100% of the freshman class qualifies for some form of financial aid.
The cost of a degree from Saint Vincent varies for every student depending on eligibility for the many different forms of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study opportunities.
Saint Vincent invests in you, to help you succeed in your career and as a person. With a degree from Saint Vincent, you will make a valuable contribution to society.
The Financial Aid Office at Saint Vincent College is committed to providing the highest level of service to our students and families in planning for and meeting expenses associated with your education. We focus on establishing aid eligibility, awarding scholarships, grants and loans, as well as employment opportunities from federal, state, private, and institutional sources to all eligible students, and provide counseling associated with financing an education.
Please see our current cost of attendance.
Additional information for graduate students can be found here.
Please see our current cost of attendance.
Employer Reimbursement Program
Students who have employers that will reimburse the cost of their courses may participate in a deferred billing program. For further information, contact the Saint Vincent College Business Office at 724-805-2248.
Deferred Payment Plans
For students desiring to pay educational expenses in partial installments, the College provides short-term and long-term monthly budget plans. For information about these plans, contact the Saint Vincent College Business Office at 724-805-2248.
Our approach to scholarship awards is rooted in academic rigor and achievement. We strive to make a Saint Vincent education available to all students who desire to challenge themselves. We offer academic merit and need-based scholarships and grants. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic profile, strength of curriculum and other factors. Students applying with or without college entrance exam scores are considered for all awards at the time of acceptance. Additional need-based assistance may be available depending on the results of your FAFSA.
| Scholarship | GPA Range (unweighted) | Scholarship Amount |
| Chancellor's Scholarship | 4.0 GPA and above | $27,000 |
| President's Scholarship | 3.80-3.99 GPA | $24,000 |
| Dean's Scholarship | 3.30-3.79 GPA | $23,000 |
| Faculty Scholarship | 2.85-3.29 GPA | $20,000 |
| Community Scholarship | 2.849 GPA and below | $18,000 |
Students who submit qualifying SAT/ACT/CIT exam scores may earn an additional scholarship in addition to the merit scholarships listed above. Scores must be submitted by March 1st.
| Gold Award | $3,000 |
| Silver Award | $2,000 |
| Bronze Award | $1,000 |
| Catholic High School Grant | $2,000 | Awarded to all freshmen Catholic high school graduates |
| Campus Visit Grant | $250 | Awarded to any student who completes an individual on-campus visit |
Additional need-based financial aid from Saint Vincent may also be available to you based on the results of your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Therefore, we encourage every family to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Filing early will ensure that you are considered for this additional aid. The FAFSA will also determine your eligibility for state and federal aid programs such as grants and/or loans.
Accepted students are encouraged to file the FAFSA and visit our Net Price Calculator to find out more!
Wimmer Scholarship Competition
Campus Visit Grant
Any student who completes an individual, in-person campus visit with the Admission Office will receive a $250 grant. Students must meet with an admission staff member to receive the award.
Transfer Student Grants
Benedictine Pastors’ Awards
Catholic High School Graduate Grants
Aurelius Scholarship
Aurelius Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of superior academic credentials and potential (including high school performance and ACT/SAT scores), declared major and interest in the Aurelius Scholars program. The program is offered to motivated students interested in the Western intellectual tradition and awards a limited number of competitive scholarships for incoming freshmen each year. This program is apart of the Honors Community at Saint Vincent.
Selected recipients receive a $2,000 ($1,000 per semester) Aurelius Scholarship, applied toward tuition as a part of their financial aid package, over the course of four years, assuming enrollment and satisfactory progress in the Aurelius Scholars program. Recipients will be expected to enroll in Principles of American Politics (a core course in the program) in their first year at Saint Vincent, demonstrate satisfactory progress in completing the Aurelius course sequence, attend occasional lectures sponsored by Saint Vincent’s Center for Political and Economic Thought, and periodically meet with the Aurelius program director to discuss their progress in the program.
Music Scholarships
A limited number of music scholarships (singers and band) are available to incoming freshmen, valued at $1,000 each. Students must audition to be considered for these scholarships. Deadline is March 1. If interested students should contact Dr. Sean Durkin to schedule an audition. Video auditions are also possible.
Fred Rogers Scholarship
This scholarship, valued at $2500, is for students interested in pursuing careers involving children, early learning and media for young children. www.stvincent.edu/frs. This program is part of the Honors Community at Saint Vincent.
STEP Scholarships
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Talent Expansion Program. Five four-year $5,000 scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen majoring in biochemistry, data science or minoring in biotechnology. This program is part of the Honors Community at Saint Vincent. For more information on requirements and applying. See www.stvincent.edu/step.
Endowed Grants
These scholarships are supported by the generosity of alumni and private donors to the College's Scholarship Endowment Fund. Endowed funds may be used to underwrite a portion of institutional aid. The Financial Aid office determines eligibility for these funds based on your application for admission and FASFA.
State and Federal Aid
To be considered for federal and state grants, completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required yearly. Grants do not have to be repaid. The FAFSA is available October 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the 2023-2024 year is $7,895.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded to undergraduate Pell grant recipients with exceptional financial need.
The maximum Pennsylvania State Grant (PHEAA) award for 2023-2024 year is $5,750. PA residents must complete the FAFSA prior to May 1. For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania State grant website at www.pheaa.org or call 1-800-692-7392.
After institutional funding, Federal Direct Loans are the most common source of educational funding for undergraduate students. There are two types: subsidized and unsubsidized.
Subsidized loans are need-based and do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled at least 1/2 time, during a six-month grace period or periods of deferment.
Unsubsidized loans are not need-based and begin to accrue interest at the time of disbursement.
Direct Loans carry the following yearly limits:
If your financial aid does not cover your costs, a parent can apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov by completing the application and Master Promissory Note. The interest rate is fixed at 8.05% for loans disbursed July 1, 2023, through June 20, 2024. A 4.228% origination fee is charged for loans first disbursed Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024. If a parent is denied the PLUS Loan, the dependent student becomes eligible for an additional Direct Loan of up to $4,000 in unsubsidized funds for the first and second years and up to $5,000 thereafter. A parent must apply and be denied each year.
Additional private loans, generally referred to as “alternative loans,” are also available to students to bridge any funding gaps. Most student borrowers will need a co-signer. Payment can usually be deferred until after graduation, but interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed. Additional information on this type of loan is available through the Financial Aid Office.
The list of lenders is available online through www.ELMSelect.com. This summary information is intended only as a guide for comparison purposes. Many other options exist for supplemental borrowing. You are not required to use any of the loans or lenders listed on this guide. Please consider the lender and loan product that best meets your needs. More information and a list of private lenders can also be found at www.finaid.org. A list of Pennsylvania Credit unions who offer private loans can be found at http://pennsylvania.studentchoice.org/ along with their requirements. Please refer to the lender for updated information before making your choice. Rates, Terms and Conditions are subject to change without notice.
Outside Scholarships
Students are encouraged to contact community groups, churches, high school counselors and local civic organizations for information regarding local scholarship opportunities, as well as free national scholarship searches such as those listed below.
http://www.collegeboard.org
http://www.educationplanner.org
http://www.fastweb.com
http://www.salliemae.com/scholarships
http://www.studentscholarships.org
http://www.scholarships.com
https://www.catholiccollegesonline.org/students-parents/financial-aid/nccaa-scholarship.html
A work-study position allows you to earn money to help cover non-billable educational expenses by working on or off-campus. The position may be paid by federal funds, institutional funds or through the cooperative efforts of PHEAA and Saint Vincent College for community service work.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is counted as part of your financial aid package and placed on your award letter.
Institutional Work-Study is not considered financial aid and will not appear on your award letter.
Students are not guaranteed a position and are required to secure their own employment, working up to 15 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during breaks. Earnings are paid directly to the student and are not deducted from your bill.
Students can search for on-campus positions through Career Service's database at https://stvincent.joinhandshake.com/login.
Saint Vincent College administers a deferred payment plan that provides flexibility and time to meet your financial obligation. The SVC Payment Plan is administered by the Business Office at Saint Vincent College. The plan has a $25 per semester fee which is due at set-up, but carries no interest charges. The plan allows you to spread out payments over each semester while you are enrolled in classes, rather than making payment-in-full at the start of each semester and is typically spread over five months starting in July for the fall semester and December for the spring semester.
Information about the SVC Payment Plan will be available at orientation. Contact the Business Office at 724-805-2248 for questions or to obtain an application.
While the FAFSA is not required at Saint Vincent College, we encourage all students to complete the FAFSA. In addition to Merit Scholarships awarded upon admission, SVC offers additional need-based grants to those the qualify. The FAFSA is required for federal student and parent loans, and for some scholarships from outside agencies.
File the FAFSA as soon as possible each year after October 1. The priority filing deadline for additional SVC need-based financial aid is May 1. The deadline to be considered for the the Pennsylvania State Grant is May 1, but other states may have different deadlines.
The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be based on 2022 calendar year tax information. This tax year will be on file with the IRS. Contributors (student/spouse, biological or adoptive parent, or a parent’s spouse) whose information is required on the FAFSA will need to provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred automatically from the IRS into the FAFSA. All Contributors will be required to establish an FSA ID at studentaid.gov.
After your FAFSA form is submitted and processed, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to access an online copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary. The FAFSA Submission Summary will highlight your eligibility for federal student aid. It will include the answers that you submitted on your FAFSA form (except for any federal tax information that was transferred directly from the IRS) and your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is used to indicate federal student aid eligibility. Saint Vincent will receive an electronic copy of this same information.
The SAI is used to determine the student’s financial need and eligibility for federal grants and loans as well as eligibility for additional Saint Vincent need-based funding. You also will receive your financial aid notification outlining your aid eligibility along with information regarding what you may owe and payment options.
The federal government requires colleges to verify or confirm the data reported on the FAFSA. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled. Students selected for verification by the Department of Education or the school will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office regarding the required documentation. Any changes resulting from the verification process may change your aid eligibility. The verification process must be completed for financial aid to disburse to the student account.
If you have questions about the Financial Aid Application Process, contact the Financial Aid Office at 724-805-2555 or by email at financialaid@stvincent.edu.
The priority FAFSA filing deadline for additional SVC need-based financial aid is May 1.
To be considered for the Pennsylvania State Grant the FAFSA must be submitted by May 1. Please note that other states may have different deadlines.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (PDF)
Federal law (Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended) mandates that institutions of higher education establish minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving any federal financial aid. Eligibility for Saint Vincent College institutional grants and scholarships will follow the regulations for federal aid. In addition, the Pennsylvania State Grant program and programs from other states also have their own established academic progress standards.
The academic records of all students will be reviewed annually after each spring semester to determine academic progress. Students must meet these standards of academic progress to continue to receive funds from each source. Students not meeting the standards set by this policy will be ineligible for aid until the deficiencies have been made up. An appeal process is available to students who have experienced personal illness or accident, death of an immediate family member, or other extraordinary circumstances.
Withdrawals and Title IV Refund Policy (PDF)
The federal government mandates that students who withdraw from all classes during a semester may only keep the federal financial aid (i.e., Title IV funds) they have "earned" up to the time of withdrawal. Title IV funds that have been disbursed in excess of the earned amount must be returned by the college and/or the student to the federal government. Thus, the student could owe aid funds to the college, the federal government, or both. Students considering withdrawing should confer with their academic advisor and the Financial Aid Office.
Personal financial literacy is more than just being able to balance a checkbook, compare prices or get a job. It also includes skills like long-term vision and planning for the future, and the discipline to use those skills every day.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (sections 1041 and 1042) requires that the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of Education and other agencies enhance financial literacy among postsecondary students through developing initiatives, programs and curricula that improve student awareness of short- and long-term costs associated with student loans and other debts and assisting students in navigating the financial aid process.
The following information is available to help educate our students and families and assist them in making informed decisions to reach their financial goals.
General Financial Literacy Resources
Saint Vincent College is committed to providing students and their families with the best information and processing alternatives available regarding student borrowing. In support of this and in an effort to rule out any perceived or actual conflict of interest between Saint Vincent College officers, employees or agents and education loan lenders, Saint Vincent College has adopted the following:
Students or families that have experienced special financial circumstances such as but not limited to recent unemployment, change of employment, divorce, separation, death or disability of a parent/spouse that occurred after the FAFSA was submitted, loss of child support, or substantial unreimbursed medical expenses may request an adjustment to the Student Aid Index. Special financial circumstances cannot be considered for items such as credit card debt or expenses related to lifestyle choices.
Students who have unusual circumstances or a unique situation such as but not limited to parental abandonment, estrangement, abuse, incarceration of both parents, human trafficking, homelessness, or risk of homelessness may request consideration for a dependency override.
Students or families requesting consideration for a Special Financial or Unusual Circumstance will be required to submit a written narrative of the special circumstance along with supporting documentation such as but not limited to proof of reduced income in the form of additional tax return information, job termination or unemployment notice, divorce decree, proof of separation such as confirmation of separate addresses, death certificate, documentation from an objective third party, or court documentation, depending upon the situation.
Please note that the following examples do not constitute an unusual circumstance or dependency override:
Students whose parents have ended financial support OR refuse to fill out information to complete the FAFSA or verification as noted above may be eligible for Title IV funding in the form of Unsubsidized Direct Loan only. If this pertains to you, a signed statement from the parents of such is required. If the parents refuse, documentation from an objective third party such as a high school counselor, social series agency official, physician, clergy, mental health professional, law enforcement officer, teacher, etc., will be required.
To Request a Special Financial or Unusual Circumstance review:
The estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budget used for processing financial aid includes allowances for tuition, required fees, housing, food, transportation, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses for the academic year.
Financial aid from all sources cannot exceed the COA. In some situations, the COA can be adjusted so that additional financial aid can be processed. Adjustments to the COA does not guarantee additional grant aid or federal student loans which are limited by regulation.
Additional aid may be available in the form of a Parent or Graduate PLUS or private loan. A COA increase may be requested for, but not limited to, disability expenses for the student, the cost of books, supplies, and material, or transportation costs beyond the estimated COA, study abroad costs, or student health insurance.