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Scholarships for College

The following list contains scholarship notices that are sent to Cheverus. See your School Counselor for more information, or visit the website associated with the scholarship. All seniors should check the Guidance website at their local public school to see if any scholarships apply to them. Want a video on what student loans and scholarships are all about?

DO NOT PAY to file the FAFSA. Do not pay for someone to locate scholarships for you. There is free help available at your college's financial aid office, on the web, in Cheverus' School Counseling and College Advising Offices, and at FAME (Finance Authority of Maine).   

Deadlines Vary for the following scholarships:

Scholarships -- Sorted by Deadlines - always double check deadlines

September Deadlines

September 1

October Deadlines

October 10

  • YoungArts: actors, dancers, designers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, singers, songwriters, visual artists, and/or writers in grades 10-12, apply for scholarships, the US Presidential Scholars in the Arts, and an opportunity to be in HBO's MasterClass.
  • LendEdu essay contest about student loans/debt.
  • Pirates Pitch Competition. Submit an original business idea, product or service and win scholarship money (money to you & more money if you attend Seton Hall University) All high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 3.0 gpa can apply.

October 25

November Deadlines

November 1

  • Elks National Foundation has a variety of scholarships. For Most Valuable Student application, use Lodge #188
  • Art contest celebrating conservation 
  • Have an original research project? Apply for the Regeneron scholarship.
  • The Elizabeth Gillis Ahern and Leonard F. Ahern Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to one Cheverus senior, providing $7500 each year for each of your four years towards college tuition. A Google form will be available to seniors in November in their College Advising Google Classroom along with the requirements. Filing for financial aid at Cheverus is required.
  • Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Multi-Race women and men graduating from Jesuit high schools can apply for a $3,000 scholarship available in their final two years of college. Apply by March 1.
December Deadlines

December Deadlines

January Deadlines

January 1 Deadline

 January 15 Deadline

  • Those with Multiple Sclerosis or who have a parent with MS. Apply online.
  • Seniors who wish to spend a year in Germany before going to college, to live with a host family and get work experience should consider the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange Program.
  • Greeting Card Design scholarship: submit a unique photo, piece of artwork, or computer graphic for the front of a greeting card.
  • History buff? Enjoy politics? Washington Crossing Foundation offers scholarships. 
  • Juniors can apply for the Coolidge Scholarship. Coolidge Scholars are selected primarily on academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: an interest in public policy, an appreciation for the values President Coolidge championed, humility, and service. 
  • The Catholic Foundation of Maine "Lila Grace Sullivan Amirault Scholarship", one award to a Catholic student at each of the 2 Catholic High Schools in Maine. Award ranges from $4,000-4,500 and are need based, as evidenced by your filing of the FACTS financial aid application at Cheverus or FAFSA. Applications are in the College Advising Google Classroom and emailed to seniors in late winter. We will mail completed packages in early Feb.
  • Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers: Civil Engineering majors $2,000 scholarships for one year. Info and application.
February Deadlines

February 1 Deadline

Before Feb break deadline - this scholarship needs to be mailed before we take Feb break.

One Cheverus senior will be awarded the Marr Anderson Family Foundation $5,000 scholarship. We will work together to prepare the application materials and mail it before Feb break. Details will be released in the College Advising Google Classroom. Need-based/FAFSA required. 

February 15 Deadline

March Deadlines

March 1 Deadline

March 10 Deadline

  • Margaret Chase Smith Essay Contest for Maine high school seniors. $1,000 1st prize, $500 2nd place. 
  • The Portland Water District announces a $1500.00 scholarship for students who live in their area of coverage who intend to major in engineering, enviro studies, public health or related studies. Go to their website for criteria and application. FAFSA required.
  • Rainbow Business & Professional Association scholarship for students who have "worked to foster diversity and end bullying and discrimination in their schools and communities."
  • Unitil offers 6 scholarships for those majoring in a STEM field.
  • Majoring in construction or a related trade like civil engineering, architecture? National Association of Women in Construction offer males and females scholarships ranging from $500-1500. Click here for application. Financial need is a consideration.
  • American Foreign Service Association High School Essay Contest 
  • Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund for students with financial need (EFC of 10K), service to others, part-time job, 3.0 GPA, renewable for 4 years of college. App available December.
  • Enrolling on one of the 40 Colleges That Change Lives? Apply for a $4k scholarship ($1k/year) if you also filed for financial aid.
April Deadlines

April 1 Deadline

May Deadlines

May 1 Deadline

  • Many credit unions offer scholarships if you are a member. It is easy to set up a savings account with little money at any credit union. UCU is an example of a credit union that offers a scholarship if you attend a Maine State University (including MMA) if you are also a UCU member. 
  • U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Nursing Scholarship and loan forgiveness in exchange for a 2 year service agreement in a hospital with a critical shortage of nurses.
  • Engineering or architecture majors: WBRC, an engineering and architecture firm in Portland, offers a $1,000 scholarship after your 1st semester at college if you earn a 2.5 GPA. Info and application.
  • James V. Day Scholarship through the American Legion to descendants of a ME Legionnaire. 
  • Daniel E. Lambert Memorial Scholarship through American Legion if parent or grandparent is a veteran. 
  • American Legion Children & Youth Scholarship to a financially needy student with a veteran parent or grandparent.
  • Unity Lodge $1,000 scholarship to someone who volunteers outside of school and participates in extra-curricular activity at school. Min 2.0 GPA, going to college in Maine, with family income under $75,000.
  • NECBAC Book Scholarship of $300 to minority students. Application required, and you must attend one of the 30 colleges on their list.
  • Annual "Arrive Alive" Creative Contest - send a message to your peers about texting & driving www.arrivealivecreativecontest.com
  • The Maine Difference Scholarship, funded by Lamey-Wellehan, is intended to aid in the cost of attaining an education for a Maine young person studying at a Maine college or university. The focus of the student's studies should be on the ecology and economics of Maine. 
  • Going to a 2 year college? Have lots of financial need (Pell eligible)? The Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is taking applications from March 15 to June 1 for their Career & Technical Program.
  • Maine Legislative Memorial Scholarship, awarded to one student in each Maine county. FAFSA required, as is enrolling in a Maine college.
  • Juniors only: The Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship for exceptional leaders. Full ride. 3.7 unweighted gpa, extensive involvement in your community/school.
June Deadlines

June 1 Deadline 

Young men headed to certain colleges (UMaine Orono, BC among others) can apply for the SigEp Balanced Man scholarship. You do not have to join the fraternity to earn the scholarship. 

Holocaust & Human Rights Center of Maine - 2 scholarship competitions -  essay opens Jan 1 and closes June 15, and if you have produced an exceptional piece of original writing, fiction or non-fiction, or an unusually expressive piece of visual or performance art relating to human rights. https://hhrcmaine.org/awards-scholarships/

June 25 Deadline

Young men needing financial aid, living in Portland, can apply for the Sylvan B. Phillips Trust Fund. 

Students needing financial aid, living in Portland, can apply for the James Rackleff Trust Fund. 

July Deadlines

July 1 Deadline

Paying for College

FAFSA Night notes

All families of seniors should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, even if you think you won't qualify. If circumstances change, you've already filed the one required form, and sometimes colleges ask for the FAFSA when awarding merit aid. Most colleges want it filed in fall of senior year, and it only becomes available on October 1 each year.

FAME Maine performs lots of outreach like this to help families navigate the often-confusing financial aid process. They will not try to sell you anything.

Couldn't make it to FAFSA Night? Get the notes here. There's a free in-depth FAFSA Guide here.

Articles about Paying for College

Recent press about paying for college

Updated Annually

January 2019

  • The best article I've seen about how (and if) home equity affects financial aid. Remember, FAFSA-only colleges like UMaine don't look at home equity. Only colleges that require the CSS Profile look at home equity, and at varying percentages. Also, a quick calculator that shows effect of home equity on financial aid formula

    •  

March 2016

May 2015

 November 2014

  • The best article on EFC -- in depth info on how to figure it out based on your income (AGI), and info on the CSS Profile and FAFSA.

August 2014

  • Choosing a major, keeping in mind your earning potential, likelihood of an advanced degree being required, and the job outlook.

April 2014

September 2013

July 2013

  • If you like graphs, try this one out, measuring college cost based on family income.

September 2012

April 2012

November 2011

  • Wall Street Journal examines how irrational we are when choosing colleges and offers tips on how to pay for it.
College-Based Scholarships

Colleges often offer scholarships, in the form of merit money, to admitted students. Often, it's a combination of grades and test scores that secure a scholarship, or volunteerism or athletics. Be sure to investigate if a separate scholarship application is required. Sometimes, an admissions application is all that is required. Here are some examples.

Criteria: graduation from a Catholic high school

  • Anna Maria College-New England Catholic High School Scholarship: $15,000 per year for four years.
  • Assumption College 'Brother Brassard Scholarship' offers $2500 if you are admitted and graduate from a Catholic high school. Can be combined with other merit money & need based aid.
  • Emmanuel College (Boston) offers $5,000 per year for Catholic HS grads who are admitted. 
  • Presentation College (SD) offers up to $4,000 per year for Catholic HS grads with 3.0+gpa.
  • Regis College Presidential Catholic Scholarship: Full tuition for 4 years, must have 3.7gpa and be nominated by High School Principal.
  • Seton Hall University (NJ) offers $2,000 annually stackable award for admitted applicants with 3.0 gpa and a 1350 SAT or 29 ACT.
  • Stonehill College offers a $10,000 per year scholarship for Cheverus grads who are admitted
  • University of Dayton (OH) offers a Leadership in Service scholarship at $2500/year for each of the 4 years. Ask Ms Coddaire to be nominated. Visit campus, file FAFSA in October and receive an extra $1,000/year for textbooks.

Criteria: graduation from a Jesuit high school

  • All 28 Jesuit colleges' merit scholarships are here. Not all require graduation from a Jesuit high school.
  • Loyola Chicago's Jesuit Heritage Award and Marquette's offer a half-tuition scholarship to one Cheverus senior each year, for their 4 years at Loyola or Marquette. A separate scholarship application to Marquette is required. See Guidance or Cheverus College Advising to be nominated for the Loyola half-tuition scholarship (3.0, 23 ACT or 1160 SAT required).
  • LeMoyne College Ignatian Scholarship offers $18,000 per year for four years. No separate app required.  A full tuition scholarship is due Feb 1 and a separate application is required.

Criteria: graduation from Cheverus high school

Attending UMO? There is a scholarship for one Cheverus graduate who will attend UMO, the Nanovic Scholarship, for $2,000 each year for four years. See Ms. Coddaire in College Advising to put your name on the list.

Criteria: a certain major

Criteria: High Achievers

Criteria: student from Maine or New England

Criteria: participation in the FIRST Robotics Team

  • Worcester PolyTechnic Institute offers 2 scholarships ($20,000 and $5,000) if you compete at the New England level.

Criteria: participation in college choral

Criteria: lots of volunteering

  • Assumption College's Light the Way scholarship for those who make a positive contribution to society
Tuition Break for New England Residents

If you apply to an out-of-state public university in New England for a degree not offered in the Maine state university system, you may be eligible for a tuition break. You pay less than out-of-state rates but more than in-state tuition. Example: a meteorology degree is not offered at the Maine state university system but Plymouth State in NH and Lyndon State in VT offer the degree.

Visit the site to learn more, go straight to the majors offered to Maine students, or pick up a brochure in the College Advising Office.

In the past, Cheverus students have taken advantage of the programs at UCONN for biomedical engineering and actuarial science, UMass Amherst for social thought & political theory, URI for landscape architecture and ocean engineering, Lyndon and Plymouth for meteorology.

Completely Lost? The First Thing You Should Do!

How do you know if a college is too expensive for your family? Where do you start?

Colleges award money in two ways: merit scholarship or need-based aid. Some colleges award a combination of both need-based aid and merit scholarships.

Let's take an example: BC, Holy Cross, Colby, Bates and Bowdoin only award need-based aid. How do you know if you would qualify for need-based aid at these colleges? There are 2 ways to find out:

  1. Complete fafsa4caster.ed.gov to find out your family's EFC or estimated family contribution. That number is very important at colleges that only award need-based aid. Have a high EFC? You might not qualify for any aid at that college, and pay the full amount. (Locate FAFSA4caster at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/estimate)
  2. The other way to find out if a college will award you need-based aid is to complete their Net Price Calculator, available on each college's financial aid page. If you cannot easily locate the NPC on any college's website, do a site search for the term. 

What about colleges that award merit money? Again, complete the Net Price Calculator on each college's website to see how much merit money you might earn. The calculator will ask you about GPA (get that from your report card which has your cumulative GPA) and SAT or ACT scores.

 

Least Expensive Ways to Earn a Degree

The least expensive way to earn a college degree is to begin at community college, spend 1-2 years there, then transfer to the university or college of your choice to complete your bachelor's degree.

The next least expensive way to earn a college degree is to enroll in your in-state university and earn the degree in 4 years or less. See if you can test out of any courses or apply your AP Exam credit to any courses to shorten your stay at college. (the $90 you pay for an AP exam is much less expensive than an intro course at college that can cost thousands of dollars!)

Want to get out of Maine? New England state universities offer a tuition break program for some majors. You won't pay as low as in-state tuition, but you won't pay as much as an out-of-stater. 

Many students focus on colleges that will award them generous merit money for good grades and SAT/ACT scores. Merit money does not have to be repaid - it's not a loan - and is usually renewable for your 4 years of college.

In exchange for serving your country, the military will help you pay for college. You can serve now and attend college later, or go to college now and serve later. Look into ROTC if you want college first. Here are the ROTC sites:

  1. Air Force ROTC
  2. Army ROTC
  3. Navy & Marine Corps ROTC
Jesuit Merit Scholarships

Many Cheverus students wish to continue their Jesuit education at the college level. There are 28 Jesuit colleges and universities. You can find the map here, and a listing of merit scholarships offered by each of the 28 colleges here. Juniors receive a hard copy of the listing in College Advising class in March.

Note: Marquette & Loyola Chicago offer a half tuition scholarship to one accepted Cheverus senior each year, for the 4 years at the college.