University Admissions

Scholarships for Freshman Students

You should be able to focus on your education, not how you are going to pay for it. Scholarships are a great way to help pay for your education. Benedictine offers several scholarships to help meet the financial needs of our students.

To complete an application, visit www.ben.edu/apply. If you have questions about your pending application, you can contact admissions@ben.edu or (630) 829-6300.

Academic/Merit Based Scholarships

Benedictine Academic Scholar Award – Awards range from $10,000 - $16,000 per year

Eligibility: Benedictine recognizes high school student achievement by awarding all admitted freshman students a merit-based scholarship based on a student’s high school cumulative GPA.

Affinity Scholarships

Catholic High School Award – $3,000 award per year

Eligibility: Awarded to an admitted student that is a graduate of a catholic high school.

Out of State Award -- $3,000 award per year

Eligibility: Awarded to an admitted student that has permeant residence outside of the state of Illinois. A student receiving this award is also required to live in on-campus housing (Ondrak Hall, Jaeger Hall, or Founders’ Woods Apartments).

Family Recognition Award -- $2,000 award per year

Eligibility: Awarded to an admitted student that has a parent(s), grandparent(s), or sibling that is a degreed alumnus of Benedictine, or has a current sibling enrolled at Benedictine University.

Admitted Student Day Award -- $1,000 award per year

Eligibility: Awarded to an admitted freshman student at the time of their admittance to Benedictine University and officially received upon attending an in-person or virtual Admitted Student Day programming.

Need Based Awarding

All incoming students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and are admitted to Benedictine University will be reviewed and considered for need-based assistance through a demonstrated calculation for financial need. Students eligible for this awarding would receive the New Benedictine Need Award.

Application Based Scholarship Opportunities

Music Scholarship – Up to $6,000 award per year.

Eligibility: Successful completion of a music audition with the Department of Music, along with a declared major or minor in Music.

Scholars Program -- $22,400 award per year.

Eligibility: Incoming students who meet academic criteria are eligible to apply for the University Scholars Program. Application can occur at: The Scholars Program. A student that meets application requirements, has a successful interview and offered a position in the Scholars Program receive this award amount. Please note, an individual that receives our Scholars Program award is no longer eligible to receive their Benedictine Academic Scholar Award. This award has set criteria for it to be renewed on an annual basis.

L.E.A.D.S Scholarship -- $2,000 award per year

Eligibility: Incoming female freshman admitted to Benedictine University are eligible to apply for this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded based on successful application, interview and acceptance to the program. Application can occur at: LEADS. This award has set criteria for it to be renewed on an annual basis.

Belong Scholarship Program -- $2,000 award per year.

Eligibility: Incoming freshman admitted to Benedictine University that meet scholarship criteria are eligible to receive this award based on a successful application and review of scholarship committee. Application can occur at: The Belong Scholarship Program- First Year Freshman. This award has set criteria for it to be renewed on an annual basis.

College of Science and Health Scholarships -- $2,000 award per year.

Eligibility: Incoming freshman admitted to Benedictine University that meet a set academic criterion are eligible to apply for our three College of Science and Health Scholarships. Students who receive these awards is based on successful application and review of scholarship committee. Application can be made for all three scholarships if criteria is met. Each scholarship is a $2,000 award per year and renewal of the award is reviewed on annual basis.

Please Note

Institutional Scholarships and Awards:

  • During the admission process and upon your acceptance a student is offered Institutional Scholarships and Awards.
  • All Institutional Scholarships and Awards are considered Gift Aid (not to be paid back) and offered to eligible students enrolled in a traditional undergraduate program for the fall and spring semesters only and offered based on full-time enrollment for each semester.
  • Institutional Scholarships and Awards are renewable each year as long as a student remains continuously enrolled and maintains satisfactory academic progress (SAP).  Please note for application based scholarships and/or awards, additional requirements may be required for those types of aid to be renewable.
  • Institutional Scholarships and Awards are designated for tuition only.
  • A student that chooses to not enroll in a traditional undergraduate program as a full-time student (less than 12 credit hours per semester) will receive a pro-rated amount on their Institutional Scholarships and Awards.
  • The Tuition Exchange and Tuition Remission programs are mutually exclusive and are not combined with Institutional Scholarships and Awards.
  • The Scholars Program is mutually exclusive and a student accepted to the program becomes no longer eligible for their Academic/Merit Based Scholarships.

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