💡 What Makes UD Different: You See All Four Years of the Price Up Front
Most colleges show you year one and let you find out about the increases later. Dayton gives admitted students a personalized four-year offer, and the net tuition in that offer is guaranteed. There are no lab fees, program fees or campus life fees stacked on later. The only charge beyond tuition is a $600 Health and Wellbeing fee, and that’s listed up front too. For a family trying to budget four years, that’s a big deal.
Flyer Promise, Kessler Scholars, McIntosh Award (restricted eligibility)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at the University of Dayton (Read This First)
The guarantee has one string attached. To keep your guaranteed net tuition, your student has to file the FAFSA every single year and stay full-time. Skip a year and you put the deal at risk.
Two different test-score deadlines are posted. UD’s merit page says February 15, but its test-optional page says scores must arrive by February 1 of senior year. Treat February 1 as the real date. UD superscores both the ACT and SAT, and going test-optional won’t hurt merit.
November 1 is the real scholarship deadline. The Deacons, Alumni Association and McIntosh awards all require the November 1 early action application. Flyer Promise closes December 1, and Marianist Leadership Scholars closes November 15.
The textbook scholarship changed. Starting with fall 2027 entrants, it goes only to students with financial need who make an official campus visit and file the FAFSA by February 1.
Not every extra award adds on top. UD says talent, ROTC and department awards can replace or reduce UD aid you were already offered. The AFROTC grant is the exception: it is added on top of merit.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Dayton is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 25-31; SAT: 1200-1380.
Average net price? About $32,794/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Dayton: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Dayton 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 $1,400 to $3,500 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$69,700
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$52,510
Housing & meals (typical)
$17,190
Total billed cost
$69,700
Average federal net price: $32,794 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.
One Price for Everyone, Locked In for Four Years
Dayton is private, so there’s no out-of-state surcharge. A family from Texas pays the same tuition as a family from Columbus. Every full-time undergrad pays the same rate regardless of major, and the tuition line above already includes the $600 Health and Wellbeing charge. The number that matters most is the guaranteed net tuition in your four-year offer, which tells you what you’ll pay after merit for all four years.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Dayton
Does UD charge more for out-of-state students?
No. Dayton is a private university, so tuition is the same no matter where you live. That also means reciprocity programs like the Academic Common Market don’t apply here. Your discount comes from merit and need-based aid instead.
What does “guaranteed net tuition” actually mean?
After admission, UD sends a personalized four-year offer showing tuition minus your scholarships for each year. That net tuition figure won’t go up on you. To keep it, file the FAFSA every year, stay full-time (12 to 18 credits) and meet academic requirements. Housing and meals are estimates and can still change.
What’s the full cost once you add everything in?
UD’s official 2026-27 budget for a residential student is about $74,940. That adds books ($1,000), personal spending ($2,110), transportation ($1,210) and small allowances on top of the billed costs shown above. Aid can’t exceed this budget.
How much do textbooks cost at UD?
Less than most schools. Students who qualify for the Textbook Scholarship get required course materials covered. Everyone else can use UD’s flat rate of $299.99 plus tax per semester, which covers all required print and digital materials.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The most recent federal average net price is about $32,794 a year. What surprised us is how flat it is across incomes: families earning under $30,000 averaged about $21,700, while families over $110,000 averaged about $33,700. Almost everyone gets merit, so the gap between income groups is smaller than at many schools. Run UD’s net price calculator for your own number.
What happens to the tuition plan if my student does a co-op?
The plan covers eight semesters of full-time study and 144 credit hours. It pauses during co-op terms and picks back up when your student returns to class, so co-op doesn’t eat into the four years of guaranteed pricing.
November 1: Early action deadline. It’s also the cutoff for the Deacons, Alumni Association and McIntosh awards.
November 15: Marianist Leadership Scholars application closes.
December 1: Flyer Promise deadline (apply and file the FAFSA).
December onward: Four-year aid offers start going out on a rolling basis.
February 1: FAFSA priority date, last day for test scores, and the deadline for Kessler, Choose Ohio First and the Textbook Scholarship.
Mid-February: Performing arts auditions wrap up.
Parent rule of thumb: apply by November 1 and file the FAFSA as soon as it opens. That one move keeps nearly every UD scholarship door open.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Dayton
Every admitted first-year is reviewed for merit automatically. There’s no separate form and no application fee. UD looks at GPA, course rigor and test scores if you send them, and it doesn’t publish cutoffs. It does superscore the ACT and SAT. Get any scores you want counted to UD by February 1 of senior year.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application by May 15 for the following year ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$6,397/yr
✔ Stackable
Child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or has a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more; apply between ages 16 and 24; eligible private Ohio colleges
✚
Stacking & Combining
For 2026-27 the board set the private-college award at $6,397 a year. Stacks with Pell and college aid; cannot be combined with Choose Ohio First or the Second Chance Grant.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Dayton award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of veterans with a 60%-plus VA rating who apply during the May-to-May window before the age cutoff. The age limit is the trap: it is an application-age limit, not an enrollment-age limit, so a 24-year-old who waits loses it.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Ohio College Opportunity Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA by the college's priority date; state cutoff Oct 1 ✓ Renews (5 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Ohio resident; FAFSA Student Aid Index of 3,750 or less AND household income of $96,000 or less; private nonprofit Ohio college; tuition and general fees only
✚
Stacking & Combining
$5,000 a year at a private nonprofit Ohio college for low-income families, a thousand more than at a public. Pays tuition and general fees only. Stacks with Pell and with the college's aid, but tuition-specific aid that already covers the whole bill cancels it. Ten-semester lifetime cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Dayton award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families under $96,000 with a low Student Aid Index. The one that surprises people is the tuition-only rule: a student with a full-tuition merit award from the college loses OCOG entirely, because there is no tuition left for it to pay.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
Ohio Governor's Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: School nomination by Oct 1; student must accept by May 15 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Top 5% of the graduating class at an Ohio public or chartered nonpublic high school, ranked by GPA at the end of junior year; nominated by the school by Oct 1; must accept in the state portal by May 15 or it is rescinded; Ohio colleges only
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for four years, and it can be applied to any cost up to the college's cost of attendance, not just tuition. Stacks with every college award. Renews automatically at a 3.0 GPA with 20 credits a year. Enrolling out of state forfeits it for good.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a University of Dayton award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent OH page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Top-5% seniors whose school submitted the nomination and who then logged into the portal and clicked accept by May 15. The May 15 step is where awards die: it is a separate action from the college deposit, and students who are still deciding between schools sometimes let it lapse.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Students receive one first-year merit tier; the tiers do not stack with each other. Merit combines with need-based grants, National Merit, the AFROTC incentive grant and outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Outside scholarships must be reported to Flyer Student Services and can reduce need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD lists the Father Chaminade Scholarship at $20,000 to $22,000 per year for four years (eight semesters). Awards come from a holistic review of GPA, course rigor and test scores if submitted. UD publishes no GPA or test cutoffs and says applying test-optional will not hurt scholarship eligibility. UD superscores the ACT and SAT. Renewable with a 2.0 cumulative GPA, 67% of attempted courses completed and full-time enrollment. Ranges differ for partnership programs such as the BSN nursing program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted first-years whose records land in UD's entry merit band. This is the floor of UD's merit ladder, and it is still worth $80,000 to $88,000 over four years.
Students receive one first-year merit tier; the tiers do not stack with each other. Merit combines with need-based grants, National Merit, the AFROTC incentive grant and outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Outside scholarships must be reported to Flyer Student Services and can reduce need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD lists the Deans' Merit Scholarship at $23,000 to $26,000 per year for four years. Eligibility comes from a holistic review of GPA, academic rigor and optional test scores; UD does not publish minimums. UD superscores the ACT and SAT. Renewable with a 2.0 cumulative GPA, 67% of attempted courses completed and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted first-years with solid college-prep records who land in UD's middle merit band. Selection is holistic, and going test-optional will not count against you.
Students receive one first-year merit tier; the tiers do not stack with each other. Merit combines with need-based grants, National Merit, the AFROTC incentive grant and outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Outside scholarships must be reported to Flyer Student Services and can reduce need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD lists the President's Merit Scholarship at $27,000 to $30,000 per year for four years. Awards are test-optional and based on GPA, rigor and optional test scores; no cutoffs are published. UD superscores the ACT and SAT. Renewable with a 2.0 cumulative GPA, 67% of attempted courses completed and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted first-years with stronger-than-average records in UD's upper-middle merit band. A strong superscore sent by February 1 can be the nudge that moves a student into this tier instead of the one below.
Students receive one first-year merit tier; the tiers do not stack with each other. Merit combines with need-based grants, National Merit, the AFROTC incentive grant and outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Outside scholarships must be reported to Flyer Student Services and can reduce need-based aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD lists the Trustees' Merit Scholarship at $31,000 to $34,000 per year for four years, its highest standard first-year merit tier. Awards come from a holistic review of GPA, rigor and optional test scores; no minimums are published. UD superscores the ACT and SAT. Renewable with a 2.0 cumulative GPA, 67% of attempted courses completed and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The strongest academic admits in UD's pool. At up to $34,000 a year, this tier is worth as much as $136,000 over four years.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit Scholarship (UD Sponsored)
📅 Deadline: National Merit Finalist first-choice designation deadline (set by NMSC, typically in spring of senior year) ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$1,000–$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of UD merit and need-based aid, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD sponsors National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who designate UD as their first-choice school. Amounts are $1,000 or $2,000 per year based on need, layered on top of the student's UD merit tier.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Finalists who list UD as their first choice with NMSC. The amount, $1,000 or $2,000 a year, depends on financial need.
Stacks with need-based aid and outside scholarships within cost-of-attendance limits. External scholarships must be reported to Flyer Student Services and may reduce need-based aid eligibility.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD awards transfer scholarships automatically at admission based on combined cumulative college GPA. Tiers: GPA 4.0–3.75 = $27,000/yr; 3.74–3.5 = $25,000/yr; 3.49–3.25 = $23,000/yr; 3.24–3.0 = $21,000/yr; below 3.0 = $17,000/yr. Renewable for three years with 2.0 GPA, 67% course completion and full-time enrollment. Scholarship amounts are determined at time of admission and apply to full-time degree programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every full-time transfer student admitted to UD. The tier is locked in at admission from your combined college GPA: 3.75 to 4.0 earns $27,000 a year, and even a GPA under 3.0 earns $17,000.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Considered automatically with the transfer admission application; membership must be in place at the time of admission. ✓ Renews
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds on top of the Transfer Merit Scholarship and need-based aid, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD awards $3,000 per year to transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa at the time of admission. UD Sinclair Academy students who join PTK after admission but before moving to UD can be considered on an exception basis as funding allows.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college transfers who are Phi Theta Kappa members when they are admitted to UD.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Reentry Scholarship (Osher / Crankstart)
📅 Deadline: Considered with the admission application; contact the Office of Transfer Admission (937-229-4411) for details. ✓ Renews
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other UD scholarships and need-based aid up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD offers a $5,000 per year reentry scholarship for students continuing their undergraduate education after an interruption of five or more years. The Osher and Crankstart Reentry Scholarships generally serve students ages 25 to 50 pursuing a first bachelor's degree.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Adults, generally ages 25 to 50, coming back to finish a first bachelor's degree after a gap of five or more years.
Data last verified Sep 26, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Students receive one first-year merit tier. The four tiers don’t stack with each other, but merit does combine with need-based grants, National Merit and outside scholarships. Amounts differ for partnership programs like the BSN nursing program.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Dayton)
How much merit can my student get at UD?
First-year awards run from $20,000 a year (Father Chaminade) up to $34,000 a year (Trustees’ Merit), for four years. The Deans’ Merit ($23,000 to $26,000) and President’s Merit ($27,000 to $30,000) fill the middle.
What GPA or test score do we need for each tier?
UD doesn’t publish cutoffs. It’s a holistic read of grades, how hard the classes were and test scores if sent. What we can tell you: admitted students who submit scores typically land between a 25 and 31 on the ACT, and the average GPA runs close to 3.8.
Should we send test scores?
Only if they help. UD says applying test-optional won’t hurt scholarship eligibility, and 60.5% of the fall 2026 class applied without scores. If your student’s superscore sits at or above UD’s typical range, sending it can bump them up a tier. Scores must arrive by February 1.
Is the merit award hard to keep?
No, and this is one of UD’s best features. Your student needs a 2.0 cumulative GPA, needs to finish 67% of courses attempted and must stay full-time. That’s a much lower bar than the 3.0 many schools require.
Does UD reward National Merit Finalists?
Yes, but modestly. Finalists who name UD as their first choice with NMSC get an extra $1,000 or $2,000 a year based on need, on top of their merit tier.
What about transfer students?
Transfers get an automatic scholarship from $17,000 to $27,000 a year based on college GPA, locked in at admission and renewable for three years. Phi Theta Kappa members add $3,000 a year. Students returning after a gap of five or more years may get a $5,000 reentry scholarship.
Here’s the honest picture: the University of Dayton doesn’t run a big, open, essay-and-interview flagship scholarship like some schools do. UD puts its money into automatic merit that nearly everyone receives. The competitive awards it does have are tied to a specific connection: living in Dayton, a deacon in the family, a UD alum parent, or caring for a disabled veteran. If one of those fits your family, the payoff can be big. Athletic scholarships are also offered through the coaching staffs for UD’s Division I teams.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UD?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
UD Parent Translation
First-Year Merit Tiers
N/A
Your student gets one tier, from $20,000 to $34,000 a year.
Need-Based Grants
Yes
File the FAFSA by February 1. Grants layer on top of merit and show up in the four-year offer.
National Merit / AFROTC Grant
Yes
UD says both are added on top of your merit scholarship.
Army ROTC, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Department and Donor Awards
Maybe
UD says these can replace or reduce UD aid you were already offered. Compare the old and new offer line by line.
Hidden Heroes
Replaces
Full tuition, but it takes the place of any merit or need-based aid UD awarded.
Flyer Promise / Kessler / McIntosh
Packaged
These are complete packages. Students on full or near-full tuition awards may not qualify for department or donor money later.
Bottom line: at UD, most of the money is decided the day your student is admitted. The competitive list below is short, so read each one for fit. If none of them apply to your family, you’re not missing a secret flagship award. Put your energy into the FAFSA and the hidden gems further down.
Full RideApp Required
W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award
📅 Deadline: November 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, room and board plus paid City of Dayton internship
✔ Stackable
⚠ Graduating seniors who live or attend school within the city of Dayton.
👥 ~UD announces one McIntosh Scholar each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The UD scholarship works together with state, federal and private grants to cover the full annual direct cost of tuition, room and board. Internship earnings are separate and can go toward books, travel and personal costs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UD by November 1 with official transcripts. Send the McIntosh committee a personal letter (1,500 words max) on your commitment to social justice, what W.S. McIntosh meant to Dayton and why UD; a one-page activity list; one recommendation from a teacher, counselor or coach; and one from a neighborhood, community or faith leader. Finalists interview with a committee from the city and UD.
Selection criteria: Emphasizes community leadership and service in Dayton along with academic promise.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award is a combined scholarship and internship sponsored by the city of Dayton and UD, honoring a Dayton civil rights leader. The UD scholarship, with state, federal and private grants, covers the annual direct cost of tuition, room and board for four years, and the recipient starts a paid City of Dayton internship the summer before first year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A Dayton city senior with a real track record of community leadership and social justice work. It is one award a year, but it is a genuine full ride with a paid city internship attached.
Automatic
Deacons Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 (admission) and February 1 (FAFSA) · 📢 Results: Early March ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Award is renewable and may be combined with UD merit and need-based aid up to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD's Deacons Scholarship is $5,000 per year ($20,000 over four years) for incoming first-year students related to a permanent, active deacon. Apply for admission by November 1 and list the deacon, diocese and relationship in the application, then file the FAFSA by February 1. Awards are made by early March and the number is limited each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming first-years whose father, grandfather or uncle is a permanent, active Roman Catholic or Orthodox deacon, with priority to families showing financial need. UD confirms the deacon's status with the diocese in February.
Automatic
Alumni Association Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 (admission) and February 1 (FAFSA) · 📢 Results: Late March ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One new recipient per entering class winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Award is renewable and can be combined with merit and need-based aid, subject to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
The UD Alumni Association sponsors one $5,000 per year renewable scholarship ($20,000 total) per entering class for a student whose parent or grandparent is a UD graduate. Apply for admission by November 1, include the alumnus information in the application and file the FAFSA by February 1. The award is typically made by late March.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One incoming first-year per class whose parent or grandparent graduated from UD, chosen on need, academics, test scores and service. It is a long shot, but it costs nothing extra to be considered if you apply by November 1 and file the FAFSA.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Hidden Heroes Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Limited based on available funding and eligibility winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers 100% of undergraduate tuition. This award replaces any previously awarded UD merit or need-based assistance — it does not stack on top of other UD institutional aid.
📄
How to Apply
Eligible caregivers of 100% disabled veterans contact UD's Veteran Services office to learn about applying and to document eligibility through the Hidden Heroes program criteria.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based award determined by Veteran Services staff according to Hidden Heroes program criteria and available funding.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD's Hidden Heroes Scholarship covers 100% of undergraduate tuition for caregivers of 100% disabled veterans. It replaces any merit or need-based aid UD previously awarded rather than adding to it. Contact vetservices@udayton.edu to start the eligibility process.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Caregivers of 100% disabled veterans who want to retrain for a new career. Ohio counts roughly 140 of these Hidden Heroes, and UD answers with a full-tuition award.
Data last verified Sep 26, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What is the McIntosh Award, and who can get it?
It’s UD’s closest thing to a full ride. It covers tuition, room and board (together with grants) for four years and comes with a paid City of Dayton internship. It’s open only to graduating seniors who live or attend school within the city of Dayton. UD names one McIntosh Scholar a year.
When is the McIntosh deadline and what goes in the application?
November 1, along with the UD admission application and transcript. Your student sends a personal letter of up to 1,500 words, an activity list and two recommendations: one from a teacher, counselor or coach, and one from a community or faith leader. Finalists interview with a committee from the city and UD.
How does the Deacons Scholarship work?
If your student’s father, grandfather or uncle is a permanent, active Catholic or Orthodox deacon, they may get $5,000 a year for four years. Apply by November 1, list the deacon and diocese in the application and file the FAFSA by February 1. Awards come by early March.
Is there a legacy scholarship at UD?
Yes, but it’s one award per class. The Alumni Association gives $5,000 a year to an incoming first-year whose parent or grandparent graduated from UD, weighing need, academics, test scores and service. Apply by November 1 and file the FAFSA by February 1.
Does UD help caregivers of disabled veterans?
Yes. The Hidden Heroes Scholarship covers 100% of tuition for caregivers of 100% disabled veterans who want to retrain for a new career. It replaces other UD aid, so contact vetservices@udayton.edu to see if it’s the better deal for you.
What should my student prepare for these applications?
Service and leadership stories carry the most weight at UD. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize those stories before the November 1 crunch.
Most of UD’s hidden money doesn’t need an essay. It needs your student to do a few simple things on time. Families who miss them usually just didn’t know.
Make an official campus visit. It’s required for the Textbook Scholarship.
File the FAFSA by February 1. That triggers Choose Ohio First, the Textbook Scholarship and need-based grants.
Check your family’s connections. Look at Marianist high schools or LIFE programs, UD partner schools, and the UD Sinclair Academy.
Audition if your student plays. Non-music majors can earn $1,000 a year just for joining an ensemble like pep band.
After enrolling, fill out the AcademicWorks general application every year. Donor-funded awards are mostly for upperclassmen.
Parent translation: the four-year offer shows up automatically, but these extras only show up if you check the boxes.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards aren’t part of the automatic merit tiers, and most families never hear about them. A few are full-tuition access programs for specific students. Others are small, steady adds that renew all four years.
Full TuitionApp Requiredgeographicneed basedidentity basedpipeline
Flyer Promise Scholars
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
full_tuition_and_discounted_housing
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Pell-eligible seniors from UD partner high schools or regional programs; 3.0 weighted GPA; family income of $75,000 or less.
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~Cohort-based; limited number of scholars selected each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers all tuition and significantly reduces housing and meal costs through University and donor funds.
📄
How to Apply
Attend a UD partner high school or regional program, apply to UD and file the FAFSA by December 1. Eligible admitted students get an email inviting them to interview. Selected scholars must attend the Flyer Promise summer experience and program events to keep the scholarship.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes financial need, academic potential, and fit with the program’s cohort and mentoring model.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Flyer Promise covers all tuition and significantly reduces housing and meal costs for selected Pell-eligible students from partner high schools and regional programs, plus mentoring, leadership experiences and a required summer experience. Requirements: 3.0 weighted GPA, total family income (including noncustodial parents) of $75,000 or less, and applying plus filing the FAFSA by December 1. Students receiving full or near-full tuition awards like Flyer Promise may not be eligible for department or donor-funded scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving, Pell-eligible students from UD's partner schools who shine in the interview and want a close-knit cohort with mentoring all four years.
Full TuitionApp Required
Kessler Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
full_tuition_plus_housing
✘ Not stackable
⚠ First-generation, Pell-eligible students entering through the UD Sinclair Academy; family income of $50,000 or less.
👥 ~Limited cohort selected annually winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Substantial financial aid at Sinclair plus full tuition at UD, with additional scholarships to reduce housing and meal plan costs. Part of the national Kessler Scholars Collaborative network of 16 institutions.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the UD Sinclair Academy and file the FAFSA by February 1. Eligible admitted students receive a consideration email and are invited to interview. Selected students must confirm enrollment by May 1 and are required to participate in the Kessler Scholars Summer Bridge Program and ongoing program activities.
Selection criteria: Selection based on first-gen eligibility, Pell eligibility, income threshold and interview performance. Academic achievement is considered through the UD Sinclair Academy admission process.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
The Kessler Scholars Program gives substantial aid at Sinclair College, then a full-tuition scholarship at UD plus scholarships that lower on-campus housing and meal costs. Apply to the UD Sinclair Academy and file the FAFSA by February 1; eligible students are invited to interview and must confirm by May 1. Scholars attend a Summer Bridge program and ongoing Kessler programming, and join the national Kessler Scholars Collaborative of 16 schools.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students who finished high school within the last three years, are not already in college, are Pell-eligible with family income of $50,000 or less, and start through the UD Sinclair Academy.
App Required
Marianist Leadership Scholars
📅 Deadline: November 15 · 📢 Results: Early January (first-round offers) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited Marianist cohort each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
$5,000 per year on top of other UD scholarships while the student stays active in the program.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the online application between October 1 and November 15, including a 300-word essay on why you want to continue your education in the Marianist tradition. Request two recommendations: one from a teacher, administrator or counselor, and one from a community, parish or school group where you led or served.
Selection criteria: Evaluates Marianist formation, leadership in faith communities, and desire to serve within UD’s Marianist mission.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Marianist Leadership Scholars receive a renewable $5,000 per year scholarship. Scholars attend monthly meetings and a yearly retreat, hold a campus leadership role, complete at least five community engagement impacts each semester and strive for a 3.0 GPA; membership is re-evaluated each year. Offers not accepted by May 1 expire.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors from Marianist high schools, international Marianist schools, or alumni of the Marianist LIFE South, Central or Pacific programs who want to keep faith, service and leadership at the center of college.
Automatic
Leadership in Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No student application; incoming first-years are nominated and see the award in the four-year financial aid offer. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Award of $2,500 per year stacks on top of first-year merit and need-based aid, up to cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Leadership in Service Scholarship is $2,500 per year for up to four years ($10,000 total). To keep it, students complete a leadership opportunity of at least three hours each semester through Student Leadership Programs plus an online reflection.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming first-years with a strong, visible record of service and leadership in school, church or community.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Choose Ohio First
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Up to 10 scholarships per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
State-funded award that can be combined with institutional and external aid, subject to cost-of-attendance and program rules.
💡
Strategic Detail
Choose Ohio First is a state-funded STEM scholarship. New and transfer students are considered automatically if they are Ohio residents in an eligible major with a FAFSA filed by February 1. Up to 10 awards are made each year, amounts vary by major, and awards renew for up to four years based on continued eligibility and state funding.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio residents entering an eligible STEM major who file the FAFSA on time. Many families never hear about it because there is nothing extra to fill out.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Performing Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mid-February ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited by Department of Music scholarship budget and ensemble needs winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewable each year while enrolled in an eligible performing arts program (majors) and playing in assigned ensembles.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission, then schedule a music audition through Acceptd and complete it by mid-February. Bachelor of Music majors see the award automatically in the aid offer but lose it if they skip the audition.
Selection criteria: Awards are based on audition performance, musicianship, and the needs of specific ensembles.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD's Performing Arts Scholarship is $2,500 per year for four years for students admitted to music or theatre, dance and performance technology programs, and $1,000 per year for other majors who audition and join assigned ensembles. It is open to incoming first-year, transfer and UD Sinclair Academy students. UD notes performing arts awards can be used to replace or reduce previously awarded University-funded aid, so compare the revised aid offer before assuming it adds on top.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Music and theatre majors ($2,500 a year) and students in any major who audition and commit to an ensemble such as pep band or marching band ($1,000 a year).
App Required
Department of Art and Design Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early November ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewable each year while enrolled in a four-year program in the department.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission, then email a portfolio of 12 to 15 digital images (JPEG, 2 MB max each) with the department's inventory sheet by the early November deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded to first-year, full-time students enrolling in any four-year Art and Design program, based on a portfolio of 12 to 15 original works made in the past two years. The amount is not published; winners see it on the transparent aid offer. UD notes visual arts awards can be used to replace or reduce previously awarded University-funded aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming first-years headed into art education, visual arts, graphic design or photography whose portfolio shows exceptional promise.
Automatic
Textbook Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 1 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers course materials only and does not affect tuition-based merit or need-based aid. Students receiving a book stipend from another agency (e.g., Army ROTC) equal to or greater than UD's award are ineligible.
💡
Strategic Detail
UD's Textbook Scholarship covers required print and digital course materials bought through the University Bookstore every semester. Students entering in spring 2027 are the last group eligible for the older version that ignored need; from fall 2027 the award goes to students with financial need who visit campus and file the FAFSA by February 1. Students who do not qualify can use UD's flat rate of $299.99 plus tax per semester for all required materials. Dependents of UD employees with 95% tuition remission and students with an equal or larger book stipend from another agency (for example, Army ROTC) are ineligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students with FAFSA-determined financial need who make an official campus visit and file by February 1.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
AFROTC Incentive Grant
📅 Deadline: Aligned with AFROTC scholarship and contracting timelines. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Dependent on AFROTC and institutional funding each year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to supplement AFROTC tuition benefits; can stack with other institutional aid within cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Enroll in Air Force ROTC Detachment 643 at UD and receive an AFROTC scholarship; the incentive grant is then automatically awarded by the university.
Selection criteria: Primarily determined by AFROTC scholarship selection; UD adds the incentive grant for qualifying cadets.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
UD gives AFROTC scholarship recipients a $5,000 per year ROTC Incentive Grant in addition to any UD merit scholarship. Aerospace studies courses are taken at Wright State University (Detachment 643, 937-775-2730); all other courses are at UD. Total aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Cadets in Detachment 643 who have earned AFROTC scholarships and remain in good standing in the program.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: National ROTC application deadlines in fall and winter; campus-based boards have additional dates. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition and stipend
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Established annually by the U.S. Army winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Army ROTC scholarships can cover full tuition and fees; UD says scholarship cadets could also receive University-funded aid for room and board for four years.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for national Army ROTC scholarships through GoArmy ROTC or compete for campus-based awards and enroll in Army ROTC at UD.
Selection criteria: Army ROTC evaluates candidates on academics, leadership, physical fitness, and board interviews.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Army ROTC scholarships can cover full tuition and fees, $600 per semester for books and a $420 monthly stipend during the school year. All courses are on campus through the Fighting Flyer Battalion (937-229-5524). UD notes ROTC awards can be used to replace or reduce previously awarded UD aid, so ask how your merit is repackaged.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Cadets selected by Army ROTC boards based on academics, fitness, and leadership potential.
Data last verified Sep 26, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Who qualifies for Flyer Promise?
Seniors at a UD partner high school or regional program with a 3.0 weighted GPA who are Pell-eligible, with family income of $75,000 or less. Apply to UD and file the FAFSA by December 1. Scholars get all tuition covered plus big reductions on housing and meals, and they start with a required summer program.
What’s the Kessler Scholars Program?
It’s for first-generation students who start at Sinclair College through the UD Sinclair Academy. Families earning $50,000 or less who are Pell-eligible can get strong aid at Sinclair, then full tuition at UD plus help with housing and meals. Apply to the Academy and file the FAFSA by February 1.
We’re Ohio residents with a STEM kid. Is there extra money?
Possibly. Choose Ohio First funds up to 10 scholarships a year for Ohio residents in eligible majors like engineering, biology, chemistry, math and premed. There’s no separate application. Just apply and file the FAFSA by February 1.
My student went to a Marianist high school. Does that matter?
Yes. Marianist Leadership Scholars get $5,000 a year. Apply between October 1 and November 15 with a 300-word essay and two recommendations. Marianist LIFE program alumni from other schools can apply too.
How does the Leadership in Service Scholarship work?
There’s no application. Incoming students are nominated based on their service and leadership, and the $2,500 a year shows up in the aid offer. To keep it, your student completes a leadership activity each semester.
Can talent or ROTC awards lower my other UD aid?
They can. UD notes that performing arts, visual arts, Army ROTC and department awards may replace or reduce UD aid already offered. The AFROTC $5,000 incentive grant is different: UD adds it on top of merit.
University Honors Program at the University of Dayton
Dayton has a University Honors Program (not a separate honors college), and getting in is refreshingly simple. There’s no separate application. UD decides Honors admission at the same time it decides regular admission.
Automatic consideration: 3.8+ high school GPA or top 10% of class, plus a 29+ ACT or 1340+ SAT if your student submits scores.
Not flagged but interested? Admitted students can email admission@udayton.edu before June 1 to ask to be considered.
To stay in: 3.5 cumulative GPA and a B or better in each honors course.
Honors Fellowships & Funding
App Required
Berry Summer Thesis Institute
📅 Deadline: Spring semester application through Porches (dates posted to current honors students) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited cohort of Berry Fellows each summer winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Summer housing and a stipend are provided on top of existing scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Current honors students apply through the Honors Program's Porches page with a research plan and a committed faculty mentor.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes strength and feasibility of the research proposal, academic performance in the Honors Program and quality of faculty mentor support.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The Berry Summer Thesis Institute lets honors students spend the summer after their first or second year doing research with a faculty mentor, plus a mini-course, professional development workshops, community engagement and a closing research presentation. Housing and a summer stipend are provided; the stipend amount is shared with applicants through Porches rather than published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a well-formed research question and a faculty mentor ready to work with them over the summer.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Cordell W. Hull International Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Two cycles per year; dates posted to honors students through Porches Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of Hull Fellows funded each cycle winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Provides supplemental funding for approved global or service projects and can be used alongside other aid and study abroad scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Honors students submit a proposal with the project plan, learning goals and budget through the Honors Program's Porches page.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on project quality, feasibility, global or service impact and alignment with Honors Program learning goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Every honors student can apply for a one-time Hull International Fellowship to help pay for international study, research or service. Fellowships are awarded twice a year and amounts vary by project.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a clear, well-budgeted plan for international study, research, leadership or service.
Data last verified Sep 26, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Honors doesn’t come with its own merit scholarship. The money shows up as paid summer programs, fellowships and research funding once your student is on campus.
Signature Programs (Honors Students Only): Berry Summer Thesis Institute, Hull International Fellowship, Chaminade Scholars (20 selected each spring), Global Flyers: Dublin (up to six summer interns), Global Flyers: Oxford (up to three thesis researchers) and DC Flyers. The summer programs include housing and a stipend.
Other Honors Perks Worth Knowing
Priority registration and access to honors study rooms and the Honors Student Lounge.
Honors project funding, with extra money for international or social-justice projects through the Patrick F. Palermo Founders Fund.
Business students: the DoUBLE program pairs Honors with the School of Business.
Housing: optional honors floors for first-years and Honors Special Interest Houses for juniors and seniors.
Honors Program FAQs (University of Dayton)
Do we have to apply separately for Honors?
No. Your student is considered automatically when they apply to UD. If they aren’t invited but want in, they can email admission@udayton.edu before June 1. Current UD students with a 3.7+ GPA can also ask to join.
Does Honors mean more scholarship money?
Not directly. Merit is the same whether or not your student is in Honors. The payoff is access to paid summer research, internships abroad and the one-time Hull fellowship for international study or service.
Will Honors add extra classes?
No. Honors courses are special sections of classes your student already needs for their major or core. Most students take one per semester, and the classes are smaller and discussion-based.
Is an honors thesis required?
No. Your student can earn the Honors diploma with six honors courses. The Honors with Distinction diploma adds a 6-credit honors project, which is where the Berry Summer Thesis Institute comes in.
Can transfer students join Honors?
Yes. Transfers with a 3.7+ college GPA are considered, and those who took honors courses elsewhere with a 3.5+ can move up to 12 honors credits to UD.
A lot of families know Dayton for its close-knit campus, its basketball crowds and its famously happy students. What surprises people is the academic muscle underneath. In 2025, UD earned R1 status, the top research classification in the country. It brought in more than $278 million in sponsored research, much of it through the University of Dayton Research Institute. That’s rare for a Catholic school with roughly 7,000 undergrads, and it means real lab and project work is within reach for students, not just grad students.
Nationally Known Program: Entrepreneurship: The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine have ranked UD’s undergraduate entrepreneurship program among the nation’s best for 20 straight years. For 2026 it’s the top-rated program in Ohio and No. 5 among schools with fewer than 10,000 students. Students run real microbusinesses and manage student-run companies, working out of The Hub, one of the largest university-anchored innovation spaces in the country.
Engineering: About one in five undergrads is in the School of Engineering. Mechanical engineering is UD’s biggest engineering major, and co-ops are common enough that UD’s tuition plan pauses for them.
Business: The School of Business Administration is UD’s second-largest school, with finance and marketing among the most popular majors on campus.
Education & Health Sciences: Teacher prep, premed and predentistry, and health sciences all have deep roots here, with direct pathways into UD’s physician assistant and physical therapy graduate programs.
Sciences: Biology, biochemistry and chemistry students can tap into research early, and many of these majors qualify for Ohio’s Choose Ohio First STEM scholarship.
Outcomes: UD reports that 97% of graduates are employed, in grad school or in a service program within six months.
🔗 Official University of Dayton Links
Use UD’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules and costs. When our summary and UD’s page disagree, trust UD, and call the admission office at 800-837-7433 if anything looks unclear.
Here’s the kitchen-table version of Dayton. The sticker price is steep, near $70,000 a year, but almost nobody pays it. Nearly every admitted student gets $20,000 to $34,000 a year in automatic merit, and it only takes a 2.0 GPA to keep it. The part we like best is that UD tells you your net tuition for all four years before you commit, and then holds to it as long as you file the FAFSA every year.
Where families leave money on the table is timing and paperwork. Apply by November 1, get any test scores in by February 1, visit campus and file the FAFSA early. If your student is from Dayton, comes from a Marianist school, is first-gen, is heading into STEM as an Ohio resident, or plays an instrument, there’s probably another award with their name on it. For a student who wants a close community with real research and a nationally ranked entrepreneurship program, UD is worth a serious look.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze firsthand with his daughter and built this site to give families plain-English answers about what college really costs, with no paywall and no sales pitch. More about Leo →
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