Why are in-state and out-of-state costs the same?
Saint Francis is a private university, so it doesn’t use a state-residency pricing model the way public universities do. Everyone is billed the same tuition and mandatory fees, and then scholarships and aid determine what you actually pay.

What’s included in the $61,250 billed total?
This total reflects the 2026–2027 direct charges: tuition + the university fee (combined in the tuition/fees line) plus on-campus housing and a meal plan. It’s the “pay the school” portion of the budget before any aid is applied.

What’s the difference between billed costs and the full cost of attendance?
Billed costs are what SFU charges you directly (tuition, mandatory fees, housing, meals). The full cost of attendance also includes indirect costs like books, transportation, and personal expenses, which vary by student.

Does “Zero-Tuition Advantage” mean college is free?
Not exactly. The program is designed to cover the remaining balance of tuition + the university fee after other aid, but families still need a plan for housing and meals (about $14,050) and other non-billed costs. It’s best thought of as “tuition covered,” not “everything covered.”

Who qualifies for Zero-Tuition Advantage?
It’s targeted to Pennsylvania residents with household income of $65,000 or less who also qualify for both the Federal Pell Grant and the PA State Grant (PHEAA). If you’re close to the cutoff, it’s still worth asking SFU Financial Aid what counts as “income” for eligibility.

What’s the best way to reduce the first-year bill?
At SFU, the biggest levers are: (1) getting into the highest automatic merit tier you qualify for, (2) confirming all state/federal grants are filed correctly (especially PA State Grant), and (3) asking early about one-time charges (like the laptop fee) so they don’t surprise you on the first invoice.

Do we have to submit a separate scholarship application for these merit awards?
In most cases, no. SFU publishes these as admission-based merit scholarships, meaning students are typically considered when they apply for admission. If your student is missing an award you expected, ask Admissions whether additional documentation (transcript updates, final grades, etc.) is needed.

SFU is test-optional — do ACT/SAT scores still matter for merit?
SFU’s published automatic merit thresholds here are GPA-based. If your student has strong test scores, it can still help in admissions review and placement conversations, but the safest strategy is to make sure the transcript and GPA used for evaluation are current and accurate.

How does SFU choose which merit tier a student receives?
SFU’s grid is built around minimum GPA thresholds (for example, 4.25+ for the Founders’ level, 4.00+ for Trustees, 3.75+ for Presidential, etc.). If your student’s GPA is close to a cutoff, an updated transcript after senior-year grades can sometimes matter — especially in rolling admission.

Can these merit scholarships stack with the Zero-Tuition Advantage?
Zero-Tuition Advantage is structured to cover the remaining balance of tuition + the university fee for qualifying Pennsylvania residents after federal, state, and institutional aid are applied. In practice, that means merit scholarships may reduce the remaining “gap,” and SFU covers what’s left (if eligible). Confirm the exact stacking order with SFU Financial Aid.

When should we apply if SFU is rolling?
With rolling admission, earlier is almost always better for both admissions decisions and aid packaging. Even when a school lists “rolling,” scholarship budgets and institutional grant funds can become tighter later in the cycle.

Is an automatic merit award guaranteed for every student?
No. These are published tiers, but eligibility depends on SFU’s evaluation of the student’s academic record. If you’re unsure which GPA SFU will use (weighted vs unweighted vs recalculated), ask Admissions what they use for scholarship placement.

Is the Zero-Tuition Advantage really “competitive”?
Yes — not because of essays, but because it has strict financial and residency criteria and limited funding. Missing a requirement (or a deadline) can mean losing the award entirely.

What is the most important deadline for Zero-Tuition?
The FAFSA must be received by Saint Francis University by March 1 for full consideration. After March 1, Zero-Tuition funding may be awarded only if funds remain.

How does Zero-Tuition actually “stack” with other aid?
SFU applies automatic merit scholarships first, then Pell and PA State Grants. The Zero-Tuition Advantage only covers the remaining gap in tuition + the university fee. If outside scholarships reduce that gap, the Zero-Tuition amount may be reduced accordingly.

Does Zero-Tuition cover housing, meals, or the laptop fee?
No. Zero-Tuition applies only to tuition and the university fee. Costs like housing, meals, and one-time charges such as the Laptop Program fee must be covered separately.

Is St. Clare’s worth planning for if aid is tight freshman year?
Yes. St. Clare’s is a classic upper-class retention award. If your student gets involved early — especially in Student Government or Campus Ministry — this scholarship can help offset costs in later years.

Does Saint Francis offer true full-ride scholarships?
Not in a traditional sense. SFU’s strongest programs focus on tuition coverage, combined with need-based aid. Full rides covering tuition, housing, and meals are rare.

Do these scholarships stack with automatic merit?
Often, yes — especially Legacy, Franciscan, PEACE, HOBY, and SAGE awards. However, SFU may rebalance total institutional aid, so the net increase depends on your full package.

Why doesn’t the Accounting Scholarship always add money?
The Accounting Scholarship guarantees a minimum of $25,000 in total institutional aid. If your student already receives more than that through merit, it won’t add extra cash — it simply sets a floor.

Which hidden gem stacks best at SFU?
The SAGE Tuition Rewards Scholarship is one of the cleanest stacks because SFU adds it on top of other aid, rather than using it to rebalance the package.

What about Alta Via?
Alta Via is a competitive faith-based living–learning community with specialized housing and potential stipends. It’s best evaluated as a mission and lifestyle commitment, not just a scholarship.

Is there an Honors College at Saint Francis University?
No. SFU operates a General Honors Program rather than a separate Honors College, but it functions as a structured, cohort-based program with its own curriculum and benefits.

Do Honors students get priority registration?
Yes. Priority registration is a core benefit of the Honors Program.

Is there Honors housing?
Yes. Honors students have access to the Bach Family Honors House, which serves as a community hub and includes limited residential options.

Is there a separate application for Honors?
Yes. Admission to the Honors Program requires a separate application and review.

Is Honors required to succeed academically at SFU?
No. Many top SFU students succeed without Honors by focusing on selective majors, faculty mentoring, leadership roles, and strong academic performance.

Should Nursing or PA-track students join Honors?
It depends. Because these programs are academically and clinically demanding, families should carefully evaluate whether Honors requirements fit alongside progression standards.