Saint Vincent College recently announced that the household income eligibility threshold has increased to $80,000 for the Bearcat Advantage Program for the 2026-27 academic year.
The initiative, launched in 2023, seeks to ensure that first-time students from Pennsylvanian families with a total annual household income less than $80,000 receive fully funded tuition thanks to a combination of grants and scholarships. The previous threshold was $60,000.
With comprehensive financial support through the Bearcat Advantage Program, eligible students will be free to pursue their aspirations at Saint Vincent College without undue financial hardship.
“At the heart of Saint Vincent College is a deep commitment to making college accessible and affordable for every student,” said Dr. Dana Winters, C’06, vice president for enrollment and student success at Saint Vincent College. “We recognize that the cost of higher education can be a barrier, and we are actively working to remove that barrier through innovative financial aid programs such as Bearcat Advantage. Our goal is to ensure that every student—regardless of background—can envision a future shaped by the transformative power of a Saint Vincent College education.”
SVC leadership remains dedicated to increasing the accessibility of higher education for all students. Previously, 14% of the incoming freshman class had their tuition fully funded through gift aid from institutional, federal, state and outside sources. Thanks to the continued generosity of friends and family of SVC, the College is now able to extend this support to more students.
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for the program:
Current SVC students are ineligible. Transfer students with a prior PHEAA grant must satisfy PHEAA’s academic progress requirements and have at least two remaining terms of grant eligibility. Additional PHEAA-requested information must be completed by March 15, 2026, at PHEAA’s GrantUs platform.
SVC remains steadfast in its mission to provide quality undergraduate and graduate education rooted in faith, the liberal arts tradition and Benedictine values. The Bearcat Advantage Program is a testament to the College's dedication to expanding access to education and empowering the next generation of leaders.
In addition to the Bearcat Advantage Program, the College continues to expand its scholarship offerings on an annual basis. Along with merit scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores, special awards are also provided for students graduating from Catholic high schools. SVC also offers numerous endowed scholarships to support students in their academic journey. All first-time freshman or transfer students receive some form of merit scholarship at Saint Vincent College.
For more information about the Bearcat Advantage Program and other scholarship opportunities at Saint Vincent College, please visit our Bearcat Advantage page.
