St. John’s is a Catholic, Vincentian university in Queens with a big residential campus about a train ride from Manhattan. It admits most applicants (around 83%), it’s test-optional, and it does not charge an application fee. The real story for families is merit: nearly every admitted first-year gets reviewed automatically, and recent classes saw awards up to $35,000 a year. For the Fall 2026 class, St. John’s even ran a direct admission offer that guaranteed at least $32,000 to students with a 3.5 GPA or higher. That was a one-year campaign, so check whether it’s running for your student’s year.
One housekeeping note: St. John’s Application Requirements page still mentions Early Decision, but its Deadlines page lists only Early Action (December 1) and Regular (February 1). Go by the Deadlines page and confirm with Admission.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at St. John’s (Read This First)
Scholarships stop at tuition and fees. St. John’s caps all institutional plus outside scholarships and grants at tuition and fees. Housing and meals (about $22,000 a year on campus) are on you, no matter how big the merit award is.
The service award has a hard date. Children of police officers, firefighters, and military members get $2,000 a year, but only if the admission application is in by January 31 and the parent’s occupation is filled in on it. Leave that field blank and you can lose $8,000.
There’s a second application for donor money. Endowed scholarships run through a separate portal (AcademicWorks), and most funds there list a December 1 deadline. Admission alone does not put your student in that pool.
Ozanam or Catholic Scholars, not both. Students can apply to both but can only be selected for one, and they state their preference during the interview.
Test-optional is a one-way door. Test-optional applicants are fully considered for merit, but the choice can’t be changed after the application is submitted.
Online programs get nothing. University scholarships only apply to new, full-time students in on-ground Queens programs.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. St. John's University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 24-29; SAT: 1150-1330.
Average net price? About $29,656/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 St. John's University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest St. John's 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 $1,600 to $4,000 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$79,758
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$57,800
Housing & meals (typical)
$21,958
Total billed cost
$79,758
Average federal net price: $29,656 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 a Few Program Add-Ons
St. John’s is private, so New York residents and out-of-state students pay the same tuition. A couple of programs cost more later on:
Tobin College of Business students pay an extra $2,198 a year in their third and fourth years, and Pharm.D. students pay an extra $7,450 a year in years three through six.
The $1,660 in fees includes a one-time $250 orientation fee in the first semester.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at St. John’s University
Can a big merit award cover housing and meals at St. John’s?
No. St. John’s caps the combined total of its own scholarships plus outside scholarships and grants at tuition and fees. Even a top merit award won’t touch the roughly $21,958 for on-campus housing and meals, so plan to cover that with savings, work, or loans.
Is it cheaper to commute?
Quite a bit. St. John’s estimates total cost of attendance at about $68,126 for a student living at home, compared with about $83,790 for a student living on the Queens campus. Since scholarships only cover tuition and fees, commuting is the single biggest lever a local family has.
Do New York residents get any state aid at a private school like St. John’s?
Yes. New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) works at St. John’s. File the FAFSA with St. John’s code 002823 listed first, then link to TAP on the Web. St. John’s TAP code is 0751.
What’s not on the bill but still part of the budget?
St. John’s estimates about $844 for books, $1,020 for transportation, and $2,110 for personal expenses each year. These aren’t paid to the university, but they’re real money.
Is the average net price really around $29,656?
That’s the most recent federal figure for first-year students who received grant or scholarship aid. Because St. John’s merit is so widespread, many families land near that number, but your cost depends heavily on whether your student lives on campus.
Do scholarships help with summer or winter classes?
No. University awards are split evenly between fall and spring and can’t be used for summer or winter terms unless the award says otherwise.
Does pharmacy cost more over the whole program?
Yes, in two ways. Years three through six carry a $7,450 annual tuition add-on, and St. John’s scholarships only apply to the undergraduate portion of the Pharm.D. Budget for the professional years with that in mind.
📅 St. John’s Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
December 1: Early Action. Not a scholarship deadline by itself, but it gets the earliest merit decision, and most endowed funds in the AcademicWorks portal list December 1 too.
January 31: Admission application must be in for the police, firefighter, and military service awards.
Late January: Financial aid packages start going out to admitted students who filed the FAFSA.
March 1 / April 1: Fine Arts portfolio scholarship (March 1) and GSRM priority (April 1).
April: Accepted Student Day, worth $250 toward the Engagement Grant.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 1 as your real deadline. Applying early costs nothing at St. John’s (there’s no application fee) and keeps every door open.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at St. John’s University
St. John’s uses the admission application to set merit automatically. There’s no separate form. Awards for the Fall 2025 class reached $35,000 a year, and St. John’s doesn’t publish a GPA or test-score chart, so the exact amount shows up in the acceptance package.
Test-optional applicants are fully considered. Unlike many schools, these automatic awards can stack (merit plus Catholic high school plus a service award, for example) right up to the tuition-and-fees cap.
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 St. John's 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 St. John's 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.
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
St. John's University Academic Scholarships
📅 Deadline: No separate scholarship deadline. Merit is set automatically from the admission application; Early Action (December 1) gets the earliest decision and award. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$35,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Catholic High School Scholarship, a service award, College Advantage, and application scholarships, but the combined total of all institutional and outside scholarships and grants cannot exceed tuition and fees. Nothing covers housing or meals.
💡
Strategic Detail
For the Fall 2025 entering class, St. John's awarded merit of up to $35,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of full-time, continuous study. Awards factor in grades, intended program, and campus of record. For the Fall 2026 class, the Johnnie's Promise direct admission campaign guaranteed a minimum $32,000 merit award to applicants with a 3.5+ high school GPA. Test-optional applicants are fully considered. Awards apply only to new first-time, full-time students in on-ground Queens programs, not online programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most admitted first-year, full-time, on-ground students; the strongest awards land with applicants who pair rigorous coursework with high grades inside competitive programs.
Automatic
Catholic High School Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Submit by standard first-year admission deadlines; no separate scholarship application is required. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on top of St. John's academic merit and other institutional awards up to tuition and fee limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded automatically at $3,000 per year, up to $12,000 over four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate study. Created in response to the Advisory Board of St. John's Institute for Catholic Schools, and applies to both domestic and international students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every incoming first-year student who graduates from a Catholic high school and enrolls full time at St. John's that fall.
Automatic
College Advantage Award
📅 Deadline: Must enroll at St. John's the semester after high school graduation; no separate scholarship deadline. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with St. John's other institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Provides $3,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of full-time, continuous undergraduate study for College Advantage students who enroll at St. John's the semester after high school graduation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: College Advantage participants who transition directly into full-time enrollment at St. John's right after high school.
Automatic
Child of a Police Officer Service Award
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds $2,000 per year on top of any other St. John's institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits. Students can hold only one service award (police, fire, or military) at a time.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $2,000 per year for up to four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate enrollment to dependent children of U.S. police officers (full-time active service, retired, or killed in the line of duty). Eligibility is read directly from the parent occupation field on the admission application; St. John's reserves the right to request proof of eligibility.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students who are dependent children of full-time active, retired, or line-of-duty deceased U.S. police officers.
Automatic
Child of Firefighter Service Award
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds $2,000 per year on top of other St. John's institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits. Only one service award (police, fire, or military) per student.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $2,000 per year for up to four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate enrollment to dependent children of U.S. fire department members (full-time active service, retired, or killed in the line of duty). Eligibility is read from the parent occupation field on the admission application; proof may be requested.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students who are dependent children of full-time active, retired, or line-of-duty deceased U.S. fire department members.
Automatic
Child of Military Service-Members Award
📅 Deadline: January 31 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Adds $2,000 per year on top of other St. John's institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits. Limited to one service award per student.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $2,000 per year for up to four years of continuous, full-time undergraduate enrollment to dependent children of U.S. Military service members (full-time active service, veteran, or killed in the line of duty). Eligibility is captured automatically from the parent occupation field on the admission application; proof may be requested.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students who are dependent children of full-time active, veteran, or line-of-duty deceased U.S. Military service members.
Automatic
Fall Engagement Grant
📅 Deadline: Attend Accepted Student Day in April plus one qualifying admission event between June 1 and May 1, then enroll that fall. Non-Renewable
$250–$500
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time tuition grant that layers on top of other awards; capped at $500 per admission cycle.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $250 for attending Accepted Student Day in April plus another $250 for attending one of the listed qualifying admission events (Open House, on-campus tour, virtual events, class visit, department tour, hometown celebration, or Stormin' Loud). Total grant capped at $500 toward that year's tuition.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year and transfer students who show up to Accepted Student Day in April and at least one other qualifying admission event before enrolling.
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: St. John’s says merit is based on academic record, intended program, and campus of record, so two students with the same GPA can get different offers.
For the Fall 2026 class, a 3.5+ GPA guaranteed at least $32,000 through the Johnnie’s Promise campaign, which gives you a useful benchmark even if that exact program doesn’t return.
Automatic Merit FAQs (St. John’s University)
How much merit can my student get at St. John’s?
For the Fall 2025 entering class, academic scholarships went up to $35,000 a year, renewable for four years of full-time, continuous study. St. John’s doesn’t publish a tier chart, so the acceptance package is where you’ll see the real number.
Does applying test-optional hurt my student’s chances at merit?
No. St. John’s says test-optional applicants are fully considered for academic merit. Just know the choice is locked once the application is submitted, and scores sent with a test-optional application won’t be used.
Who gets the Catholic High School Scholarship?
Every incoming first-year who graduates from a Catholic high school and enrolls full time that fall gets $3,000 a year, up to $12,000 over four years. It’s automatic and open to domestic and international students.
How does the police, firefighter, or military service award work?
It’s $2,000 a year for up to four years for dependent children of U.S. police officers, firefighters, or military members (active, retired or veteran, or killed in the line of duty). St. John’s reads it from the parent occupation field on the admission application, which must be submitted by January 31. Students can only hold one service award, and it’s for domestic students.
What is the College Advantage Award?
High school students who take St. John’s dual-enrollment courses through College Advantage and then enroll at St. John’s the semester right after graduation get $3,000 a year for up to four years.
Is the $500 Engagement Grant real money?
Yes. Attending Accepted Student Day in April earns a one-time $250 tuition grant, and attending one other qualifying event (open house, campus tour, virtual event, class visit, and others) earns another $250. The cap is $500 per year.
Do these awards stack?
Yes. Merit, the Catholic High School Scholarship, a service award, College Advantage, and the Engagement Grant can all combine, but the total of all scholarships and grants can’t go above tuition and fees.
St. John’s doesn’t run a full-tuition flagship competition. Its competitive awards are mission programs: you apply, you’re interviewed, and you join a four-year community with real commitments.
Applications open in the online student portal as soon as the admission application is in, and students don’t need to wait for an admission decision. These programs close early in the year, so apply the week the portal opens.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at St. John’s?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Parent Translation
Automatic awards
Yes
Merit, Catholic high school, service, and College Advantage awards combine.
Ozanam or Catholic Scholars
Yes, but pick one
Either one layers on merit, but a student can only be selected for one of the two.
GSRM scholarships
Yes
Extra money for risk management, insurance, and actuarial students.
Endowed and donor funds
Yes
Separate portal, FAFSA required, and recipients write a thank-you letter to the donor.
The ceiling on all of it
Tuition and fees
Once scholarships and grants hit tuition and fees, St. John’s can reduce awards. Housing is never covered.
If your student wants a full ride built on essays and interviews, St. John’s isn’t that school. What it does well is stack a strong automatic award with a meaningful program award, which can bring tuition down a long way for a student who’s genuinely into service, faith, or a specific field like risk management.
App Required
Ozanam Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Application opens in the online student portal once the admission application is submitted. The program closes early in the cycle and does not publish a fixed date, so apply as soon as the portal opens. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~About 25 first-year scholars per year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on top of automatic merit, within the rule that total gift aid cannot exceed tuition and fees. Students who apply to both Ozanam and Catholic Scholars can only be selected for one and state their preference during the interview.
📄
How to Apply
After applying for admission, complete the Ozanam Scholars application via the student portal with essays and documentation of community service and social justice work; finalists are invited to interview.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $10,000 per year, renewable for the four-year program. Scholars keep a 3.0 GPA, live on campus their first year, complete a Social Justice minor (18 credits), meet service requirements, study abroad in Rome or Paris during sophomore year at their own expense, and finish a junior and senior capstone. Not open to Nursing, Actuarial Science, Biomedical Sciences, Toxicology, Radiology, or pre-med track majors.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year students with standout academics plus a real record of community service, social justice work, and leadership; the program enrolls a small, intensive cohort focused on community-based learning.
Layers on automatic merit within the tuition-and-fees cap. Cannot be held together with the Ozanam Scholars Program.
📄
How to Apply
After an admission application is on file, submit the Catholic Scholars application through the online applicant portal with the required essay and documentation of Catholic faith, service, and leadership.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $5,000 per year for four years for a small cohort of Catholic first-year students who commit to faith-based leadership training, service, and prayer. The Application Scholarships and Catholic Scholarships pages both list $5,000; the general scholarships overview lists $10,000, so confirm the amount in your award letter. Students entering a house of discernment, college seminary, or religious formation program are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year Catholic students with strong academics and a demonstrated record of faith-based service and leadership; the program selects a small cohort each year.
App Required
Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management (GSRM) Scholarships
📅 Deadline: April 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards based on annual GSRM funding. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on top of academic merit and other institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits.
📄
How to Apply
After being accepted into a GSRM undergraduate program, complete the GSRM scholarship application and submit all required materials; recipients are notified by email.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Limited number of school-funded scholarships offered to qualifying GSRM admits each year. Priority consideration goes to applications received by April 1. Specific dollar amounts are not published for undergraduates and vary by recipient.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted undergraduates entering a GSRM program (risk management, insurance, actuarial science) with strong academics; awards are limited and tied to GSRM's available funding each cycle.
App Required
Catholic Student Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No fixed deadline published; applications stay open through the student portal while funds last. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards based on availability. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers with St. John's academic merit and other institutional aid up to tuition and fee limits.
📄
How to Apply
Submit an admission application, then access and submit the Catholic Student Scholarship application through the online student portal; awards are offered based on availability.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Offers a limited number of awards (based on availability) to college-bound Catholic students regardless of secondary school type. The University does not publish a fixed dollar amount for this award; values are set in financial aid packaging.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
College-bound Catholic students who enroll at St. John's the semester after high school, including those graduating from non-Catholic high schools, with a record of ethical leadership.
App Required
Sister Helen Flynn Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards based on availability. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers with other institutional aid subject to availability and tuition/fee limits.
📄
How to Apply
Identify a sponsoring relative who holds a qualifying Notre Dame College or St. John's Staten Island/Queens campus degree, secure their recommendation letter, then submit the Sister Helen Flynn application through the student portal after applying for admission.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year sponsorship-based award honoring St. John's Staten Island legacy. Eligible sponsors include a living son, daughter, brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson, granddaughter, first cousin, second-generation cousin, son- or daughter-in-law, or any St. John's alum holding the qualifying degree. Limited number of awards based on availability.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students with a living relative who graduated from Notre Dame College (1933-1971), St. John's Staten Island campus (1972-2023), or Queens campus (2024), and who can sponsor the applicant with a recommendation letter.
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.
❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What does the Ozanam Scholars Program actually require?
About 25 first-years are picked each year for up to $10,000 a year. Scholars keep a 3.0 GPA, live on campus their first year, complete a Social Justice minor, do service projects, study abroad in Rome or Paris during sophomore year (at their own expense), and finish a capstone. Nursing, Actuarial Science, and pre-med track majors can’t apply.
How much is the Catholic Scholars Program worth?
St. John’s Catholic Scholarships and Application Scholarships pages both say $5,000 a year for four years, though the general scholarships page lists $10,000. Plan on $5,000 and confirm in the award letter. Students entering a seminary or religious formation program aren’t eligible.
Can my student apply to both Ozanam and Catholic Scholars?
Yes, but they can only be selected for one and will be asked to state a preference during the scholarship interview.
Who qualifies for the Sister Helen Flynn Scholarship?
It’s a four-year award for incoming first-years sponsored by a living relative who graduated from Notre Dame College (1933 to 1971), St. John’s Staten Island campus (1972 to 2023), or the Queens campus in a recent year. The sponsor writes a recommendation letter. The Benefactor Funds page lists a January 15 deadline.
Is there extra money for business students interested in insurance?
Yes. The Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management offers a limited number of scholarships to admitted risk management, insurance, and actuarial science students. Applications received by April 1 get priority.
Does my student need to go to Catholic school for the Catholic Student Scholarship?
No. It’s open to college-bound Catholic students from any high school, including public schools. Awards are limited and given while funds last, so apply through the student portal early.
🧠 Parent Strategy: St. John’s “Second Door” for Donor Money
Getting admitted gets your student the automatic awards. The donor scholarships live behind a second door: the
AcademicWorks scholarship portal.
File the FAFSA. Endowed funds require it, even ones that aren’t need-based.
Sign into the portal with the St. John’s login and finish the general application.
Search by your student’s major, high school, hometown, and family connections (alumni, veterans, police and fire).
Watch the dates. Most funds currently list December 1.
Parent translation: a lot of these are small and specific, which means very few people apply. A $1,500 award with ten applicants is a better bet than a $10,000 award with a thousand.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t automatic, and most need the FAFSA, a portfolio, or a short portal application. They’re worth the effort because they stack with merit right up to the tuition-and-fees cap.
App Required
Future Catholic Teachers Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Selective application through St. John's; no fixed date published. Ask Admission about the window as soon as the student applies. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Requires a four-year teaching commitment in Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic schools.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on automatic merit and other aid within the rule that total gift aid cannot exceed tuition and fees.
📄
How to Apply
Enroll in a St. John's teacher preparation program, apply for the scholarship, and sign the four-year teaching agreement if selected.
💡
Strategic Detail
$10,000 total, paid as $2,500 per year for four years, for students enrolled in a St. John's teacher preparation program. Recipients sign an agreement to teach at least four years in a Catholic school in the Diocese of Brooklyn right after graduation. The program began with the fall 2025 class.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Future teachers entering a St. John's education program who are ready to commit to four years of Catholic school teaching in Brooklyn or Queens.
App Required
Pascal and Yvette Desroches Expendable Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services (718-990-2000) after admission. Non-Renewable
$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Tobin freshmen from NYC or Long Island high schools only.
👥 ~Four awards per year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on automatic merit within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, then contact Student Financial Services to apply for expendable scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Four $2,500 annual scholarships for freshmen in the Peter J. Tobin College of Business who graduated from a public or Catholic high school in the five boroughs of New York City or on Long Island. Selection is based on need and/or academics. Renewal terms are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming Tobin business freshmen from New York City or Long Island high schools, public or Catholic.
App Required
John and Mary Greeley Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 (portal cycle) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ First-generation students with financial need.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on other aid within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, sign into stjohns.academicworks.com with St. John's credentials, complete the general application, and apply to this fund.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed scholarship for an entering freshman with financial need who is the first in their family to attend college. Amount varies with fund availability.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First-generation freshmen with documented financial need.
App Required
Fine Arts Scholarship (Department of Art and Design)
📅 Deadline: March 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ BFA applicants only; portfolio required.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on automatic merit within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to a BFA program and upload a portfolio through SlideRoom by March 1. If the portal shows "Awaiting" for more than two weeks, call Admission at 718-990-2000.
💡
Strategic Detail
Applicants to the BFA programs (Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration) are considered for the St. John's Fine Arts Scholarship when they submit a portfolio through SlideRoom by March 1. The department has described awarding four-year scholarships to first-year students with standout portfolios; amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: BFA applicants whose portfolios show strong technical skill and creative potential.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Magliano Family Expendable Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No published deadline. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services (718-990-2000). Non-Renewable
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Tobin students from NYC or Long Island Catholic high schools.
👥 ~One award per year. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on other aid within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA and contact Student Financial Services about expendable scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
One $1,500 annual scholarship for a Tobin College of Business undergraduate who graduated from a Catholic high school on Long Island or in New York City. Preference goes to graduates of Monsignor McClancy or St. Agnes Academic High School, and the donors prefer a first-generation student with a 3.3+ GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Tobin business students from NYC or Long Island Catholic high schools, especially McClancy or St. Agnes graduates.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Camera Family Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 (portal) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Children or grandchildren of St. John's alumni only.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on other aid within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, sign into stjohns.academicworks.com, complete the general application, and apply to this fund.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established for the children and grandchildren of St. John's alumni. Amount varies with fund availability.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children and grandchildren of St. John's graduates.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Veronica Smith Alumnae Association Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 15 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Immediate relatives of St. John's alumnae only.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on other aid within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through stjohns.academicworks.com with a FAFSA on file.
💡
Strategic Detail
For immediate relatives of St. John's alumnae, funded by the Alumnae Association. Renewable for up to four years if the student keeps meeting the academic criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Immediate relatives of women who graduated from St. John's.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Queens County American Legion Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 (portal cycle) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Descendants of wartime veterans or St. John's ROTC members.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Layers on other aid within the tuition-and-fees cap.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through stjohns.academicworks.com with a FAFSA on file and the veteran's service record.
💡
Strategic Detail
Partial, non-renewable awards for (a) a graduating high school senior living in Queens County, New York City, or New York State who is a lineal descendant of an honorably discharged veteran who served during a time of conflict (or died on active duty), with proof of service, or (b) a St. John's ROTC member, with preference for students past their first year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: New York seniors descended from wartime veterans, and St. John's ROTC cadets.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ROTC Scholarships
📅 Deadline: ROTC national deadlines in fall and winter, depending on board cycles. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition and stipend
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Set annually by the U.S. Army and ROTC command winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
ROTC awards can cover full tuition and provide a living stipend; institutional aid is coordinated so total resources do not exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for national or campus-based Army ROTC scholarships through ROTC boards, then enroll and contract with the ROTC detachment at St. John’s.
Selection criteria: Scored on academics, physical fitness, leadership, and interview performance by ROTC selection boards.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
ROTC scholarships are federal awards; St. John’s highlights them as a pathway to significant tuition coverage supplemented by monthly stipends.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens who meet ROTC academic, leadership, and physical fitness standards and commit to military service.
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
Is there scholarship money for future teachers at St. John’s?
Yes. The Future Catholic Teachers Scholarship pays $2,500 a year ($10,000 total) to students in a St. John’s teacher preparation program who agree to teach at least four years in a Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic school after graduating.
Are there awards just for business students from New York City or Long Island?
Two of them. The Desroches scholarship gives four $2,500 awards to Tobin business freshmen from NYC or Long Island high schools, public or Catholic. The Magliano Family scholarship gives $1,500 to a Tobin student from a Catholic high school in that area.
What if my student is the first in our family to go to college?
Look at the John and Mary Greeley Endowed Scholarship, which is set aside for an entering freshman with financial need who is first-generation. It’s applied through the AcademicWorks portal with a FAFSA on file.
Do art students get scholarships?
Yes. BFA applicants in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or Illustration are considered for the Fine Arts Scholarship if their portfolio is uploaded through SlideRoom by March 1. St. John’s doesn’t publish the amounts.
We’re a St. John’s family. Is there legacy money?
Yes. The Camera Family Legacy Scholarship is for children and grandchildren of alumni, and the Veronica Smith Alumnae scholarship is for immediate relatives of St. John’s alumnae. The Sister Helen Flynn scholarship (in the competitive section) also needs an alumni sponsor.
How will we know if my student won one of these?
Watch the St. John’s email account and the financial aid package. Recipients of donor scholarships are also asked to write a thank-you letter to the donor, so don’t skip that step.
St. John’s has a University Honors Program, not a separate honors college. You don’t apply to it up front. After your student is accepted, St. John’s invites eligible first-years to fill out a short honors application, and selection looks at high school GPA, course rigor, and test scores if they were submitted.
Size: About 240 first-years join each fall, roughly 800 students total
Requirements: 30 honors credits (mostly inside the core curriculum) and a 3.3 GPA
Perks: Classes capped around 25, an honors-only lounge, an honors section of Donovan Hall, and free outings to museums, off-Broadway theater, and the New York City Ballet
Business majors: Tobin students go through the separate Thomas J. Cox Jr. Honors Program
Honors Program Scholarships
App Required
University Honors Program
📅 Deadline: Invitations are issued after acceptance; complete the Honors application promptly to secure a seat for the fall cohort. ✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Approximately 240 incoming first-year seats each fall. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors provides an academic and community experience rather than a standalone tuition award; participants receive St. John's regular academic merit on top of Honors membership.
📄
How to Apply
After being accepted to St. John's, eligible first-year students are invited to complete a short Honors application; selection draws on high school GPA, course rigor, and standardized test scores when submitted.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors students complete 30 credits of honors-designated courses (mostly inside the core curriculum), maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3, and gain access to small honors seminars, the Honors Commons, a residential option in Donovan Hall, and cultural programming. The University specifies that no scholarships are awarded exclusively to honors students; merit funding comes from standard academic awards.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Roughly 240 incoming first-year students each fall (about 800 students total in the program) with high academic profiles in St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Collins College of Professional Studies, School of Education and Human Services, or the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; business majors join through Tobin's separate Thomas J. Cox Jr. Honors Program.
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.
St. John’s is upfront about this: there are no scholarships just for honors students. Honors students get the same automatic merit as everyone else, so the program’s value is the experience, not the money.
Timing Note: Joining as a first-year is the way in. St. John’s says it rarely approves students joining after freshman year, so watch for the invitation after acceptance and answer it quickly.
Where the Extra Money Actually Is
Mission programs: Ozanam Scholars (up to $10,000 a year) or Catholic Scholars ($5,000 a year). Several honors students hold one of these too.
Risk management: GSRM scholarships for insurance and actuarial students.
Art: Portfolio-based Fine Arts Scholarship, portfolio due March 1.
Teaching: Future Catholic Teachers, $2,500 a year with a teaching commitment.
Honors Program FAQs (St. John’s University)
How does my student get into the St. John’s Honors Program?
St. John’s reviews every admitted first-year. Eligible students get an invitation to complete a short honors application. Students who aren’t invited can contact the Honors Office before enrolling to ask about an exception.
Does the Honors Program come with a scholarship?
No. St. John’s states there are no scholarships awarded only to honors students. Merit comes from the regular automatic review.
Are honors classes harder?
Not necessarily. St. John’s says they’re smaller and go deeper, with more discussion, rather than simply adding more work.
Can business or pharmacy students be in honors?
Pharmacy, liberal arts, education, and professional studies students join the University Honors Program. Business students join the Cox Honors Program in the Tobin College of Business instead.
What does my student get at the end?
Students who finish 30 honors credits get an honors certificate, an honors designation on the transcript and diploma, and recognition in the commencement booklet.
St. John’s is a career-minded school. Most students come for a specific path (business, pharmacy, law enforcement, teaching) and the university is built around getting them there, with New York City as the internship market next door.
It’s also a school with a clear mission. The Catholic and Vincentian focus on service shows up everywhere, from scholarships to required service in programs like Ozanam.
Nationally Known Program: Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science. Part of the Tobin College of Business, it grew out of The College of Insurance, which merged with St. John’s in 2001. It’s one of the few places a teenager can study insurance and actuarial science with direct ties to New York’s insurance industry, and it has its own scholarships.
Tobin College of Business: Accounting, finance, marketing, and management, with Manhattan close enough for real internships during the school year. Note the extra tuition in years three and four.
Pharmacy and Health Sciences: A six-year Pharm.D. that students enter straight out of high school, plus health programs like physician assistant studies and toxicology.
Criminal Justice and Homeland Security: Through the Collins College of Professional Studies, with combined bachelor’s and master’s options and faculty who’ve worked in law enforcement.
Education: A long track record of training New York teachers, now with the Future Catholic Teachers scholarship for students who want to teach in Brooklyn and Queens Catholic schools.
Study abroad: St. John’s runs its own locations in Rome and Paris, which is why programs like Ozanam and Catholic Scholars can build a semester abroad right into the plan.
🔗 Official St. John’s University Links
Use St. John’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, and costs. Some St. John’s pages update on different schedules, so when two pages disagree, call the office listed and get it in writing.
Here’s St. John’s in a nutshell: it’s a school that wants to say yes. Most students get in, almost everyone gets reviewed for merit automatically, and the awards are big enough to cut tuition by more than half. Stack a Catholic high school award, a service award, or a mission program like Ozanam on top, and the tuition bill can get small.
The catch is the line St. John’s draws at tuition and fees. Housing in Queens runs about $22,000 a year, and no scholarship touches it. That’s why St. John’s is a great deal for commuters and families within reach of Queens, and a much harder sell for a student who needs to live on campus with no family help. Run the net price calculator with your student living on campus and at home, and compare the two numbers before you fall in love.
If St. John’s is on the list: apply Early Action by December 1, fill in the parent occupation field, file the FAFSA early, and spend one evening in the AcademicWorks portal. That’s where the quiet money is.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
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Leo founded CollegeReadyParent after working through the college cost maze with his own daughter. He writes plain-English guides for middle-income and first-generation families, with no paywall and no lead forms.
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