Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts is committed to making it possible for all eligible students to have access to a truly Catholic, collegiate liberal education. We are aware that financial need is a leading deterrent for students who desire a great education, but feel it is unattainable without entering a lifetime of debt. Magdalen College is devoted to minimizing this circumstance. We aim to achieve this by administering federal, state, and institutional assistance. The following description outlines the various types of financial aid and how aid is calculated. Contact the admissions office at [email protected] or 603-456-2656 to learn more about your eligibility for financial aid.
The Presidential Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship. This highly competitive four-year scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman whose application displays exemplary academic and extracurricular achievement. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter along with their application indicating their desire to be considered for this scholarship. Finalists for the Presidential Scholarship will participate in a phone interview with the Academic Dean to determine the winner.
Recipients of the college’s Presidential Scholarship must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.4 during their four years and must participate in the college’s Honors Program.
The Presidential Scholarship is offered as part of the total financial aid package, not in addition to it. Any student who wins the Presidential Scholarship will only be eligible for need-based aid.
To be considered for the Presidential Scholarship, applicants must have completed all components of the application by February 1. A cover letter stating the intent to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship must also be part of the application.
The Benedict of Norcia Scholarship is an $8,000 per year scholarship awarded to new applicants for the Fall 2020 Term. Prospective students must submit and complete their application by June 1st in order to be eligible. Accepted students must then submit their $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit by July 1, 2020, in order to receive this award. The Benedict of Norcia Scholarship is offered as part of the total financial aid package and recipients may also be eligible to receive other financial aid. To learn more about the college’s Rome-Krakow-Norcia program, please visit: Sophomore Study Abroad Program.
The Cardinal Newman Scholarship is a four-year, essay-based scholarship awarded to encourage further academic achievement and outstanding leadership once the student enrolls at Magdalen. Students must submit their completed application and a copy of the essay they submitted to the Newman Society 2020 Essay Contest, or one based on the life or teachings of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman. (This essay is in lieu of, not in addition to, the usually requested application essay.) Up to six recipients will be chosen and scholarships will be awarded per the following:
One award of $3,000 per year
Two awards of $2,000 per year
Three awards of $1,000 per year
In addition, Magdalen College offers a matching grant to the winner of the Newman Society 2020 Essay Contest. The winner is invited to apply to Magdalen College and upon acceptance and enrollment for the Fall 2020 term, will be awarded $5,000 for each of the student’s three additional years at the college. Please visit the Newman Society for more information on their essay contest.
Work Study GrantsWork study awards are available to all eligible returning students. There are placement opportunities in various departments. Incoming freshmen may inquire with the admissions office for a special request to participate in the work study program.
This scholarship is a need-based award offered to both incoming freshman and upperclassman from the Magdalen College Scholarship Fund. Eligibility is determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
Magdalen College has partnered with Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary FSSP in Denton, Nebraska to offer the Our Lady of Guadalupe Scholarship to students recommended by the Seminary for pre-seminary studies at the College. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information about this award.
Homeschool AwardMagdalen College recognizes that the academic calendar of homeschool students can be different from that followed by a public or private school. This award is designed for homeschooled students who did not apply by the Early Decision Scholarship deadline. Recipients of this award will receive a $3,000 per year discount, totaling $12,000 over four years.
The Classical Learning Award is a $3,000 per year award ($12,000 over four years), designed to encourage students with a strong classical learning background to apply to Magdalen College. This Special Award is given based on evidence of the student’s classical high school education. Transcripts expressing a classical curriculum or CLT scores submitted at the time of the student’s application will indicate if the student is eligible for this scholarship.
In recognition of the excellent education offered by Kolbe Academy, Magdalen College is pleased to offer all Kolbe Academy seniors, graduating with a B average or above, a $1,000 per year award.
All sibling applicants of current and former students, and all children of our Alumni, will receive a $2,000 per year scholarship.
The Dignitas Scholarship is a $1,000 per year, four-year scholarship that is designed to form students in the life-long integration of pro-life work and service to the poor. In addition to the scholarship funds, the Dignitas Scholarship also covers expenses for one immersion trip. The total estimated value of this scholarship is $5,000 over a four-year period.
SelectionDignitas scholars are selected based on an interview conducted by the Admissions Office and the Student-Leader of the scholarship program. Interested students should contact the Admissions Office to schedule an interview, which can be held in person or by telephone.
Students who are awarded this scholarship must complete eight hours of formation and twelve hours of community service per year as well as attend one service trip over the course of four years. Dignitas Scholars will be required to complete a project portfolio at the end of the four years.
The Sister Lucia dos Santos Scholarship is a $3,000 one-year scholarship given to an incoming male freshman and graduate of a Catholic high school. This scholarship is to serve as a catalyst in encouraging men with a vocation to the priesthood. Please contact the Admissions Office for more details on how to apply.
Ann and Billie Ellis have long been supporters of Catholic liberal education. Over the years, Mrs. Ellis has sought to articulate the value of such an education, specifically as it affected her law practice and her work as a trial judge.
Eligible students include all first years and transfers with a strong desire to receive a liberal education. Ellis Scholars are selected on the basis of an interview conducted by a panel of two designated faculty members. Interested students should contact the Admissions Office at [email protected] or 603-456-2656 to schedule an interview, which can be held in person or by telephone. Awards are $1,000 and above, renewable yearly.
New Hampshire Students may be eligible to participate in this scholarship; award is not guaranteed.
Students from whom the college has received a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) filing by December 31 of the award year
Students with an Expected Family Contribution (“EFC”) of $0 on the FAFSA
Each scholarship award is $800 for a full-time student and pro-rated for a part-time student