Benedictine College Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on November 1, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~98%
- Middle 50% ACT: 22-29
- Middle 50% SAT: 1140-1380
- Average GPA: N/A
Benedictine is a small Catholic college on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas, about an hour north of Kansas City. Nearly everyone who applies gets in, and every admitted freshman gets some academic merit. The real money conversation is about the competitions: ten full-tuition Presidential Scholarships, up to ten full-tuition Premier awards for National Merit Finalists and perfect scorers, and up to six full-tuition Freedom Fellows spots for first-generation students. Benedictine also accepts the Classic Learning Test (CLT) everywhere the ACT and SAT count.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Benedictine College at a Glance
- The merit chart is not public. Benedictine only shows your academic merit amount through its Net Price Calculator. Run it before you compare offers.
- Test-optional for admission does not answer the money question. Merit is based on GPA plus ACT, SAT or CLT, and Benedictine does not say how test-optional students are placed. Ask your admission counselor before skipping the test.
- No superscoring. Only your best single test sitting counts, for admission and for scholarships.
- Big awards replace, they don’t stack. Presidential, Premier and Freedom Fellows replace your merit award, and Benedictine caps institutional aid at billed tuition.
- December 15 is the real deadline. Honors, Freedom Fellows and the other Programs of Distinction all close then. Apply Early Action by November 15 to see your scholarship first.
- Athletes, read the fine print. Athletic award recipients can’t receive Benedictine’s own need-based aid, and quitting a team costs at least $2,000 of the award.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Benedictine College is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Benedictine College? Test-optional for admission. Academic merit is based on GPA plus ACT, SAT or CLT, and Benedictine does not publish how test-optional students are placed, so ask before skipping the test. No superscoring: best single sitting only.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-29; SAT: 1140-1380.
Average net price? About $28,629/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
Benedictine 2026-27 Scholarships & Financial Aid Guide: https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/financial-aid/financial-assistance-guidebook.pdf
Benedictine Presidential Scholars Weekend: https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/visit/presidential
Sheridan Honors Institute: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/honors/apply
Benedictine College Scholarships: https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/financial-aid/scholarships
Benedictine Music Auditions: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/departments/music/auditions
Benedictine STEM Fellows: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/stem
Benedictine John Paul II Fellows: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/john-paul-ii
Benedictine Freedom Fellows: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/freedom
Benedictine St. Carlo Acutis Fellows: https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/acutis
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at Benedictine College: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Benedictine College has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,000 to $2,600 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $39,300 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $13,180 |
| Total billed cost | $52,480 |
Average federal net price: $28,629 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Benedictine College
Is tuition the same for in-state and out-of-state students?
Yes. Benedictine is private, so a student from Kansas pays the same as a student from Texas or California. There’s no out-of-state premium to fight, and also no regional discount. Benedictine isn’t part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program.
What does a freshman actually get billed for 2026–2027?
Tuition is $38,200 plus a $1,100 facilities and access fee. Freshmen live in Turner, Memorial, Newman or St. Scholastica Hall ($6,800 to $7,020 for a double), and every freshman is required to be on the 18-meal plan ($6,380). That puts the bill at roughly $52,500 before scholarships.
Why does the college’s “cost of attendance” look bigger than the bill?
Because it adds books, travel and personal spending that Benedictine never invoices. Those indirect costs add about $5,800, which is why you’ll see a total cost of attendance in the $58,000 range on aid letters.
What do families really pay after aid?
The federal average net price is about $28,600 a year after grants and scholarships. Families earning under $48,000 averaged around $22,000, and families above $110,000 averaged close to $31,000. Your number depends heavily on your student’s merit award, so run the Net Price Calculator.
Does Kansas give residents extra money to attend?
Kansas residents who file the FAFSA can get the need-based Kansas Comprehensive Grant ($200 to $10,000 at private colleges, based on need and state funding). One catch: Benedictine’s catalog says the grant can supplement or replace institutional aid, so ask how it fits into your package.
Does the price stay the same all four years?
No. Tuition and housing usually go up a little each spring. Your merit award, Dean’s Scholarship and most other awards stay flat, so your share of the bill rises over time. The Presidential, Premier and Freedom Fellows awards are the exception: they grow with tuition.
When is the money due?
A $400 enrollment deposit is due by May 1 (refundable until then). Fall tuition is due August 1 and spring tuition January 1. A monthly payment plan costs $55 per semester with no interest.
https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/admission/comparative-tuition-fees.pdf
https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/financial-aid/financial-assistance-guidebook.pdf
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154712
📅 Benedictine Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- November 15: Apply Early Action to get your admission decision and merit award first.
- December 15: Honors, Freedom Fellows and the other Programs of Distinction applications close.
- Jan 29–30 or Feb 5–6, 2027: Presidential Scholars Weekend for invited students.
- Before April 1: File the FAFSA for need-based Raven Grant and Kansas grant money.
- May 1: $400 enrollment deposit deadline.
Parent rule of thumb: get your best ACT, SAT or CLT sitting in before you apply. Benedictine uses one sitting, not a superscore.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Benedictine College
Note: Merit covers fall and spring only, for full-time students. It lasts eight semesters (ten for approved five-year programs like engineering). If your student finishes early, the unused semesters are gone.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Benedictine College)
How much is the Benedictine academic merit scholarship?
It depends on GPA and test score, and Benedictine only shows the amount through its Net Price Calculator. Run it with your student’s real numbers before you compare offers from other schools.
Can my student get merit without a test score?
Admission is test-optional, but the merit award is officially based on GPA plus ACT, SAT or CLT. Benedictine doesn’t say how test-optional students are placed, so ask your admission counselor before deciding to skip the test.
Does Benedictine superscore?
No. Benedictine uses the highest composite from a single test date.
Does Benedictine accept the CLT?
Yes, everywhere the ACT and SAT count. High CLT scorers can even be admitted automatically, and a perfect CLT (120) qualifies for the full-tuition Premier Scholarship.
What happens if my student’s GPA slips?
This is gentler than most schools. Fall below a 2.2 cumulative GPA and the award drops $500 the next semester, with a maximum cut of $1,000. Once the GPA is back above 2.2, the full award returns.
Can merit stack with other Benedictine money?
It stacks with music, theatre, athletic and endowed awards, up to the cost of billed tuition. If your student wins the Presidential, Dean’s, Premier or Freedom Fellows award, that award replaces merit instead of adding to it.
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/financial-aid/scholarships
https://coursecatalog.benedictine.edu/student-financial-aid/
https://coursecatalog.benedictine.edu/undergraduate-admission-policies/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
🎤 How to prep for Presidential Scholars Weekend
- Who gets invited: admitted students with a 3.5+ GPA and a 27 ACT, 1260 SAT or 84 CLT. Test-optional students with a 3.5+ GPA can also be invited, and there’s a sliding scale between the two.
- Saturday is mandatory. Friday is optional but worth it. Music auditions only happen on Friday.
- Bring a one-page resume with no GPA, rank or test scores on it. Interviewers want to meet the person, not the transcript.
- Practice timed writing. Students get one hour to write from 3–5 prompts.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Benedictine?
| Aid Type | Stacks with Merit? | Benedictine Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Merit | N/A | Every admitted freshman gets one merit award based on GPA and test score. |
| Presidential / Premier / Freedom Fellows | Replaces | Full tuition that grows with tuition. It replaces merit, and no other Benedictine money can push the total past full tuition. |
| Dean’s Scholarship | Replaces | 75% of first-year tuition, then frozen. Your share goes up a little each year as tuition rises. |
| Music / Theatre / Band / Endowed | Usually yes | These are the gap fillers, but total Benedictine aid is capped at billed tuition. |
| Athletic Awards | Combined by coach | Coaches build on top of your merit award. Athletes can’t also get Benedictine’s own need-based aid. |
| Pell / Kansas Comprehensive Grant | Usually | Pell always stacks. The Kansas grant can supplement or replace institutional aid, so ask how it’s applied. |
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When is Presidential Scholars Weekend?
For students starting in fall 2027, the competition runs January 29–30 or February 5–6, 2027. Results go out by about April 1 with a phone call and a letter.
How many Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships are there?
Ten full-tuition Presidential Scholarships and five Dean’s Scholarships worth 75% of first-year tuition. Everyone at the weekend is competing for both.
What’s the catch with the Presidential Scholarship?
Your student has to live on campus to keep it and hold a 3.2 GPA. It also replaces every other Benedictine award, so it can’t be stacked past full tuition.
Does Benedictine reward National Merit Finalists?
Yes. National Merit Finalists and students with a perfect ACT, SAT or CLT can get the full-tuition Premier Scholarship. Benedictine awards up to ten a year, so send proof to the admission office as soon as it’s official.
What is the Freedom Fellows Scholarship?
Full tuition for up to six first-generation students a year. The application opens October 1 and is due December 15. It includes a short YouTube video answering four questions from W.E.B. Du Bois, plus a resume. Finalists interview on campus in February. A 3.0 GPA is the guideline, but strong leaders and servants below it can still be considered.
How should my student prepare?
Practice timed essays and mock interviews. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize the one-page resume interviewers will see.
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/visit/presidential
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/visit/presidential/faq
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/freedom
https://coursecatalog.benedictine.edu/student-financial-aid/
Sheridan Honors Institute at Benedictine College
Benedictine doesn’t have a separate honors college. It has the Sheridan Honors Institute, a Great Books program of up to 40 students a year. Honors classes are capped at 16, freshmen start with a week-long retreat before classes, and everyone finishes with a senior project. It sits alongside a family of smaller “Programs of Distinction,” several of which come with a one-time $2,000 award.
- Who can apply: 3.75+ GPA with a 29 ACT, 1330 SAT or 89 CLT; test-optional applicants with a 3.75+ GPA; or a sliding scale between the two.
- Application: two essays of up to 750 words, one on a piece of literature that matters to you and one on the academic interest that makes you come alive.
- Deadline: December 15 for the following fall.
Honors & Programs of Distinction Awards
These are project and travel awards, not tuition discounts. They stack with academic merit and the competitive scholarships.
- STEM Fellows: for intended STEM majors (3.5 GPA track). Up to $2,000 for a senior research project, won on a competitive proposal.
- John Paul II Fellows: family-life mentoring (3.2 GPA track). A one-time $2,000 toward a junior-year pilgrimage to Poland.
- St. Carlo Acutis Fellows: technology ethics and bioethics (3.2 GPA track). Fellows can apply for a $2,000 internship or research stipend.
- Constitutional Fellows: law, policy and journalism (3.5 GPA track). Fellows can compete for a financial award toward a Washington, D.C. internship.
- Gregorian, Angelico and Ex Corde Media Fellows: leadership, the arts and Catholic media. These are formation programs without a published dollar award.
Honors FAQs (Benedictine College)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student applies separately with two essays by December 15. The Honors Committee can admit, waitlist or deny.
Does Honors come with a tuition scholarship?
No. The money is a one-time $2,000 award tied to the senior project. The big tuition money at Benedictine comes from merit and the Presidential, Premier and Freedom Fellows competitions.
Can my student apply to more than one program?
Yes. Students accepted into these programs also get to meet the program directors during Presidential Scholars Weekend.
Can test-optional students apply?
Yes. Every program has a test-optional track based on GPA alone.
Will Honors fit with engineering or nursing?
Usually. Students in demanding majors can petition to waive up to six credits, and there’s a professional track that does Honors work inside major courses.
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/honors/apply
https://coursecatalog.benedictine.edu/courses-instruction/honors-program/
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/stem
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/john-paul-ii
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/acutis
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/constitutional
⭐ College Specialty
Benedictine is a residential Catholic liberal arts college run in partnership with the monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey and the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica. Faith is part of daily life here, and that’s the main reason most families pick it. What surprises people is how much professional training happens on a campus of about 2,300 undergrads.
School of Engineering: Benedictine offers ABET-accredited degrees in chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. That’s unusual for a small Catholic college, and very rare in the NAIA. Mechanical is the biggest of the four. Engineering is a five-year-eligible program, so merit can stretch to ten semesters.
- Business: the largest major on campus, with management, finance, accounting and marketing all graduating big classes.
- Theology: one of the largest theology programs you’ll find at a school this size, and a natural fit for students headed toward ministry, teaching or graduate study.
- Nursing and Education: steady, career-ready pipelines. Nursing graduated 34 students last year and education 40.
- Classical Architecture: a distinctive program built around traditional design. Parents should know it’s a four-year pre-professional B.A., not NAAB-accredited, so students who want to become licensed architects go on to an accredited master’s program elsewhere.
- Florence, Italy campus: students can study in Florence and keep their Benedictine scholarships, unlike most outside study-abroad programs.
🔗 Official Benedictine College Links
Use Benedictine’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules and costs. When something here and the college’s site disagree, the college’s site wins.
-
Apply to Benedictine (Deadlines & Test-Optional Rules):
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/apply -
Scholarships:
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/financial-aid/scholarships -
Net Price Calculator (see your merit estimate):
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/financial-aid/calculator -
Tuition & Fees:
https://www.benedictine.edu/about/tuition -
Presidential Scholars Weekend:
https://www.benedictine.edu/admission/visit/presidential -
Freedom Fellows (First-Generation Full Tuition):
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction/freedom -
Programs of Distinction (Honors & Fellows):
https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/programs-distinction -
2026–27 Scholarships & Financial Aid Guide (PDF):
https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/financial-aid/financial-assistance-guidebook.pdf -
Federal Data (College Navigator):
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=154712
✅ Wrapping It Up
Benedictine is a straightforward deal with one twist. Getting in is easy, every freshman gets some merit, and the price is the same no matter what state you live in. The twist is that the biggest money is earned in person: a Saturday essay and interview for the Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships, or a video and February interview for Freedom Fellows.
So the plan at the kitchen table looks like this. Get your student’s best single ACT, SAT or CLT sitting in early. Apply Early Action by November 15. Have every Program of Distinction application in by December 15. Say yes to the Presidential weekend invitation. Then file the FAFSA before April 1 and ask your admission counselor about endowed money. Families who do all five usually end up well below the roughly $52,500 sticker price. If your student wants a faith-centered campus that still trains engineers, nurses, teachers and business majors, Benedictine is worth the effort.
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Leo Dimilo
Leo went through the college money maze firsthand with his daughter and built CollegeReadyParent to give middle-income and first-generation families the plain-English answers he couldn’t find. No paywall, no lead forms, just what the colleges actually say. More about Leo →