Loyola University Merit Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

Funding a college education is a significant undertaking, and Loyola University Chicago offers a variety of merit-based scholarships to recognize and reward the academic accomplishments of its students. These scholarships, unlike loans, do not require repayment, making them a valuable resource for students seeking to finance their education. Loyola's merit scholarships are made possible through the generous contributions of many benefactors who believe in the value of a Loyola education.

Automatic Consideration for Merit Scholarships

Many LMU-sponsored scholarship awards are automatically considered alongside your application for admission. When you apply for admission to Loyola University Chicago, you are automatically considered for merit scholarships. No separate scholarship application is required for these awards. The scholarships are awarded to academically qualified students entering Fall 2025 based on information provided in the admission application process, without regard to financial need.

These merit scholarships range from $14,000 to $31,000 per year and are competitively awarded based on outstanding academic achievement. You will be notified if you have received an initial merit scholarship in your acceptance letter.

Eligibility Criteria

All first-year and enrolling transfer students are eligible for these scholarships. Selection is based on academic accomplishment, which may include one or more of the following factors:

GPA
Rigor of college prep curriculum
Class standing
Standardized test scores

Full-time enrollment (12-18 units at Loyola Marymount University) is required each semester to receive these awards. All awards may be adjusted if you receive additional federal, state, or institutional aid after your scholarship is awarded.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

After being admitted, you may be invited to apply for additional special scholarships ranging from $2,500 to full tuition. Loyola also recognizes talented students through a variety of other scholarships that are awarded without consideration of financial need.

Specific Scholarships

Here are some specific scholarships offered by Loyola University Chicago:

Presidential, Damen, Loyola, Trustee, Dean and Regent's Scholarships: These tuition-restricted scholarships are awarded to academically qualified students entering Fall 2025 based on information provided in the admission application process, without regard to financial need.
Catholic Heritage Award: This award is made to new freshmen graduating from a Catholic high school within the Archdiocese of Chicago or the Diocese of Joliet. It is awarded for four years of consecutive, full-time enrollment and is restricted to tuition.
Mulcahy Scholars Program: This program offers students the opportunity to work closely with faculty on projects of scholarly significance that reflect the diversity of academic activity throughout the College of Arts and Sciences.
Cristo Rey Scholars Program: Students attending Cristo Rey Network schools around the country are invited to apply to join the next class of Cristo Rey Scholars at Loyola University Chicago.
Gannon Scholars Leadership Program: Ten $8,000 scholarships are awarded annually to students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, scholarship, and service and who will advance the mission of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership. The scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on successful participation in the program.
Martin J. Svaglic Humanities Scholarship: Two scholarships will be awarded to qualified new freshman or transfer students who have been admitted into one the following areas in the humanities: Art History, Fine and Performing Arts majors, Classical Studies, Dance, English and Creative Writing, Fine and Performing Arts majors, French, History, Italian, Latin, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish, Theatre, Theology and Visual Communications. Prospective candidates must have a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Ignatian Scholarship: The Ignatian Scholarship is an invite-only full tuition scholarship awarded in the freshman year. The scholarship is renewable based on the criteria in the Scholarship Renewal Policy.
Immaculata High School Scholarship: Scholarships are available to alumnae of Immaculata High School of Chicago or families of Immaculata High School of Chicago alumnae. Eligible family members include: children, stepchildren, adopted children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren of Immaculata High School of Chicago alumnae and also descendants of spouses of alumnae. Awards vary and are based on financial need.
James Wesley White, Jr. Scholarship Fund: Current sophomores and juniors majoring in theatre are eligible to apply for the $2000 scholarship.
Jesuit High School Scholarship: These half tuition scholarships are awarded to one student from each Jesuit, B.V.M., Sisters of Christian Charity high school in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Candidates must have at least a 3.0 gpa on a 4.0 gpa scale and must be nominated by their high school principal or their designate (one nomination per school).
National Merit Scholarship: One full-tuition scholarship is available to students who have been named National Merit/National Achievement finalists by the National Merit Corporation.
Rachel Carson Scholarship: This scholarship provides the opportunity for students to learn about nature by studying in nature through summer coursework at Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC). Four $2,500 per year scholarships will be awarded for up to four years each to qualified new freshman or transfer students who have been admitted into the Institute of Environmental Sustainability (IES).
School of Education Scholarship: Two half-tuition scholarships are offered to incoming freshman entering the School of Education.
Senn High School Scholarship: Loyola University Chicago offers five awards of varying amounts via a selective process to admitted students from Senn High School.
Wm. Zolp Scholarship: The Wm. Zolp Scholarship is an endowed scholarship available to pay toward tuition to any Catholic student by the last name of Zolp who attends Loyola University Chicago.
SIM Chicago Scholarship: This scholarship offers up to $2,500 per year for two years. Preference will be given to students who are entering their sophomore year or above, who have declared a major in a computer science related field and who demonstrate financial need.

Application Process for Specific Scholarships

For scholarships that require a separate application, it is essential to adhere to the specified deadlines and provide all necessary documentation. For example, completed applications for the Cristo Rey Scholars Program must be submitted by Monday, March 3rd, 2025. The Martin J. Svaglic Humanities Scholarship application is due March 3rd. The Rachel Carson Scholarship application is due March 3rd, 2025. The deadline for the School of Education Scholarship application is Monday, March 3, 2025. Prospective candidates for the Wm. Zolp Scholarship must be admitted to Loyola by February 1st.

External Scholarships

In addition to Loyola's merit scholarships, students can also apply for scholarships offered by organizations outside of Loyola. Many students receive scholarships from organizations that they or their family are associated with. These outside scholarship awards range from small dollar amounts to potentially covering a full tuition bill. These scholarships are offered by various organizations, including federal and state governments, high schools, religious groups, and professional associations. Scholarship searches should be free; any external scholarship service that requires a fee is probably not a valid resource.

Other Forms of Financial Aid

Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will mean you’re considered for government aid in the form of grants (which do not have to be repaid) and/or loans. The earliest you can begin the FAFSA is October 1st in the year prior (i.e. October 1, 2024 for the 2025-2026 academic year). The form is free and available online at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA will ask for a school code.

Read also: ACT Scores for Loyola

The Department of Education will calculate your financial need, known as your Student Aid Index or SAI. Loyola will use that to determine your financial aid award. We will then send you an award letter listing student aid you may be eligible to receive. The award letter will include merit scholarships you may have already received along with a list of any federal loans, grants, and work study available to you.

Cost of Attendance

Your estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) will be in your financial aid award in LOCUS. Loyola’s financial aid awards may not cover the entire cost of attendance. It's your responsibility to secure additional financing for expenses that are not covered by scholarships, grants, or federal student loans.

Scholarship Renewal Policy

Many scholarships are renewable for subsequent years of study, provided that the student meets certain academic criteria. For example, National Merit scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for renewal.

ROTC Scholarships

Loyola University Maryland also offers ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) scholarships for students interested in military service. These scholarships are available through the Army ROTC program.

Army ROTC Scholarships

Army ROTC scholarships are available for qualified students who are interested in serving as officers in the United States Army after graduation. These scholarships cover full tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Additionally, students receive a monthly stipend, which increases each year: $300 for first year, $350 sophomore year, $450 junior year and $500 senior year. Students receiving ROTC scholarships also receive additional grant assistance funded by Loyola University.

Read also: Academics at Loyola University

High school students may apply for a four-year scholarship, while college students may apply for a two-year scholarship. Students must be enrolled in a military science class in order to compete for a campus-based scholarship. These scholarships cover the same expenses as the national scholarships.

Maryland State Scholarships and Grants

Maryland residents attending Loyola University Maryland may also be eligible for state-funded scholarships and grants.

Senatorial and Delegate Scholarships

Each state senator and delegate in Maryland has the opportunity to award scholarships to residents of their senatorial or legislative district. The maximum award for a senatorial scholarship is $2,000 per year per student. The value of a delegate scholarship is determined by the delegate, who may select students on any basis. Students should apply by March 1 for the year the award is to begin.

Guaranteed Access Grant

The Guaranteed Access Grant is a need-based grant for Maryland residents. Any student whose family income is at or below 130% of the Federal poverty level is eligible to apply for a Guaranteed Access Grant. Awards are made based on the total family income and high school grade point average. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 and submit any additional required documents. Loyola University participates in the Guaranteed Access Partnership (GAPP).

Educational Assistance Grant

The Educational Assistance Grant is another need-based grant for Maryland residents. The grant amount ranges up to $3,000 per year and is based upon the student's demonstrated financial need. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in one of the eligible, degree-granting institutions in the State of Maryland.

Marion Burk Knott Scholarship and Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Scholarship

The Marion Burk Knott Scholarship and the Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Scholarship are scholarships for qualified sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are residents of their senatorial district. These scholarships provide tuition assistance, renewable annually. Recipients of either scholarship must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Priority in the evaluation process is given to students in the Archdiocese of Baltimore who are most deserving of assistance because of academic merit.

General Scholarship Application

To be considered for many scholarships, students are encouraged to complete the General Scholarship Application.

Maintaining Scholarship Eligibility

To maintain scholarship eligibility, students must adhere to certain requirements.

Full-Time Enrollment

Students must maintain full-time enrollment to remain eligible for most merit-based scholarships. If a student drops below full-time enrollment after the add/drop date for the semester and receives an adjustment to their tuition, the scholarship amount will be pro-rated to cover the same percentage of charged tuition as if the student were enrolled full-time. Seniors who are in their final term of enrollment and do not need to be enrolled full-time may request the renewal of their merit-based scholarship.

Study Abroad and Gap Semesters

Students who choose to study abroad (excluding the John Felice Rome Center, and any other exchange programs) or attend another institution through a consortium agreement, forfeit scholarship eligibility for the term(s) away. If a student wishes to take a gap semester and credits are not taken elsewhere, they may notify the Financial Aid Office upon their return to have the scholarship reinstated. Students who take courses elsewhere or do not attend Loyola for a full year will work with the Admission Office to determine their scholarship status.

Additional Information

All forms of student financial assistance must be processed by the Financial Aid Office and posted via the student account. An award made to a student is subject to federal Cost of Attendance regulations and guidelines. The Financial Aid Office works closely with the college/department office to ensure award information is shared correctly with the student.

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