First-Year Scholarships

To apply for an Aquinas scholarship, please submit an application for admission to Aquinas College. You will automatically be considered for all scholarships that you qualify for by the Aquinas College Scholarship Committee. Be sure to send an official transcript and test scores in with your application. Aquinas will also need verification of your valedictorian status from your guidance counselor.

If you would like to see if you qualify for need-based financial assistance, be sure to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available to be filed in December.

Fall 2024 Scholarship Matrix for First-Year Students

The Aquinas Academic Scholarship for 2024-2025. Your GPA based on a 4.0 Scale compared to your Guaranteed Minimum Yearly Academic Scholarship. 3.95+ equals $25,000, 3.80 to 3.94 equals $23,000. 3.30 5o 3.79 equals $21,000. 3.0 to 3.29 equals $18,000. Under 3.00 equals $15,000

Merit scholarships are guaranteed all four years as long as a student is enrolled full-time and maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Spectrum of Scholarships Program

Aquinas College has an innovative scholarship program, for incoming traditional-aged undergraduates, called the "Spectrum of Scholarships Program." Scholarships are merit-based and recognize an array of students who have excelled in academics, leadership, athletics or community service. Aquinas recognizes these exceptional students with awards ranging from $15,000-$25,000. With the exception of the competition scholarships, there are no minimum or maximum number of institutional scholarships awarded.

Spectrum of Scholarships Competition:

By Invitation Only.

We’re awarding 125 scholarships to the best and brightest applicants at our annual Spectrum of Scholarships Competition.

Each year the top performer in our annual Spectrum of Scholarships Competition for incoming first-year students will receive this full-tuition award and room scholarship. This scholarship is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition to be held during their senior year. Recipients of the Jerome C. Byrne award are automatically admitted into our Insignis Honors Program. This scholarship supercedes the prior merit scholarship the student receives.

Each year one outstanding incoming first-year student will receive this full-tuition scholarship. This scholarship is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition during their senior year. Recipients of the John E. Veneklassen award are automatically admitted into our Insignis Honors Program. This scholarship supersedes the prior merit scholarship the student receives.

Each year three excellent incoming first-year students will receive this full-tuition scholarship. This scholarship is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition during their senior year. Recipients of the R. Paul Nelson award are automatically admitted into our Insignis Honors Program. This scholarship supercedes the prior merit scholarship the student receives.

Each year 10 outstanding incoming first-year students will receive this award. This award is valued at $2,000 annually and is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition during their senior year. Candidates must place between 6th and 15th in the competition.

Each year 15 outstanding incoming first-year students will receive this award. This award is valued at $1,000 annually and is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition during their senior year. Candidates must place between 16th and 30th in the competition.

Each year 100 outstanding incoming first-year students will receive this award. This award is valued at $500 annually and is renewable by maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and full time enrollment each semester. Candidates are required to attend an on-campus competition during their senior year. Candidates must place between 31st and 125th in the competition.

Academic Scholarships

A $1,000 merit scholarship for high school valedictorians and/or National Merit Semifinalist. All students who will graduate as the valedictorian of their class as well as all students who have been named National Merit Semifinalist will receive this scholarship.

This scholarship goes above and beyond Aquinas' Spectrum ofScholarships Program. For example, you may receive a Merit Scholarship for $18,000 or $20,000, plus this scholarship for an additional $1,000, for a total of $19,000 or $21,000 in merit-based scholarship money from Aquinas. The only scholarships that supersede this award are the Jerome C. Byrne, the John E. Veneklasen and the R. Paul Nelson Full Tuition Scholarships.

This scholarship is renewable for up to five years provided the student maintain a 3.0 grade-point average at Aquinas and submit a letter at the end of each school year detailing his or her service and volunteerism in their community, family and/or at Aquinas College.

Aquinas will also need verification of your valedictorian status from your guidance counselor.