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Full-time students living on the Winona Campus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota can access scholarships and grants, including the Cardinal Promise and Catholic Educator Promise.
Cardinal Promise
Cardinal Promise provides a tuition-free path to private higher education for qualifying students in Minnesota, Illinois, or Wisconsin. Minnesota, Illinois, or Wisconsin residents with a family AGI under $80,000 who meet eligibility requirements qualify for the Cardinal Promise, which provides a “last dollar” grant that covers your remaining tuition costs for four years of study after all other scholarships and grants.
- Minnesota resident
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a family AGI of $80,000 or less.
- Live in on-campus housing
- Enroll as a traditional, full-time, first-time, first-year student
- Must be attempting a first bachelor’s degree
- Wisconsin resident
- High School GPA of 3.5+
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a family AGI of $80,000 or less.
- Live in on-campus housing
- Enroll as a traditional, full-time, first-time, first-year student
- Must be attempting a first bachelor’s degree
- Illinois resident
- High School GPA of 3.5+
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a family AGI of $80,000 or less.
- Live in on-campus housing
- Enroll as a traditional, full-time, first-time, first-year student
- Must be attempting a first bachelor’s degree
Catholic Educator Promise
The Catholic Educator Promise scholarship offers funding up to the cost of tuition* to the dependent children of qualifying faculty and staff members employed by K-12 Catholic schools across Minnesota (pre-K may qualify under certain conditions).
This donor-funded program honors the dedication of Catholic school educators and ensures that their children have the opportunity to thrive in a community grounded in faith, service, and academic excellence. Eligible students will receive a “last dollar” scholarship that covers the remaining tuition* costs for four years of study after all other forms of financial aid.** This step ensures that the program can continue as a generous and significant commitment to honor the vital work of Catholic educators.
To receive the Catholic Educator Promise, eligible students must:
- Have a parent/guardian serving as a full-time teacher/staff member at a Minnesota K-12 Catholic school (pre-K may qualify if operating as part of a Catholic elementary school)
- Meet admissions criteria and be officially accepted to Saint Mary’s of Minnesota, Winona Campus
- Be a Minnesota resident or graduating from a Minnesota high school
- Must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Live in on-campus housing with a meal plan for four years*
- Student Aid Index (SAI) of base tuition or greater on the FAFSA will include an unsubsidized loan as part of the total aid package**
- First-year and transfers are eligible, provided this is their first time at Saint Mary’s
- Be attempting a first bachelor’s degree
- Meet the U.S. Department of Education’s definition for “dependent child”
* Tuition is defined as base tuition for full time students and does not cover fees, housing, food, or personal expenses. Physician Assistant (PA) Program Tuition receives base tuition for three years at Saint Mary’s under Catholic Educator Promise only. Summer classes or Study Abroad are not covered.
** Students from families with greater financial capacity (SAI identified on the FAFSA greater than base tuition) will see a portion of their total aid offer to cover tuition as a federal unsubsidized loan as a form of aid from the FAFSA rather than fully through grant/scholarship aid.
Merit Scholarships
If you’re a first-year or transfer student and live on campus, you can receive up to $120,000 in scholarships to help support you through your college journey.
$30,000 for first-year-students
$29,000 for transfer students
Your scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful maintenance of the required GPA of 3.0 for first-year students and transfer students. Scholarships are awarded at full amount for full-time, residential students only. Commuter students will have a $4,000 reduction in their scholarship.
$29,000 for first-year students
$28,000 for transfer students
Your scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful maintenance of the required GPA of 2.0 for first-year students and transfer students. Scholarships are awarded at full amount for full-time, residential students only. Commuter students will have a $4,000 reduction in their scholarship.
$28,000 for first-year students
Your scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful maintenance of the required GPA of 2.0. Scholarships are awarded at full amount for full-time, residential students only. Commuter students will have a $4,000 reduction in their scholarship.
$27,000 for first-year students
$27,000 for transfer students
Your scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful maintenance of the required GPA of 2.0 for first-year students and transfer students. Scholarships are awarded at full amount for full-time, residential students only. Commuter students will have a $4,000 reduction in their scholarship.
$25,500 for first-year students
Your scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful maintenance of the required GPA of 2.0. Scholarships are awarded at full amount for full-time, residential students only. Commuter students will have a $4,000 reduction in their scholarship.
Additional Scholarships
$1,000/year
Students graduating from a Catholic High School
$1,000/year
Identified on application that parent, grandparent, or sibling is an alum (not a current student)
$2,000/year
Domestic students who are not residents of Minnesota
$1,000/year
Students who have already earned a minimum of 3 credits vis PSEO or PACC AT or through Saint Mary’s
As an FGI Scholar, you’ll receive full scholarship coverage, including:
- Full-time tuition for four years (8 semesters)
- Basic room and board
- Basic meal plan
- Personal Laptop for use during the four academic years
- Programming and events
Cardinal Visit Scholarship
Take time for a campus tour and receive a $1,000 annual scholarship, renewable each year. The Cardinal Visit Scholarship is awarded to incoming first-year students who make an official campus visit during their junior or senior year of high school or transfer students who visit before they enroll to Saint Mary’s.
An official visit is one scheduled online or with the admission office, a coach, or another official representative of Saint Mary’s.