Xavier is a Jesuit Catholic university in Cincinnati with roughly 4,700 undergraduates, according to its most recent Common Data Set. Getting in is usually not the hard part: close to 9 in 10 applicants are admitted, and most enrolled freshmen never send a test score at all (only about 14% sent the SAT and 26% sent the ACT in the last reported class).
The real conversation at Xavier is price. The sticker is over $74,000 a year, but nearly every freshman gets automatic merit, and Ohio and Greater Cincinnati students with a 3.5 weighted GPA have a guaranteed floor of $30,000 a year. The trick is knowing which awards add up and which ones quietly replace each other.
No published grid; every admitted student reviewed
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional (admission and merit)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 1 • FAFSA: Feb 15
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Xavier University (Read This First)
Test-optional really means test-optional for money too. Xavier says test scores are not required for scholarship consideration. Only send scores if they make your student look stronger.
Apply Early Action by November 1 if money matters. Early Action applicants see their merit number by mid-December. Wait for Regular Decision (February 1) and you won’t hear until early March.
The merit amount is locked for all four years. There’s no GPA required to keep it, which is great. But it also never goes up, even when tuition does.
The big competitive awards replace merit, they don’t add to it. The Community-Engaged Fellowship, the McAuley Art and Music scholarships, and ROTC all take the place of the regular merit award.
Almost all Xavier scholarship money is tuition-only. Once your student’s awards cover tuition, extra Xavier scholarships stop helping. Housing and food (about $14,920 for a freshman) is still on you.
Musketeer Forever is a floor, not a bonus. Ohio and Greater Cincinnati grads with a 3.5 weighted GPA are guaranteed at least $30,000 a year in merit, not $30,000 on top of merit.
Two kids at Xavier at once? Ask for the Family Grant. It’s $1,000 per student per year for two siblings and $5,000 each for three or more, but Xavier can’t find your family on its own. You have to email and request it every year.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Xavier University (Ohio) is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-29; SAT: 1120-1300.
Average net price? About $33,450/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 Xavier University (Ohio): 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Xavier University (Ohio) 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
$69,760
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$54,840
Housing & meals (typical)
$14,920
Total billed cost
$69,760
Average federal net price: $33,450 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, No Matter Where You Live
Xavier is private, so an Ohio family and a Texas family see the same tuition. There’s no out-of-state premium to waive and no regional tuition exchange.
The closest thing to an “in-state deal” is the Musketeer Forever Scholars program,
which guarantees at least $30,000 a year in merit to Ohio and Greater Cincinnati graduates with a 3.5 weighted GPA.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Xavier University
What does a freshman year at Xavier cost in 2026-2027?
Xavier estimates $74,523 for a freshman living on campus. The billed part is tuition ($54,530), the student activity and ID fee ($310), a one-time orientation fee ($305), and housing and food ($14,920). The rest is Xavier’s estimate for books ($700), personal expenses ($2,000), transportation ($1,700), and an average loan fee ($58).
Is Xavier cheaper for Ohio residents?
Not on the bill. Everyone pays the same tuition. Where Ohio and Greater Cincinnati students can come out ahead is the Musketeer Forever program, which guarantees at least $30,000 a year in merit for students with a 3.5 weighted GPA after six semesters of high school.
Will my student’s scholarship go up when tuition goes up?
No. Xavier’s entrance merit scholarship is fixed at the amount first offered and does not change for any reason. If tuition rises a couple thousand dollars a year, your share rises with it. Build that into your four-year budget.
Can Xavier scholarships pay for housing and meals?
Mostly no. Xavier says the majority of its scholarship and grant money is restricted to tuition. The exceptions are things like the Housing Grant (offered to some incoming freshmen who live on campus, and lost if they move home or off campus), Resident Assistant grants, and certain endowed funds. Plan on paying for housing and food out of pocket, with loans, or with federal aid.
How much can we save if our student commutes?
Xavier’s commuter estimate for a freshman is $64,950, about $9,500 less than living on campus. The housing and food line drops to $5,347, which includes a commuter meal plan. Commuters who stay involved on campus can also compete for the Impacting Lives Commuter Scholarship (up to $10,000) as juniors and seniors.
Why is housing more expensive after freshman year?
Xavier budgets $15,720 for upperclass on-campus housing and food, compared with $14,920 for freshmen. Many upperclass options are apartment or suite style, so check the specific residence hall before you plan.
Does Xavier give a discount for siblings?
Yes, through the Family Grant. Two siblings enrolled full-time in the same semester each get $1,000 a year; three or more each get $5,000 a year. It isn’t automatic. Email Student Financial Services with the names of every enrolled student, and do it each year.
Can we trust Xavier’s net price calculator?
Use it for a ballpark only. The calculator itself says it runs on 2023-24 tuition and fees, and tuition has climbed since. Your real number comes in the financial aid offer, which Xavier starts building in January for admitted students who have filed the FAFSA.
November 1: Early Action. Apply by now to see your merit award by mid-December and get priority for Nursing, Music, Theatre and the honors programs.
January: Xavier starts building financial aid offers for admitted students who filed the FAFSA. The Community-Engaged Fellowship application was due January 15 last cycle.
February: Regular Decision closes February 1. McAuley Art portfolios are due February 15, 2027. Xavier’s Common Data Set lists February 15 as its FAFSA priority date.
March: The Hearst, Summers Nursing and Barbero scholarship applications were due March 15 last cycle. Online Performing Arts Grant auditions close March 20, 2027.
May 1: Commitment deadline for freshmen, and the deadline for most continuing-student financial aid scholarships.
Parent rule of thumb: at Xavier, the application is the merit application. Treat November 1 as your real deadline, even if your student is still shopping around.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Xavier University
Every student who applies for admission is automatically considered for an academic merit scholarship. There’s no separate application and no published GPA or test-score chart. Xavier reads the whole application, test scores are optional for scholarships, and financial need may be considered. Most families should expect an offer somewhere in the $23,000 to $33,000 per year range.
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 Xavier University (Ohio) 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 Xavier University (Ohio) 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 Xavier University (Ohio) 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.
Automatic
Academic Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 (Early Action) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$23,000–$33,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with Catholic identity scholarships, legacy and departmental awards, but nearly all Xavier scholarship money is tuition-only and stops at the cost of tuition. A larger Xavier award such as the Community-Engaged Fellowship, a McAuley Art or Music Scholarship, ROTC, or Tuition Exchange replaces the merit scholarship instead of adding to it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Xavier lists academic scholarships of $23,000 to $33,000 per year for incoming first-year students (the page still labels this range Fall 2025). No GPA or test-score grid is published, test scores are not required for scholarship consideration, and financial need may be considered. The award is tuition-restricted, fixed at the amount first offered, and renews for up to eight fall and spring semesters of full-time enrollment (12 to 18 credits). There is no minimum GPA to keep it; students must be in good academic standing to receive any additional Xavier scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every admitted first-year student is in the pool automatically. Where you land in the $23,000 to $33,000 range follows a holistic read of grades and course rigor, with test scores considered only if you choose to send them.
Automatic
Musketeer Forever Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 (Early Action) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$30,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works as a floor: Xavier raises the regular merit award to at least $30,000. It does not add $30,000 on top of merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Guarantees a minimum merit scholarship of $30,000 per year to graduates of any Ohio or Greater Cincinnati high school who have a cumulative weighted GPA of 3.5 or higher on an official transcript after six semesters, submit a complete application in senior year, have no reported disciplinary violations, and enroll full-time. The live page is written for the 2025-26 graduating class, so confirm current terms with your admission counselor. FAFSA is encouraged but not required. Nursing, Honors, Music and Theatre still require their own admission steps.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Ohio and Greater Cincinnati seniors with a 3.5 weighted GPA whose regular merit offer would otherwise land below $30,000. Think of it as a price guarantee, not a bonus.
Automatic
Catholic Identity Scholarships
📅 Deadline: No separate application; based on information in the admission application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit, but counts toward the tuition-only cap and can be replaced by larger awards such as the Community-Engaged Fellowship or a McAuley scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
Qualifying students receive only one of these tuition-restricted scholarships, each renewable for up to 8 semesters: the Catholic High School Scholarship, the Jesuit High School Scholarship, or the Catholic Heritage Award (for students who indicate Catholic identity on the admission application). The 1831 Partner Award for graduates of Xavier partner high schools can be combined with the Catholic or Jesuit High School Scholarship. Xavier does not publish amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Graduates of Catholic or Jesuit high schools, students who note Catholic identity on the application, and graduates of Xavier partner high schools.
Data last verified Sep 27, 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: Xavier’s merit page still labels the $23,000 to $33,000 range as the Fall 2025 figures. Confirm the current range with your admission counselor. Merit, Musketeer Forever and the Catholic identity awards are all tuition-restricted, so together they can never cover more than tuition.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Xavier University)
Do we need to send ACT or SAT scores to get Xavier merit money?
No. Xavier states that test scores are not required for scholarship consideration. If your student’s scores are a strength, send them. If not, leave them off and let the transcript do the talking.
How much automatic merit does Xavier give?
Xavier lists academic scholarships of $23,000 to $33,000 per year for incoming freshmen. Where your student lands depends on a holistic read of grades and course rigor, not a published grid.
Is there a GPA or ACT chart we can use to predict the award?
No. Xavier doesn’t publish one, and anyone who shows you one is guessing. The only published number tied to a guarantee is the 3.5 weighted GPA for Musketeer Forever.
Does my student have to keep a certain GPA to keep the scholarship?
No. Xavier’s merit scholarship has no renewal GPA. It renews for up to eight fall and spring semesters as long as your student is enrolled full-time (12 to 18 credits). It can’t be used in summer, and students who fall out of good academic standing can’t receive additional Xavier scholarships.
Who qualifies for the Musketeer Forever Scholars program?
Graduates of any Ohio or Greater Cincinnati high school with a cumulative weighted GPA of 3.5 or higher on an official transcript after six semesters, who apply during senior year, have no reported disciplinary violations, and enroll full-time. Xavier’s page is still written for the 2025-26 graduating class, so double check the terms for your student’s year.
Does Musketeer Forever add $30,000 on top of regular merit?
No. It’s a minimum. If your student’s regular merit offer comes in at $25,000, Xavier raises it to at least $30,000. If the offer is already $32,000, nothing changes.
What are Xavier’s Catholic identity scholarships?
Incoming freshmen can receive one of three: the Catholic High School Scholarship, the Jesuit High School Scholarship, or the Catholic Heritage Award (for students who note Catholic identity on the application). Graduates of Xavier partner high schools can also get the 1831 Partner Award, which can be combined with the Catholic or Jesuit High School Scholarship. Xavier doesn’t publish the amounts.
When will we find out the merit amount?
Early Action applicants (November 1) hear by mid-December. Regular Decision applicants (February 1) hear by early March.
Xavier does not currently list a full-tuition or full-ride flagship scholarship for incoming freshmen. Its competitive awards are built around service, art, music and business.
Older forum threads mention a full-tuition St. Francis Xavier Scholarship. None of Xavier’s current scholarship pages list it or explain how to apply, even though the name still shows up in Xavier’s aid policy. If you’ve heard about it, ask your admission counselor directly before counting on it.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Xavier?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Xavier Parent Translation
Academic Merit
N/A
This is the base. One award, fixed for up to eight semesters, tuition-only.
Musketeer Forever
Floor, not add-on
Raises merit to at least $30,000 for eligible Ohio and Greater Cincinnati students.
Xavier’s policy says these can replace the merit award and other Xavier grants. Compare the totals, not the headlines.
Catholic identity, Legacy, Williams, FIRST, Performing Arts Grant
Usually yes
These add on, but everything tuition-restricted stops at the cost of tuition.
Xavier University Grant (need-based)
Fills the gap
Goes to students with remaining need after other aid. File the FAFSA every year by Xavier’s priority date to keep it.
Outside scholarships
Yes, with limits
You must report them. Total aid can’t pass the cost of attendance, and a tuition-only outside award can bump a Xavier award if the two together pass tuition.
Parent translation: at Xavier, winning a “competitive” scholarship usually means trading your merit award for a bigger one, not adding the two together. Before your student spends weeks on a portfolio or fellowship application, ask admissions what the award would be worth after it replaces merit.
App Required
Xavier Community-Engaged Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Jan 15 in the most recent cycle; confirm the current date on the Service Awards page. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Listed in Xavier's aid policy as an award that can replace the entrance merit scholarship and other Xavier grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year, tuition-restricted scholarship for incoming first-year students with extraordinary leadership or initiative in community engagement or service and high academic achievement. Fellows take part in hands-on community work across Cincinnati, guided by faculty and the Eigel Center. The fellowship application unlocks after you submit the Xavier admission application. Xavier does not publish the award amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who have led or started service work through school, church or community, backed by high academic achievement.
App Required
Edgecliff McAuley Art Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Portfolio due Feb 15, 2027 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Listed in Xavier's aid policy as an award that can replace the entrance merit scholarship and other Xavier grants.
📄
How to Apply
Apply and be admitted to Xavier as an Art major by the posted deadline, then submit a portfolio and required materials to the Art Department by the February competition deadline.
Selection criteria: Evaluation based on quality of ideas, variety of expression, sensitivity toward media, exactness in technical execution, and understanding of compositional structures.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Several awards for incoming first-year art majors with good academics and outstanding artistic talent. The art department lists a current four-year value of $152,000 across the awards; the admissions page describes a combined value of nearly $250,000 with typical awards from quarter to full tuition. Submit a Canva slideshow of 8 to 10 pieces plus a one-page resume by email to the department chair. Semifinalists complete a mandatory remote interview with art faculty, and winners are notified about two weeks later. Students must be admitted to Xavier before entering.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Art majors whose portfolio shows both quality and range. Grades need to be solid, but the portfolio and the interview decide it.
App Required
Edgecliff McAuley Music Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Audition after admission; contact the Department of Music for audition dates. Early Action recommended. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Listed in Xavier's aid policy as an award that can replace the entrance merit scholarship and other Xavier grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
Competitive award for outstanding incoming first-year students who intend to major in music or music education, based on musical talent and achievement. Anyone who auditions as a music major is considered automatically; there is no extra application. Renews for four years with full-time music major enrollment, large ensemble participation, a B or better in lessons and ensembles, a 3.0 in music courses and a 2.0 overall. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Outstanding musicians who plan to major in music or music education and audition well.
Automatic
Williams Scholarship (Williams College of Business)
📅 Deadline: Not published; ask your admission counselor how recipients are selected. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Four per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 per year for four incoming first-year students who declare a major in the Williams College of Business, stay in good academic standing and complete service requirements for the college. Renewable for four years. Xavier does not describe a separate application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming business majors; only four are named each year and recipients owe service hours to the college.
Data last verified Sep 27, 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.
What is the Xavier Community-Engaged Fellowship?
A four-year, tuition-restricted scholarship for incoming freshmen who have shown real leadership or initiative in service through school, church or their community, and who also have strong grades. Fellows do hands-on community work across Cincinnati. Xavier doesn’t publish the dollar amount, and it replaces the regular merit award.
When is the Community-Engaged Fellowship due, and how do we apply?
It was due January 15 last cycle. Your student has to submit the Xavier admission application first. Xavier then emails login credentials that unlock the fellowship and honors applications.
How does the McAuley Art Scholarship work?
Incoming art majors submit a Canva slideshow of 8 to 10 pieces plus a one-page resume by February 15, 2027. Semifinalists do a required remote interview with art faculty, and winners hear about two weeks later. The art department puts the current four-year value of all awards at $152,000; the admissions page says nearly $250,000, with typical awards between quarter and full tuition.
Does a music major need a separate scholarship application?
No. Any student who auditions as a music major is automatically considered for the McAuley Music Scholarship and Music Grants. They have to be admitted to Xavier by their audition date.
What is the Williams Scholarship?
$3,000 a year, renewable for four years, for four incoming freshmen who major in the Williams College of Business, stay in good standing, and complete service hours for the college. Xavier doesn’t describe a separate application, so ask your admission counselor how recipients are picked.
Does Xavier have any full-ride scholarships?
Not for incoming freshmen right now. The one full-cost award on Xavier’s current pages, the Antonio Johnson Scholarship, covers tuition, fees, housing and meals for one current junior with a 3.0 GPA who has contributed to the African, African American or Black community on and off campus.
What should students prepare for these applications?
A clear record of what they led or built, not just hours logged. Families can use our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder to organize it.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Xavier’s “You Have to Ask” Money
Merit comes to you automatically. A lot of Xavier’s smaller money doesn’t. Here’s the checklist:
List every Xavier or Edgecliff College alumni connection on the application (parents, grandparents, and for Edgecliff, aunts and uncles too).
Two kids at Xavier at once? Email Student Financial Services for the Family Grant, every year.
Ohio student heading into STEM? File the FAFSA early. Choose Ohio First and the Knowlton scholarship both look at it.
Plays an instrument or sings, in any major? Submit the Performing Arts Grant form by March 20, 2027.
Once enrolled, mark three dates: January (ask a department chair for Savage or O’Connor nominations), February (commuter scholarship opens), and May 1 (financial aid scholarships due).
Parent translation: none of these are huge on their own, but $1,000 here and $2,500 there is exactly how families close the last gap.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards aren’t automatic, and many are tied to where you live, who you’re related to, what you play, or what you study. Most add on top of merit, up to the cost of tuition. We’ve also included Xavier’s transfer awards here, since they work very differently from freshman merit.
Automatic
Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; considered from the admission application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit, but like most Xavier aid it counts toward the tuition-only cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
Incoming first-year students who are children or grandchildren of Xavier graduates are considered. A limited number are awarded each year, amounts vary, and the award renews for up to four years with good academic standing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children and grandchildren of Xavier graduates. List the alumni relationship on the application so it gets matched.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Edgecliff Scholars Award
📅 Deadline: Not published; contact the Office of Alumni Relations after admission. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
For admitted first-year and transfer students who are relatives (children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren) of Edgecliff College alumni. Edgecliff merged into Xavier in 1980. Amounts vary each year; renewable for up to four years in good academic standing. An additional James E. Hoff, S.J. Scholar award may go to one Edgecliff applicant each year based on an essay.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren of Edgecliff College alumni. Grandparents who went to Edgecliff count.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Family Grant (Siblings Enrolled Together)
📅 Deadline: Request it each year by emailing Student Financial Services with the names of all enrolled siblings. Not applied retroactively. Non-Renewable
$1,000–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-restricted; adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Two siblings enrolled full-time at the same time each receive $1,000 per year. Three or more enrolled at once each receive $5,000 per year. Xavier cannot identify siblings on its own, so the grant is not automatic, and it only covers the current year when requested.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Families with two or more dependent children enrolled full-time at Xavier in the same semester who remember to ask.
App Required
FIRST Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Listed as TBD; submit the FIRST Scholarship application alongside your admission materials. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Two per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission and submit verification of participation on a FIRST Robotics team during junior or senior year of high school.
Selection criteria: Eligibility-based award tied to confirmed FIRST Robotics participation and full-time enrollment.
💡
Strategic Detail
Two merit-based scholarships of $2,500 per year for high school seniors who were on a FIRST team during junior or senior year. Renewable up to $10,000 over four years with good academic standing, and usable in any major. Recipients must meet regular admission requirements.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who competed on a FIRST team as juniors or seniors. Only two are awarded each year, so send the application with your admission file.
App Required
Performing Arts Grant (PAG)
📅 Deadline: Submit the PAG form by March 20, 2027 to audition online, or audition in person at the start of fall 2027. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission and schedule an audition with the Department of Music & Theatre; awards are made on a rolling basis with full consideration for auditions submitted by early March.
Selection criteria: Awards based on musical excellence demonstrated in audition and ongoing participation in designated ensembles.
💡
Strategic Detail
Annual grants of up to $2,000 for strong musicians in select instrumental or vocal ensembles (the admissions page also lists theatre), open to any major. Students must be admitted by their audition date and perform two contrasting pieces. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Non-music majors who still want to play or sing in a Xavier ensemble and can prepare a short audition.
App Required
Music Grant (Music Majors)
📅 Deadline: Audition after admission; auditions can be scheduled through the year with the Department of Music. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Grants of up to $5,000 per year for incoming first-year students who intend to major in music. Anyone who auditions as a major is considered automatically. Renews for four years with full-time music major enrollment, large ensemble participation, a B or better in lessons and ensembles, a 3.0 in music courses and a 2.0 overall.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming students who plan to major in music and complete an audition.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Choose Ohio First Scholarship (STEM)
📅 Deadline: No separate application listed; incoming students are notified by email starting in the spring semester. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be used for tuition, general fees, book vouchers and meal plans. If total grants and scholarships exceed those charges, the award may be reduced.
💡
Strategic Detail
State-funded STEM scholarship for Ohio residents who are new to an eligible STEM program at Xavier. Eligible majors include actuarial science, biology, biochemistry, business analytics, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, health services administration, mathematics, neuroscience, nursing, physics and pre-pharmacy, among others. Income is considered but it is not strictly need-based. Renewable up to four years while staying in an eligible major; recipients meet with career coaches and complete a work-based learning experience. Xavier does not publish the amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Ohio residents starting an eligible STEM major, with special consideration for students with financial need and those underrepresented in STEM.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; all students who meet the criteria are considered. File the FAFSA. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in 2021 with the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation for full-time Xavier students from Ohio who have declared a STEM major and demonstrated financial need, with preference for students admitted to the Data Science honors program. Renewable for up to four years with good academic standing and a continued STEM major. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Ohio students in STEM majors who show financial need, with first look going to Data Science honors students.
App Required
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 15 in the 2026 cycle (the same page also shows an older April 15 date); apply online after admission. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One new recipient per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Endowed fund; confirm with Student Financial Services how it combines with merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed scholarship for incoming, full-time first-year students who have been admitted to Xavier, have financial need, and live in Evanston, Avondale or Norwood, Ohio. Applicants outside those three communities are not considered. One new recipient is named each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students with financial need who live in Evanston, Avondale or Norwood, the neighborhoods around campus.
App Required
Ann M. Summers and Mary Summers Nursing Fellowship
📅 Deadline: March 15 in the 2026 cycle; offered once every four years. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One every four years winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Confirm with Student Financial Services how it combines with merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Offered once every four years to one incoming first-year student in the four-year BSN program. Applicants must live in Campbell, Kenton or Boone County in Northern Kentucky, show high academic achievement, character and leadership, document volunteer commitment, demonstrate financial need, and be admitted to the BSN program. Recipients volunteer about 25 hours a month in an approved health care setting and keep a 3.0 cumulative GPA to renew.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Northern Kentucky nursing students (Campbell, Kenton or Boone County) with financial need and a real volunteer record, in the years the fellowship is open.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Emily Barbero Memorial Veterans Scholarship
📅 Deadline: March 15 in the 2026 cycle; apply online. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Confirm with Student Financial Services how it combines with other aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded each year to a veteran or military-affiliated student pursuing either the Philosophy, Politics and the Public or the Data Science honors program. Named for Emily Barbero, a 2008 Xavier graduate who served as a deputy chief data officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Veterans and military-affiliated students headed into the PPP or Data Science honors programs.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
David Joyce Scholarship (GE Employees and Dependents)
📅 Deadline: Listed as TBD; see the Veteran and Military Family Center program page. Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Twenty-four winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Limited to tuition and fees.
💡
Strategic Detail
Twenty-four scholarships of $2,000 per semester for full-time students who are GE employees or GE dependents, with preference for veterans or military-affiliated students. Created to honor former GE Aviation CEO David Joyce. Funds are limited to tuition and fees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
GE employees and their dependents enrolled full-time, with the edge going to veterans and military-affiliated students.
Automatic
Indiana Resident Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Not published; selection made with the Office of Admission. Ask your admission counselor. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-year award that adds to merit up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established by Xavier alumni living in Indiana. A limited number of one-year, non-renewable awards go to incoming first-year Indiana residents, chosen on academic criteria and financial need. Amount varies.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students from Indiana with strong academics and financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Benjamin D. Urmston Family Peace Studies Scholarship
📅 Deadline: TBD; set by the Peace Studies Committee. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Enroll full-time and declare the Peace Studies minor; contact the Peace Studies Committee for application and selection timelines.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes engagement with Peace Studies coursework and related peace and justice activities.
💡
Strategic Detail
Xavier describes this award two ways. The admissions page lists it for an incoming first-year student with academic excellence and a record of peace and justice activity outside the classroom, with a separate application. Student Financial Services lists it for full-time undergraduates enrolled in the Peace Studies minor. Amounts vary. Contact the Peace Studies Committee chair to confirm which version is open.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with real peace and justice involvement, especially those planning on the Peace Studies minor.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Impacting Lives Commuter Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Application opens online in February; second-round candidates interview in person. Non-Renewable
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Minimum of ten winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $10,000 for commuter students living at home with parents or guardians who will be juniors or seniors, and who show leadership and involvement at work and in the Xavier community. Requires the FAFSA and the ILCS application; finalists are invited to an in-person interview. At least 10 recipients per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Commuters living at home who work and stay involved on campus. At least ten are chosen each year.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Thomas G. Savage, S.J. Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Request a nomination from your department chair in January; recipients selected by end of March. Non-Renewable
$9,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Two per year winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition; not available to students with full-tuition scholarships or tuition remission.
📄
How to Apply
Be a rising junior or senior with strong Humanities performance; departments nominate eligible students following their internal timeline.
Selection criteria: Selection based on academic excellence in the Humanities and faculty/department endorsement.
💡
Strategic Detail
One-time $9,000 award for students who will be juniors or seniors, recognizing commitment to and excellence in the humanities. ABSN and APEX/ADC students are not eligible, and neither are students already on full-tuition scholarships or tuition remission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Humanities students whose professors know their work. The student has to ask the department chair for the nomination in January.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Paul L. O'Connor, S.J. Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Request a nomination from your department chair in January; recipient selected by end of March. Non-Renewable
$4,500
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One per year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to other aid up to the cost of tuition; not available to students with full-tuition scholarships or tuition remission.
📄
How to Apply
Be a rising senior with strong academic and extracurricular records; departments submit nominations for one senior to receive the award.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of academic performance and campus involvement among nominated seniors.
💡
Strategic Detail
One-time $4,500 award for a rising senior with outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement and contribution to Xavier. ABSN and APEX/ADC students are not eligible, and neither are students already on full-tuition scholarships or tuition remission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One standout rising senior per year who asked their department chair for the nomination in January.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
HUB International Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 3 in the 2026 cycle; application opens in February. Non-Renewable
$2,500
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Three per year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tuition-restricted; students whose Xavier aid already covers tuition may not be able to use it.
📄
How to Apply
After completing at least one semester as a full-time undergraduate, eligible students connected to a HUB client submit a HUB International Scholarship application through Student Financial Services.
Selection criteria: Selection among eligible applicants based on institutional criteria and available funding.
💡
Strategic Detail
Formerly the Horan Free Throw Scholarship. Three $2,500 awards for full-time undergraduates who have completed at least one semester at Xavier and are employees of a current HUB International client, or the spouse or dependent of one. Requires the current FAFSA. ABSN, APEX and graduate students are excluded, as are Xavier employees and dependents receiving tuition remission.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing students whose parent or spouse works for a HUB International client company. Narrow, but worth a question to HR if it might apply.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Tri-State Community College Scholars (Transfer)
📅 Deadline: Rolling; apply through the Xavier transfer application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$29,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Students in this program are not eligible for additional scholarships such as the PTK Scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students who earn an associate degree after high school at an Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana community college in 2024, 2025 or 2026 with a final GPA of 3.0 or higher. First-year tuition at Xavier is $10,000 for full-time enrollment; later years are billed at tuition minus a transfer scholarship of at least $29,000 per year ($14,500 per semester, up to 8 semesters total). Housing is optional and extra. Ohio Transfer 36 courses with a C or better are guaranteed to transfer. Associate degrees earned while in high school do not qualify.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Tri-State community college graduates who want a private four-year degree at close to public-university pricing.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling; every transfer applicant is considered. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$15,000–$23,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can be combined with the PTK Scholarship. Not available alongside the Tri-State Community College Scholars program.
💡
Strategic Detail
All transfer applicants are considered. Awards range from $15,000 to $23,000 per year based on transfer GPA and renew for each full-time fall and spring semester.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time transfer students; a higher college GPA moves the award toward the top of the range.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship (Transfer)
📅 Deadline: Rolling; note PTK membership on the transfer application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to transfer merit. Not available to students in the Tri-State Community College Scholars program.
💡
Strategic Detail
Active Phi Theta Kappa members transferring from any U.S. community college get PTK Direct Admission (no essay, no application fee) and automatic review for a $1,500 scholarship, renewable annually. Students still dual-enrolled in high school must use the first-year application instead.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Active PTK members who list their membership on the Xavier transfer application.
Data last verified Sep 27, 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 (Xavier University)
Can these stack with Xavier merit?
Most can, but remember the ceiling: nearly all Xavier scholarship money is tuition-only. Once your student’s awards add up to tuition, additional Xavier scholarships stop helping. Choose Ohio First is a little more flexible and can also cover general fees, book vouchers and meal plans.
Who counts for Xavier’s legacy money?
The Legacy Scholarship considers incoming freshmen who are children or grandchildren of Xavier graduates. The separate Edgecliff Scholars Award reaches further: children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren of Edgecliff College alumni. Edgecliff merged into Xavier in 1980, so this is often a grandparent connection families forget about.
How does the Family Grant work?
If two siblings are enrolled full-time at the same time, each gets $1,000 a year. Three or more, and each gets $5,000 a year. It’s tuition-only, it isn’t automatic, and it can’t be applied to past years you forgot to request.
My student isn’t a music major. Can they still get music money?
Yes. The Performing Arts Grant is open to any major and pays up to $2,000 a year to students who join a select instrumental or vocal ensemble. Students need to be admitted before their audition and prepare two contrasting pieces.
What’s available for Ohio students going into STEM?
Two things. Choose Ohio First is a state-funded scholarship for Ohio residents starting an eligible STEM major, which at Xavier includes nursing, biology, computer science, cybersecurity, data science and more. The Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship goes to Ohio STEM majors with financial need, with first look for Data Science honors students. Neither requires a separate application.
We live near campus. Is there anything local?
Yes. The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship names one new freshman each year from Evanston, Avondale or Norwood who has financial need. Northern Kentucky families in Campbell, Kenton or Boone County should also watch for the Summers Nursing Fellowship, which only opens once every four years.
What if my student is transferring from a community college?
Look hard at the Tri-State Community College Scholars program. Students who finish an associate degree at an Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana community college in 2024, 2025 or 2026 with a 3.0 pay $10,000 for their first year of Xavier tuition, then get at least $29,000 a year after that. Other transfers get $15,000 to $23,000 in transfer merit, and PTK members add $1,500.
Is there money for students who are already at Xavier?
Yes. The Savage ($9,000) and O’Connor ($4,500) scholarships need a department chair nomination in January. The Impacting Lives Commuter Scholarship pays up to $10,000 to at least ten commuters each year. And Xavier’s financial aid scholarships for continuing students are due May 1 with the FAFSA.
Xavier doesn’t have a single honors college. It has four honors programs, each with its own personality. The good news for families: there’s no separate honors application. Your student marks their interest on the Xavier application (or picks PPP or Data Science as their major), and Xavier reviews them for both at the same time. A program director may ask for an interview.
Typical Admit: Top 15% of the high school class; 1300+ SAT or 29+ ACT if scores are sent (honors is test-optional too)
Priority Deadline: Early Action, November 1
Final Deadline: Regular Decision, February 1
The Four Programs, in Plain English
University Scholars: For almost any major. Six smaller honors courses over four years, plus a $2,000 travel grant for a Xavier study abroad program.
Smith Scholars: For business majors. A tight cohort that reads philosophy, history and economics alongside the business core and earns a minor in Political Economy. Includes Smith Center funded global travel and a financial center trip.
Philosophy, Politics and the Public (PPP): An honors major (formerly called HAB) for students drawn to law, government and public life, with an annual trip to Washington, D.C. Comes with a competitive scholarship worth one-quarter tuition.
Data Science (B.S.): A cohort-based honors major in analytics, computing, math and statistics. Ohio students here get first look at the Knowlton STEM scholarship.
Honors Program Scholarships and Perks
Automatic
University Scholars Honors Travel Grant
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 (Early Action) Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Separate from merit. Honors study abroad grants are not available to students whose Xavier scholarships total 90 percent or more of tuition, and only one can be used per program.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $2,000 travel grant toward any Xavier-run or Xavier-affiliated international education program for students in the University Scholars honors program. Scholars take six honors courses, including a team-taught Connections course, and keep a 3.0 GPA in the first year and 3.2 after. Other perks include first-year priority for Buenger Hall, early registration and the Alter Hall honors lounge.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in most majors admitted to University Scholars. Admits generally rank in the top 15 percent of their class; test scores are optional.
Automatic
PPP (HAB) Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: AcademicWorks lists 12/31/2026. PPP admission comes through the Xavier application (select PPP as your major); Early Action Nov 1 for priority. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts toward Xavier's tuition-only cap along with merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded on a competitive basis to students in Philosophy, Politics and the Public, Xavier's Honors Bachelor of Arts program (formerly called HAB), and worth one-quarter tuition. Xavier does not publish renewal terms for this award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to the PPP honors major. Honors admits generally rank in the top 15 percent of their class, and those who send scores typically have a 1300+ SAT or 29+ ACT.
Automatic
Smith Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Indicate interest on the Xavier application; Early Action Nov 1 for priority, Regular Decision Feb 1. An interview may be requested. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program travel funding is separate from merit. Honors study abroad grants are not available to students whose Xavier scholarships total 90 percent or more of tuition.
💡
Strategic Detail
A cohort honors program inside the Williams College of Business. Scholars complete a business major plus a minor in Political Economy (or Data and Markets) built on a Great Books approach. Xavier does not publish a tuition scholarship amount for the program. The verified financial benefits are Smith Center funded global travel, a financial center trip, and the honors study abroad grant.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Business students who rank around the top 15 percent of their class and want a small, reading-heavy cohort alongside a business major.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
PPP (HAB) Financial Aid Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1; recipients selected by end of June. · 📢 Results: By end of June Non-Renewable
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds to merit and other Xavier aid up to the cost of tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Be enrolled in the Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (PPP) Honors Program, file the FAFSA for the relevant year, and complete the HAB Financial Aid Scholarship application made available in March through Student Financial Services.
Selection criteria: Selection among PPP Honors students based on demonstrated financial need and maintaining a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
💡
Strategic Detail
Need-based award of up to $5,000 for current students in the Philosophy, Politics and the Public honors program with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Requires the current FAFSA and a separate application. Number awarded varies.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing PPP students with financial need who file the FAFSA and remember the May 1 application.
Data last verified Sep 27, 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.
Beyond the money, honors students get first-year priority for suite-style Buenger Hall, early class registration, and a private honors lounge in Alter Hall.
Study Abroad Grant Catch: Xavier won’t give study abroad grants to students whose Xavier-funded scholarships already add up to 90% or more of tuition. If your student stacks a lot of tuition money, ask how that affects the honors travel grant before planning a semester abroad.
Honors-Adjacent Money to Know About
PPP Financial Aid Scholarship: Up to $5,000 for current PPP students with need and a 3.0 GPA. Due May 1.
Barbero Memorial Veterans Scholarship: For veterans and military-affiliated students in PPP or Data Science.
Knowlton Memorial Scholarship: Ohio STEM students with need, with preference for Data Science honors.
Honors Programs FAQs (Xavier University)
Is there a separate honors application?
No. Students indicate interest on the Xavier or Common Application. For PPP and Data Science, they choose the program as their major. Xavier reviews the same application for both admission and honors.
Do Xavier’s honors programs come with scholarships?
Some do. PPP comes with a competitive scholarship worth one-quarter tuition. University Scholars get a $2,000 travel grant. Smith Scholars get funded global travel. None of the programs guarantee a full ride.
Can my student do University Scholars and PPP at the same time?
No. University Scholars can’t major in PPP or Data Science, since those are honors programs in their own right.
Does my student need test scores for honors?
No. Honors review is test-optional, and Xavier says applicants are considered equally either way. Students who do send scores typically have at least a 1300 SAT or 29 ACT.
What GPA does a University Scholar need to stay in?
A 3.0 cumulative GPA during freshman year and a 3.2 after that. Students who dip below get a semester of probation to bring it back up.
Should we apply Early Action for honors?
Yes. Xavier gives priority honors consideration to Early Action applicants who apply by November 1.
Xavier is a mid-sized Jesuit university tucked between Cincinnati’s Evanston, Avondale and Norwood neighborhoods. Most people know the name from Big East basketball at the Cintas Center, but the academic story is really about three things:
business, health careers, and small honors programs where professors actually know your student’s name.
Nationally Known Program: Williams College of Business is where about one in five Xavier bachelor’s degrees comes from. U.S. News ranks its undergraduate marketing program #19 in the country, business analytics #20, entrepreneurship #22, finance #33 and accounting #43.
Nursing: U.S. News ranks Xavier’s BSN #5 in Ohio. Nursing is a selective-admission major, so apply Early Action.
Pre-Med and Health Professions: Health fields are the single biggest group of degrees at Xavier, and Xavier reports an 81% medical school acceptance rate for its undergraduates over five years.
Honors Majors: Philosophy, Politics and the Public is a feeder for law school and government work, and the Data Science honors major puts students in a small analytics cohort from day one.
Engineering and Occupational Therapy: U.S. News ranks Xavier #5 in Ohio for undergraduate engineering at schools without a doctoral program. Xavier also runs a graduate OT program that U.S. News ranks #1 among private schools in Ohio, worth knowing if your student is eyeing OT after college.
Popular Undergraduate Pathways: Business, nursing and health sciences, psychology, communication, and the social sciences.
🔗 Official Xavier University Links
Use Xavier’s official pages below to double check admission deadlines, scholarship rules, costs, and institutional data. Always treat these pages as the final word on deadlines and award terms.
Big picture? Xavier is a private Jesuit school that quietly prices itself against Ohio’s public universities for the right student. Nearly everyone gets $23,000 to $33,000 a year in merit without sending a test score, local students with a 3.5 weighted GPA are guaranteed at least $30,000, and the award never asks for a GPA to keep it.
The catch is that almost all of that money is tuition-only, the amount is frozen for four years, and the biggest competitive awards replace merit instead of stacking on top. So the families who do best at Xavier apply Early Action by November 1, compare every offer as a four-year total, and then go after the small “you have to ask” money: legacy and Edgecliff awards, the Family Grant, music and STEM scholarships, and the honors perks. If your student wants business, nursing, pre-med, or a small honors cohort in a real city, Xavier is worth running the numbers on.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
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.
Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me.
More about Leo →
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
