration, transcripts, diplomas, or university services for students utilizing veterans’ education benefits permitted that: 1) the student has provided the university with valid authorization from the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming eligibility for benefits, and 2) the amount of any pending veterans’ education benefits for the current or prior term(s) fully covers the balance due on the student account.

In the event that the amount of pending veterans’ education benefits for the current or prior term(s) does not cover the entirety of the balance due on the student account, the portion of the balance that will be covered by the pending benefits will be exempted from financial penalties as described above.

Any portion of a student’s account balance that will not be paid by pending veterans’ education benefits for the current or prior term(s) should be paid in accordance with the posted deadlines on the Enrollment Services website.

Students with charges in excess of pending VA payments, as well as students utilizing VA benefits that are paid directly to the student (chapters 30, 35, 1606), who are unable to remit payment to the university in full at the start of the term are encouraged to utilize the optional monthly payment plan. Information on the plan can be found here.

Often overlooked are many benefits available to veterans and to children of deceased veterans or those disabled in military service. In addition to the benefits offered directly by the Veterans Administration, others are available through their various service organizations, such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Catholic War Veterans, and directly through the branches of the armed services. Any possible claim resulting from the current or past military service of the student or a member of his or her family should be investigated.

University Programs and Scholarships

A. Tuition Charges and Support

Scholarship and stipend support is determined by the applicant’s or student’s school or department (where applicable) on a case-by-case basis. These awards are based on undergraduate academic performance and standardized test scores. Generally, full tuition awards may be offered to applicants in one of the University’s full-time doctoral programs who have an exceptionally strong undergraduate academic record and have earned a cumulative verbal and quantitative GRE score of 315 or above. Half tuition awards may be offered to applicants in the University’s full-time masters, licentiate, or doctoral programs who have a strong undergraduate academic record and have earned a cumulative verbal and quantitative GRE score of 300 or above. The final determination for offering these full and half tuition awards is made by the school or department (where applicable), and may include other criteria than those listed here.

Teaching and research fellowships/assistantships may also be available to students who want to apprentice or gain professional experience in their academic fields. Most of these pay stipends. Interested students should contact their prospective school dean or department chair (where applicable) regarding the availability and eligibility requirements for these teaching and research fellowships or assistantships.

B. Tuition Support for University Staff

Upon meeting the eligibility requirements, employees are able to receive tuition assistance for courses taken at The Catholic University of America. If employment with the University terminates prior to the completion of the semester for which an employee is receiving tuition assistance, the employee forgoes the benefit for that semester. Fees and other expenses are not covered by the tuition assistance benefit, and tuition assistance benefits may not be combined with University scholarships or funds, including living stipends intended to support graduate students. Please contact the Office of Human Resources for further details.

C. Tuition Discount Groups

Catholic School Teachers

Scholarships for Catholic school educators are available to any administrator, teacher, guidance counselor, special educator, or librarian who is currently employed in a Catholic preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, and who intends to continue working in a Catholic school setting. They may be used by doctoral students in any school of the University except the Columbus School of Law, and master’s students enrolled in programs outside the University’s Humanities programs. Eligible students must provide a letter from his or her principal or equivalent school administrator on school letterhead at the beginning of each academic year, which states that the student is an employee in good standing at his or her respective school.

Diocesan Groups and Religious Orders

Religious orders and dioceses who wish to send students to CUA at a discounted tuition rate must contact the Office of the Provost to arrange an agreement on a case-by-case basis. The number of students eligible for discounted tuition rates from each diocese or order and details of the requirements for said students will be determined individually between the Provost and a representative of the diocese or order (normally a bishop or other individual in a leadership position).

Other Groups

This list may not include every special tuition rate offered by The University. Some programs may offer additional discounts to specific groups of students or students enrolled in a particular program who meet determined eligibility requirements.

Contact your school or department (where applicable) for details on any special tuition rates for which you may be eligible.

D. Scholarship Opportunities

The Catholic University of America does offer some scholarship opportunities to incoming and returning graduate students, often based on superior undergraduate academic performance and standardized test scores.

For further scholarship opportunities, please contact the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, or visit the Graduate Studies website.

Additional Information

Additional information about financial aid programs, policy and procedure information available here.