Siena University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 1, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~69%
  • Middle 50% ACT: 27-33
  • Middle 50% SAT: 1110-1360
  • Average GPA: Not published (typical admit: 85+ HS average)

Heads up on the name: Siena College became Siena University in 2025. Same campus in Loudonville, same Franciscan mission, same scholarships. If an older brochure or a counselor says “Siena College,” it is the same school.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Siena University at a Glance

Average Net Price
$32,955/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
At least $14,250/yr (Siena Guarantee)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
8 opportunities
4 automatic · 4 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
87+ HS average; SAT/ACT optional
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Scores optional for automatic merit
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: TBD • FAFSA: TBD
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Siena University (Read This First)

  • The FAFSA is the key to the Guarantee. Siena promises at least $57,000 in scholarships over four years, but only to admitted students who send a FAFSA. Even if you’re sure you won’t qualify for need-based aid, file it.
  • Siena doesn’t post its merit dollar amounts. You’ll see the criteria (90+ average for Presidential, 87+ for Franciscan), but the dollars come from Siena’s Merit Scholarship Calculator and, officially, the admission packet. Compare offers in writing, not from estimates.
  • One merit award per student. Presidential and Franciscan don’t stack. Your merit award also counts toward the $14,250-a-year Guarantee; it isn’t added on top of it.
  • Siena’s own pages use two different numbers. The Guarantee page says $57,000; the Afford page says at least $64,000 in merit over four years. Budget with the lower one until your award letter says otherwise.
  • Early Decision means deciding before you can compare. ED (Nov 15) is binding and the deposit is due March 1. Early Action (Oct 15) is non-binding and returns a decision about a week after the file is complete, so your merit offer arrives early too.
  • Test-optional has exceptions. The Albany Medical College BA/MD and the Albany Law 3+2 and 4+3 programs require scores.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Siena University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at Siena University? Scores are optional for Siena's merit awards; if you send them they need to clear the listed minimum, but you can skip them and still be considered.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 27-33; SAT: 1110-1360.

Average net price? About $32,955/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.

Sources:
Siena Scholarships and Grants page: https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/siena-scholarships-and-grants/
CollegeReadyParent NY state aid guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/new-york/
Siena endowed scholarship list: https://www.siena.edu/alumni-and-giving/scholarships/scholarship-list/
The Siena Guarantee | Siena University: https://www.siena.edu/apply/the-siena-guarantee/
Siena HEOP admission page: https://www.siena.edu/offices/higher-education-opportunity-program-heop/heop-admission/
Siena Bonner Service Leaders: prospective students: https://www.siena.edu/centers-institutes/ace/bonner-service-leaders/prospective-bonners/
Siena endowed scholarship: The KLC Scholarship: https://www.siena.edu/alumni-and-giving/scholarships/scholarship-list/details/ES227/
Siena undergraduate fellowships page: https://www.siena.edu/centers-institutes/center-for-international-programs/study-abroad/fellowships/undergraduate-fellowships/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Siena University: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Siena University 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 $1,300 to $3,400 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$67,445
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $49,700
Housing & meals (typical) $17,745
Total billed cost $67,445

Average federal net price: $32,955 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, Plus New York Extras

Siena is private, so there’s no in-state or out-of-state price. A student from Ohio pays the same sticker price as one from Albany. New York residents get two extra paths, though: the state’s TAP grant ($500 to $5,000 a year, filed right after the FAFSA) and HEOP, which typically covers the full cost of attendance for students who meet its academic and income guidelines.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Siena University

What does a year at Siena actually cost before aid?
For 2026-2027, tuition is $48,300, plus a $400 student activity fee and a $1,000 programming and support fee. A standard double room is $10,300 and the unlimited meal plan is $7,445. Add Siena’s estimates for books ($1,388), personal and transportation costs ($2,750), and a few first-year charges, and Siena’s full cost of attendance for a resident freshman is $72,628.

Are there charges that only hit freshman year?
Yes. First-year students pay a $300 First Year Seminar fee and a $545 orientation charge (orientation, academic advising and transcript fees combined). Resident students also pay a $130 laundry fee. That’s why our table runs a little under Siena’s own freshman total.

Siena says the “typical cost” is $36,840. Why is the federal net price $32,955?
They’re measuring different things. Siena’s figure is 2026-2027 sticker price minus the average Siena scholarship and grant ($31,608), before loans. The federal number is from 2023-2024 and also subtracts Pell, TAP and other grants. Siena’s figure is the better budgeting baseline; the federal one shows what families with grant aid actually paid.

Do some majors cost more?
A bit. Siena lists average lab fees of about $1,342 for science majors and $286 for business majors. Nursing students in the Maria College dual degree pay Maria about $2,200 a semester in fees. Taking more than 17 credits in a semester costs $675 per extra credit.

Can out-of-state families get a discount?
There’s no out-of-state premium to waive, and Siena doesn’t take part in regional tuition exchanges. Every admitted freshman who files the FAFSA gets the Siena Guarantee of at least $14,250 a year, wherever they’re from.

Will the price go up each year?
Plan on it. Tuition went from $46,690 to $48,300 between 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, about 3.4%. Merit scholarships are usually a fixed dollar amount, so the gap you pay tends to grow a little each year.

Sources:
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/new-york-state-grant-programs/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=195474

📅 Siena Money Timeline (Simple Version)

  • October 1: FAFSA opens. File it early; it unlocks the Siena Guarantee and the need-based Siena Grant.
  • With the admission decision: Merit (Presidential or Franciscan) shows up in the admission packet. There’s no separate scholarship form.
  • Right after admission: Email aid@siena.edu to be considered for Siena’s 330+ endowed scholarships.
  • February 15: HEOP application deadline for eligible New York students.
  • Every year by May 1: Re-file the FAFSA to keep need-based aid.

Parent rule of thumb: merit at Siena comes with admission, so the earlier your student applies, the earlier you see real numbers.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Siena University

Every full-time freshman applicant is automatically considered for merit when they apply. No extra application. Siena uses the high school average (on a 100-point scale) as its main yardstick, and scores are optional. Siena doesn’t publish dollar amounts for its merit tiers, so use the Merit Scholarship Calculator for an estimate.
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 AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Tuition Assistance Program
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and TAP application; final cutoff June 30 after the aid year
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,665/yr
✔ Stackable
NY resident for 12 months; NYS net taxable income $125,000 or less for dependent students; full time at an approved NY college; FAFSA plus a separate TAP application every year
✚
Stacking & Combining
New York's main need grant, $1,000 to $5,665 a year on a sliding income scale, and it travels to private NY colleges. Stacks with Pell and with the college's own aid. Two forms every year: the FAFSA and the TAP application.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Siena University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families under $125,000 who finished the separate TAP application after the FAFSA. The TAP form is its own step on the HESC site, and the students who show up with Pell but no TAP are almost always the ones who stopped at the FAFSA confirmation screen.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence
📅 Deadline: High school nomination; deadline set by the school
✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$500–$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Nominated by the high school based on Regents exam scores; no application; must enroll the fall right after graduation; public or private NY college
✚
Stacking & Combining
$500 or $1,500 a year for four years, awarded by Regents scores and nominated by the high school. Small but automatic and renewable at a C average. Stacks with TAP, Excelsior, and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Siena University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top Regents scorers whose high school submitted the nomination. There is nothing for a family to do except confirm with the guidance office that the nomination went in, and that is exactly the step nobody takes.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyfinancial need
Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
📅 Deadline: February 15
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  New York residents meeting HEOP academic and income guidelines only.
New York State residents who meet HEOP academic and economic criteria. Income guidelines for 2027-2028 entry run from $29,526 (household of one) to $103,082 (household of eight), plus $10,508 per additional member.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The package is assembled from Pell, TAP, HEOP and Siena funds together, so it replaces rather than adds to a standard aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Apply with the Siena Express or Common Application by Feb 15 and check the HEOP box. Send transcripts, an essay and a counselor recommendation. Return the HEOP Financial Eligibility Assessment Form within 10 days and complete the interview if selected. Decisions start mid-March.
💡
Strategic Detail
New York's opportunity program at private colleges. Siena says the aid package typically covers the total cost of attendance, built from federal, state and Siena funds. Application fee is waived. Students file the FAFSA and TAP every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
New York students whose grades and family income fall inside HEOP guidelines. Space is limited and selection is competitive, with a required interview.
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
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1160 SATAutomatic consideration for admitted full-time freshmen. Siena's published markers: a 90+ high school average, honors or AP coursework, and community involvement. SAT/ACT are optional; if submitted, 1160+ SAT or 25+ ACT.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Siena gives one academic/merit scholarship per student, so Presidential does not combine with the Franciscan Scholarship. It can sit alongside the need-based Siena Grant, federal and New York State aid, and outside scholarships, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Top tier of Siena's freshman merit grid. Siena does not publish a dollar amount for this award. Families get a personalized estimate from the Merit Scholarship Calculator on Siena's scholarships page and the official figure in the admission packet. Whatever the amount, it counts toward the Siena Guarantee floor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a 90+ high school average (roughly A-minus), honors or AP courses on the transcript, and real involvement at school or in the community. Scores are optional; if your student has 1160+ SAT or 25+ ACT, sending them supports the case. Presidential Scholars can also be considered for the Standish Honors Program.
Automatic
Franciscan Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~24 ACT✎ ~1120 SATAutomatic consideration for admitted full-time freshmen. Siena's published markers: an 87+ high school average and a strong record of involvement. SAT/ACT are optional; if submitted, 1120+ SAT or 24+ ACT.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One academic/merit scholarship per student, so Franciscan does not combine with Presidential. It can sit alongside the need-based Siena Grant, federal and New York State aid, and outside scholarships, up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Second tier of Siena's freshman merit grid. Siena does not publish a dollar amount; use the Merit Scholarship Calculator for an estimate and the admission packet for the real number. It counts toward the Siena Guarantee floor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Solid B-plus to A-minus students, around an 87+ high school average, with clubs, service, work, athletics or leadership on the record. Testing is optional; 1120+ SAT or 24+ ACT lines up with this tier if you choose to send scores.
Automatic
Siena Guarantee
📅 Deadline: Admission + FAFSA (file soon after it opens Oct 1)
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Admitted full-time freshmen (Fall 2019 entry or later) who submit the FAFSA. Applies to each undergraduate year enrolled full-time.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is a floor, not an extra check. Your student's Presidential or Franciscan award counts toward it. Siena does not spell out whether the need-based Siena Grant also counts toward the $14,250, so ask the aid office how your package was built. Pell, TAP and outside scholarships are separate.
💡
Strategic Detail
Siena's written promise: at least $57,000 in scholarships over four years, defined in the fine print as at least $14,250 per year (merit scholarships included) for each undergraduate year enrolled full-time. Siena's Afford page separately mentions at least $64,000 in merit over four years; the Guarantee page carries the written terms, so we treat $57,000 as the floor.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every admitted full-time freshman who files the FAFSA. It is Siena's safety net: even students who do not land a top merit tier walk away with a real scholarship floor.
Automaticgeographicfaith based
Bishops Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  Only for graduates of seven specific Diocese of Albany Catholic high schools.
Must be admitted to Siena as a full-time freshman from one of the seven named Diocese of Albany high schools. Renewable for four years.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Siena lists Bishops separately from its academic merit tiers but does not say in writing whether it sits on top of Presidential or Franciscan or counts as the student's one merit award. Ask the aid office to show it as its own line on the award letter. It stacks with need-based and outside aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pipeline award tied to seven Diocese of Albany Catholic high schools. Modest in size but truly automatic — no extra application — and renewable across four years for qualifying students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Graduates of seven specific Roman Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Albany: Bishop Maginn, Catholic Central, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, Saratoga Central Catholic, The Academy of the Holy Names, Christian Brothers Academy, and La Salle Institute. If your student is at one of these schools, this $3,000 is essentially built into their Siena cost picture.
Data last verified Oct 1, 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: Siena gives one academic/merit scholarship per student. That award counts toward the Siena Guarantee floor of at least $14,250 a year for FAFSA filers.

Automatic Merit FAQs (Siena University)

How much is the Presidential Scholarship worth?
Siena doesn’t say publicly. Its scholarships page lists the criteria (90+ average, honors or AP courses, involvement, and 1160+ SAT or 25+ ACT if you submit scores) and points families to its Merit Scholarship Calculator. Treat any number you see online as unofficial until it’s in your admission packet.

What’s the difference between Presidential and Franciscan?
Mostly the high school average. Presidential looks for 90+ with honors or AP coursework. Franciscan looks for 87+ with a strong record of involvement. If scores are submitted, the markers are 1160+ SAT / 25+ ACT for Presidential and 1120+ SAT / 24+ ACT for Franciscan.

What exactly is the Siena Guarantee?
A floor. Siena promises admitted full-time freshmen who file the FAFSA at least $14,250 a year in scholarships, merit included, for each undergraduate year (at least $57,000 over four years). If your student earns Presidential, that award counts toward the $14,250. It isn’t a second check.

We probably won’t qualify for need-based aid. Do we still file the FAFSA?
Yes. The Guarantee is written around the FAFSA. Siena says merit-only families can skip it by emailing aid@siena.edu, but skipping it risks leaving the Guarantee and the Siena Grant on the table.

Does Siena superscore the SAT or ACT?
Siena doesn’t publish a superscore policy. Since scores are optional, the practical move is to send scores only if they’re at or above the tier markers, and ask admissions how multiple sittings are handled.

Are these scholarships renewable?
The Guarantee covers each undergraduate year your student is enrolled full-time. Siena doesn’t publish a renewal GPA for Presidential or Franciscan, so ask for the renewal terms in writing when the award arrives.

Who gets the Bishops Scholarship?
Graduates of seven Diocese of Albany Catholic high schools: Bishop Maginn, Catholic Central, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, Saratoga Central Catholic, The Academy of the Holy Names, Christian Brothers Academy and La Salle Institute. It’s $3,000 a year and automatic.

What about transfer students?
Siena’s transfer page lists $21,500 a year for Phi Theta Kappa members, $19,000 for a 3.2+ GPA (Franciscan), $16,000 for 2.9 to 3.19 (St. Clare) and $14,000 for 2.5 to 2.89 (Mission). Siena’s scholarships page uses slightly different GPA bands, so confirm with admissions. The Transfer Guarantee promises at least $28,000 over two years ($43,000 for Phi Theta Kappa).

Sources:
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/siena-scholarships-and-grants/
https://www.siena.edu/apply/the-siena-guarantee/
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/filing-your-fafsa/
https://www.siena.edu/offices/admissions/transfer-students/

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Siena does not run a competitive full-tuition or full-ride scholarship competition. There’s no essay-and-interview scholarship weekend. Siena puts its money into automatic merit and the Guarantee, so the biggest award most students get comes with the admission letter.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Siena?

Aid Type Stacks with Merit? Siena Parent Translation
Presidential / Franciscan No (one per student) Your student gets one academic merit award.
Siena Guarantee It’s a floor Merit counts toward the $14,250-a-year minimum. It isn’t added on top.
Siena Grant (need-based) Yes FAFSA-based, so file even if you think you won’t qualify.
Endowed scholarships Usually 330+ donor funds. You have to email to be considered.
Pell / TAP / HEOP Yes Federal and New York aid layers in. HEOP builds a full package for eligible NY students.
ROTC Ask ROTC and Siena merit both pay toward tuition. Get the combined package in writing.

If your student is hunting for a school that hands out a handful of full rides through a big competition, Siena isn’t that school. Its strength is predictability: a guaranteed floor, automatic merit that shows up with admission, and a large pool of donor scholarships for students who ask. The closest thing to a “flagship” opportunity is the Siena/Albany Medical College BA/MD program. It’s an admissions program, not a scholarship, but it waives the MCAT and guarantees a medical school path, which is worth a lot.

This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Siena have a full-tuition scholarship?
Not a competitive one for the general applicant pool. The routes closest to full cost are HEOP for eligible New York residents (Siena says it typically covers total cost of attendance) and an Army ROTC scholarship.

Is there a scholarship competition or interview day?
No. Merit is decided from the admission file. The only interview-based money path is HEOP, which requires one for selected applicants.

How competitive is the Albany Medical College program?
Very. It requires a 1360+ SAT or 30+ ACT, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and all materials by November 1. Accepted students earn a Biology BA at Siena, then an MD at Albany Medical College with the MCAT waived.

Does Siena participate in National Merit, QuestBridge or Stamps?
We didn’t find Siena listed as a sponsor or partner for any of these. Outside scholarships your student wins can still be applied to the bill.

What should my student prepare instead?
A strong transcript and a resume. The resume does double duty: it supports the admission file and is exactly what Siena asks for when you request endowed scholarship consideration. Our Brag Sheet Builder helps put one together.

Sources:
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/siena-scholarships-and-grants/
https://www.siena.edu/apply/deadlines/
https://www.siena.edu/programs/albany-medical-college-program/

🧠 Parent Strategy: Siena’s “One Email” Rule

Getting admitted gets your student Siena’s merit award. It does not put them in the running for Siena’s 330+ donor-funded scholarships. For that, Siena asks families to send an email.

  1. File the FAFSA (this unlocks the Guarantee and the need-based Siena Grant). New York families: finish the TAP application when prompted.
  2. Email aid@siena.edu and ask to be considered for endowed scholarships.
  3. Attach a one-page resume: intended major, hometown, activities, work, service, band or faith involvement.
  4. Save the sent email and any reply.

Parent translation: the merit award is automatic. The extra money usually goes to students who ask.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards aren’t part of the automatic merit grid, but they can fill real gaps. Some need just a FAFSA or an email; others are national competitions Siena advises on.

Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Siena Grant
📅 Deadline: File FAFSA soon after it opens Oct 1
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradRequires the FAFSA. Based on financial need and academic performance.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Siena merit, Pell, TAP and outside scholarships up to cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Siena's own need-based grant. Amounts vary by need and are not published. To keep it, file the FAFSA every year by May 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families whose FAFSA shows need, especially strong students from middle-income households who assume they will not qualify and skip the form.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Endowed Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Rolling; email early
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally layers on top of merit and need-based aid, subject to each fund's rules and the cost-of-attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
Email aid@siena.edu asking to be considered for endowed scholarships. Attach a resume (activities, intended major, hometown, work, service) so the office can match your student to the right funds.
Selection criteria: Matching and selection are based on donor-defined criteria, financial need, and institutional priorities.
💡
Strategic Detail
Siena lists 330+ donor-funded scholarships. Criteria vary by fund (financial need, intended major, hometown, activities, background). Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who actually ask. Siena's instruction is to email the aid office and request consideration; a resume helps them match your student to donor criteria.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Bonner Service Leaders
📅 Deadline: No published deadline
✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Earnings come as paychecks for service hours, not a tuition credit, so they work alongside merit and need-based aid within cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the application on Siena's Bonner Service Leaders page (Academic Community Engagement office). File the FAFSA so Work-Study eligibility is on record.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes prior community service, leadership, and commitment to sustained engagement.
💡
Strategic Detail
Bonners serve about 8 to 10 hours a week with a Capital Region nonprofit for all four years and are paid every two weeks for hours served, through Federal Work-Study plus institutional funds. Siena does not publish a dollar total. Includes a Certificate in Community Development option.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a sustained service record who want a four-year commitment, and whose FAFSA shows Federal Work-Study eligibility.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyactivity specificneed basedsibling
The KLC Scholarship (Pep Band)
📅 Deadline: Rolling (endowed fund)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Pep Band members from multi-child families with financial need.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Endowed award that layers on top of merit and need-based aid within cost-of-attendance limits.
📄
How to Apply
Email aid@siena.edu and ask to be considered for The KLC Scholarship, noting band experience and siblings. File the FAFSA so need is on record.
Selection criteria: Selection considers Pep Band participation, musicianship, and financial need.
💡
Strategic Detail
Donor-funded award recognizing the role music plays at Siena sporting events. Amount not published; awarded year by year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students from families with multiple children who are active Pep Band members (or high school band members planning to join), with demonstrated financial need.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC (Mohawk Battalion)
📅 Deadline: Selection boards Oct 15, Jan 16, Mar 16
✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition and fees or room and board plus stipend and books
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Confirm with Siena's aid office how ROTC tuition coverage interacts with Siena merit, since both pay the same tuition bill. Outside aid can still stack up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
High school seniors apply through the Army ROTC national scholarship portal at goarmy.com; boards meet Oct 15, Jan 16 and Mar 16. Current Siena students talk to the Mohawk Battalion about campus-based awards.
Selection criteria: Selection considers academics, physical fitness, leadership, and potential for military service.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
4- and 3-year national scholarships for high school seniors; 2- and 3-year campus-based awards for current students. $420 monthly stipend and $1,200 per year for books. Siena's scholarship page lists full tuition and fees; Siena's main Army ROTC page says tuition and fees or room and board. Recruiting contact: MAJ Quinlan, squinlan@siena.edu, (518) 783-2477.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who meet Army academic, physical, and medical standards and commit to military service after graduation; leadership and fitness are key.
Data last verified Oct 1, 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.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship
📅 Deadline: October and March cycles
Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Can stack with Siena merit and need-based aid; treated as an external scholarship and may adjust need-based aid depending on total aid and cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Meet with Siena's Center for International Programs, choose an approved program, then submit the national Gilman application in the October or March cycle while receiving Pell.
Selection criteria: National review emphasizes financial need, quality of essays, and fit of program with academic and career goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
National award of up to $5,000 for study abroad, for students receiving a Federal Pell Grant; preference for less traditional destinations. Siena advisor: Abi Cavazos (acavazos@siena.edu).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizen Pell Grant recipients with compelling study abroad plans and strong essays connecting their goals, finances, and program choice.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Boren Scholarship (language focus)
📅 Deadline: Early February
Non-Renewable
$10,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
National scholarship that can stack with Siena aid; may affect need-based aid packaging depending on total aid and cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the national Boren Scholarship application for approved study abroad in critical language regions and commit to federal service after graduation.
Selection criteria: National review focuses on language commitment, program relevance to national security, academic preparation, and service plans.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
National award of up to $10,000 per semester for language-focused study abroad (limited summer STEM awards). Requires at least one year of federal government service after graduation. Siena contact: international@siena.edu.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving U.S. citizens focused on critical languages and regions with strong service-oriented goals aligned with U.S. national security.
Data last verified Oct 1, 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

What is the Siena Grant?
Siena’s own need-based grant, awarded from FAFSA data and academic record. There’s no separate application, and amounts depend on need. File the FAFSA each year by May 1 to keep it.

How do endowed scholarships work at Siena?
Siena lists more than 330 donor-funded scholarships, each with its own criteria (major, hometown, financial need, activities). Email aid@siena.edu to be considered and include a resume so they can match your student to the right funds.

What is HEOP, and is it really a full ride?
HEOP is New York State’s opportunity program for students who meet both academic and income guidelines. Siena says the aid package typically covers the total cost of attendance. It’s limited to New York residents, space is tight, and applicants check the HEOP box on the application by February 15.

Is Bonner Service Leaders a scholarship?
It works like a paid job tied to service. Bonners spend 8 to 10 hours a week with a Capital Region nonprofit for all four years and get paid every two weeks through Federal Work-Study and Siena funds. Siena doesn’t publish a dollar total.

Can my student use Gilman or Boren for study abroad?
Yes, through Siena’s Center for International Programs. Gilman offers up to $5,000 for Pell recipients (October and March cycles). Boren offers up to $10,000 per semester for language-focused study in exchange for a year of federal service.

How does Army ROTC work at Siena?
Siena hosts the Mohawk Battalion. Scholarships cover tuition and fees (Siena’s ROTC overview also mentions a room-and-board option), plus $420 a month and $1,200 a year for books. Seniors apply at goarmy.com; selection boards meet Oct 15, Jan 16 and Mar 16.

Sources:
https://www.siena.edu/offices/financial-aid/your-financial-aid-journey/applying-for-aid/siena-scholarships-and-grants/
https://www.siena.edu/alumni-and-giving/scholarships/scholarship-list/
https://www.siena.edu/offices/higher-education-opportunity-program-heop/heop-admission/
https://www.siena.edu/centers-institutes/ace/bonner-service-leaders/prospective-bonners/
https://www.siena.edu/centers-institutes/center-for-international-programs/study-abroad/fellowships/undergraduate-fellowships/
https://www.siena.edu/offices/military-science-rotc/future-cadets/scholarships/

The Standish Honors Program at Siena University

Siena doesn’t have an honors college. It has the Standish Honors Program, a small, application-based community of about 50 students per year. Admission isn’t automatic: students must apply separately, and Presidential Scholars can be considered as incoming freshmen.

  • How to apply: Send a letter or email of intent to the Office of Admissions by the deadline Siena posts, along with an original essay, transcript, counselor recommendation and teacher recommendation.
  • What it involves: Honors sections from the first-year seminar through the core, 100 hours of service, and a senior thesis with a faculty mentor.
  • To stay in: Honors Fellows keep a 3.3 GPA.

Honors Scholarships

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Money Note: Standish doesn’t come with its own scholarship. Its value is the experience: small seminars, close faculty relationships and a thesis that stands out on graduate school and job applications. The money side is handled by Presidential or Franciscan merit and the Siena Guarantee.
Programs That Pair Well with Honors
  • Albany Medical College BA/MD: Students often add Standish Honors research and the Bonner program.
  • Contract courses: If a subject doesn’t have an honors section, students can work with a professor to add an honors component.
  • Bonner Service Leaders: Service hours overlap naturally with the 100-hour honors requirement.

Standish Honors FAQs (Siena University)

Is honors admission automatic for Presidential Scholars?
No. Presidential Scholars can be considered, but every student submits a letter of intent and application materials, and a faculty committee decides.

Does the honors program come with money?
Not on its own. Siena doesn’t list a separate honors scholarship.

How big is the program?
About 50 students are selected each year, so honors classes are small and discussion-based.

What GPA does my student need to stay in?
Honors Fellows maintain a 3.3 GPA throughout their time at Siena.

Who should my student contact?
The Honors Director, Dr. Wendy Pojmann (wpojmann@siena.edu, 518-786-5003).

Sources:
https://www.siena.edu/programs/standish-honors-program/admissions-requirements/
https://www.siena.edu/news/story/inside-the-siena-honors-program/
https://www.siena.edu/programs/albany-medical-college-program/

⭐ College Specialty

Siena is a Franciscan, Catholic school of about 3,500 undergraduates just north of Albany, with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. It’s small enough that professors know your student by name. It’s also close enough to the state capital that internships in government, finance and healthcare are a short drive away. Its standouts cluster in two places: business and numbers, and the sciences.

Nationally Known Program:
Siena/Albany Medical College BA/MD: Founded in 1986 and billed as the first program of its kind, it pairs a Biology BA and a required humanities minor at Siena with an MD from Albany Medical College. The MCAT is waived. Between junior and senior year, students spend a Summer of Service living and working with underserved communities abroad.
  • Business, Accounting and Finance: Siena’s School of Business is AACSB-accredited, a credential fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide hold. Accounting and finance are the backbone, and Albany’s state agencies, banks and firms are right next door.
  • Actuarial Science: A BS offered jointly by the business and science schools. It’s built so students pass at least two actuarial exams before graduating, which is what employers in insurance and risk look for.
  • Data Science and Business Analytics: Two newer majors for students who like numbers but want a broader career path than pure math.
  • Biology and Pre-Health: The home of the Albany Med program, plus a dual-degree nursing path with Maria College or the Belanger School of Nursing.
  • Political Science: The Siena Research Institute runs the New York Times/Siena poll, and undergraduates work in its call center. Few schools this size give political science students a front-row seat to national polling.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Siena is one of the more predictable private schools to plan around. You won’t find a scholarship competition or a surprise full ride. You will find a written floor of at least $14,250 a year for any admitted freshman who files the FAFSA, automatic merit that arrives with the admission letter, and a deep bench of donor scholarships for families who send one email asking.

The mistakes that cost Siena families money are small and avoidable: skipping the FAFSA because “we won’t qualify,” assuming merit stacks on top of the Guarantee, and never asking about endowed funds. Get those three right, add TAP or HEOP if you live in New York, and compare the real award letter (not an online estimate) against your other offers. For a student drawn to business, actuarial work, pre-med or politics, a small Franciscan school outside Albany can be a much better deal than its sticker price suggests.

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Leo Dimilo

Leo Dimilo founded CollegeReadyParent after working through college costs with his own daughter. Every guide is free, with no paywall and no lead forms, and every number is checked against the college’s own pages.

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