Federal Pell Grant Program

This is a Federal grant for students demonstrating exceptional financial need and accepted/enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Application for Federal Pell Grants may be made by submitting an initial FAFSA or a Renewal FAFSA. Part time students may be eligible for Pell grants.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

This is a Federal grant administered by the educational institution based on financial need. Only undergraduate degree candidates are eligible. All Villanova students must complete the VU application and an initial FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA to be considered for the program.

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

Federal ACG provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. The program is available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. Federal Pell Grant recipients who meet the requirements for the Federal ACG program will be notified during the academic year of their eligibility.

If you can answer YES to all of the following questions, you may potentially be eligible to receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant.

1. Are you a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen?
2. Did you graduate from high school after January 1, 2006?
3. Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
4. Will you be enrolled at least half-time or second year student in a two-year or four-year degree program?

If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant. However, you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid.

Federal National Science and Mathematics Access To Retain Talent Grant (National Smart Grant)

National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major each term. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

To be eligible to receive a National SMART Grant, you must be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:

1. Are you a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen?
2. Are you eligible to receive a Pell Grant?
3. Are you enrolled at least Part-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program?
4. Do you have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average?

Are you currently enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies?   Click here for a complete list of eligible majors http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/GENO615Attach1.pdf

If you could not answer YES to all of the above questions, you do not qualify to receive a National SMART Grant.  Hoever you may still qualify to receive other types of federal student financial aid.

If you answered YES to all of the above questions and you have already submitted a FAFSA form, please contact the Financial Aid Office to identify yourself as a potentially eligible student.

PHEAA Grant

A Pennsylvania State Grant based on financial need for students and their parents who qualify as Pennsylvania state residents and who are accepted/enrolled in an undergraduate program and enroll for at least six credits each semester. For State Grant consideration, students are required to file either an initial FAFSA or a Renewal FAFSA by May 1. Additional information on the Pennsylvania State Grant can be found at www.pheaa.org.

Other State Grants

Certain states allow residents to take their state grants into Pennsylvania for study at Villanova. Students are responsible for checking with the respective State Higher Education Agency as to the correct application necessary for state grant consideration.

Presidential Scholarship  

Villanova University seeks to attract academic, civic, and culture leaders who represent diverse intellectual, social, racial, and economic backgrounds, including those from families in which few or no members have attended college.  Successful candidates are awarded this renewable scholarship, which covers tuition, general fee, room, board and books for eight consecutive semesters.  (NOTE: This scholarship only is applicable to the University’s General Fee.  All other fees are the responsibility of the student.  A student’s eligibility for Federal and/or State grant dollars may be applied to these fees.)

Students must be nominated by the chief academic officer of their high school (principal, president, headmaster), an official school designee or a representative from a non-profit educational organization. Nominees will be expected to show evidence of superior academic performance as reflected by their high level of achievement on the SAT or ACT.

The Presidential Scholarship valued at full tuition, room, board and book charges, is awarded to students who have demonstrated academic achievement and active participation in their school and the broader civic community. The average unweighted high school grade point average of candidates selected as finalists for the Presidential Scholarship in the Fall 2009 entering freshman class was 4.23 (on a 4.0 scale) and the average combined SAT score (Critical Reading and Math) was 1460 with ACT scores that were similar in competitiveness.   A total of 21 Presidential Scholarships totaling $803,040 were offered to first-year candidates for the 2009-10 academic year.

Additionally, each year, a number of historically underrepresented students who have demonstrated leadership in their ability to make significant contributions to the academic and social cultures within their schools and communities are awarded Presidential Scholarship. In addition to tuition, the cost of textbooks and room and board charges (up to the 19 meals-per-week plan) for eight consecutive semesters also will be included. A total of six scholarships totaling $287,399 were offered to first-year-candidates for the 2009-10 academic year.

For more information regarding the Presidential Scholarship Program and the nomination process, visit the following websites: www.villanova.edu/uga and www.multiculturalaffairs.villanova.edu. For more information regarding the Program's particular commitment to enrolling underrepresented students, contact the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at (610) 519-4075.

Villanova Scholarship

Each year candidates to each of the four colleges (Liberal Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and the Villanova School of Business) are reviewed by a scholarship committee in order to identify recipients of the Villanova Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic achievement with a preference given to students who have a demonstrated financial need .  This competitive program provides partial tuition scholarships that are renewable for a total of eight regular semesters. Based on the most recent applicant pool (students enrolling as freshmen in the Fall, 2009 semester), scholarship candidates will need to achieve a combined minimum of 1350 on the mathematics and critical reading or verbal portions of the SAT (with a minimum score of 650 in each of the portions of the test) or an ACT composite score of 31 and have a grade point average of at least a 3.80 on a 4.0 scale to be eligible for consideration. All grade point averages are taken cumulatively from the end of the sixth semester, and all SAT or ACT scores must be received by January 7. For the 2009-2010 academic year, 1,776 prospective students were offered more than $9.8 million through the Villanova Scholars program. Recipients of the scholarship will be notified on or before April 1.  

Commuter Scholarship

Partial tuition scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding students commuting from their families' homes that have demonstrated superior academic achievement and have exemplary SAT or ACT scores with a preference given to students who have a demonstrated financial need.  Candidates for the Commuter Scholarship must apply to the University as commuting students to be eligible for consideration.  Awards totaling $438,000 were offered to 34 prospective students for the 2009-2010 academic year. A scholarship committee reviews qualified applicants, and recipients will be notified on or before April 1.
 

Academic Scholarships

Each year, the University received applications for admission from a group of gifted and talented individuals. In determining the ways in which the University will award financial assistance, a priority is placed on providing support on the basis of a student's demonstrated financial need. In the 2009-10 academic year, 80% of the University's financial aid dollars available to all undergraduate students were awarded primarily on the basis of financial need.

In addition to need-based financial aid, the University provides financial assistance on the basis of student's academic achievements and their proven leadership and participation in activities outside of the classroom, in both their school and community; the University has a particular commitment to enrolling academic and civic leaders who are traditionally underrepresented on college campuses (e.g., low income, first generation and multicultural students.)

Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund

The Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund has been instituted for the purpose of providing need-based scholarship assistance to those who have extensive personal interest, involvement, and experience in the Hispanic/Latino culture.  The award is made to students whose families currently reside in the United States, who come from communities or populations that have been historically underrepresented in the student body at Villanova, who have demonstrated financial need and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.  This award valued at $12,500 per year will be granted to an entering freshman.  This scholarship is renewable for a total of eight consecutive regular semesters. Returning undergraduate students will be considered for scholarship renewal on the basis of their academic performance and financial need. In order to apply for the scholarship, candidates must complete a Villanova University Preliminary Application and Common Application for Undergraduate Admission, which must be received in our office no later than January 7, 2010. In addition, candidates must complete a Goizueta Scholarship application and submit it to the Office of University Admission by February 7, 2010.  The selection committee will review qualified applicants and will notify the recipient by April 1, 2010.

Villanova National Merit Scholarship

These awards, ranging from $500 to $2,000, are offered to top students who are designated as finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and who selected Villanova University as their first college choice. Eight accepted students were offered awards through the Villanova National Merit Scholarship program for 2009-2010.

Air Force ROTC/Villanova Scholar

Level 2 scholarship recipients who meet academic qualifications set by the University may be nominated by the Air Force to have their Level 2 scholarship awarded by the United States Air Force, raised to Level 1, and meet the full cost of tuition by means of state and federal grants and University funds. Up to five awards are made annually to entering freshmen selected by the University from those who are nominated by the Air Force. The student is responsible for the first year base through federal, state and family resources.

Army ROTC/Villanova Scholar

For selected Army ROTC award recipients, Villanova grants up to five scholarships. Villanova University agrees to fund U.S. Army scholarship winners with an amount not to exceed $5,000 to be used for University room and board charges.

Naval ROTC/Villanova Scholar

The University provides grants to NROTC scholarship recipients who are designated by the Navy. Traditionally underrepresented students who have been awarded a three-year NROTC award will receive a full tuition scholarship from the University for their freshmen year. Villanova also awards up to four partial scholarships annually to NROTC Scholarship recipients. These partial scholarships may be applied toward room or board expenses incurred at Villanova.

All scholarship recipients are required to complete the CSS PROFILE and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Funds received by the student from federal and state grant programs will be combined with University funds to equal the scholarship amount.