Scholarships and Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students

After acceptance to the University, a financial aid package will be sent to the applicant with detailed information regarding scholarship and need-based aid. For fall admission, these packages usually arrive by April, depending on the date of the student's application. Consult the Office of Financial Aid for further assistance.

FAFSA is required of all applicants for need and performance based awards.

Academic-Based: University scholarships are available.

Needs-Based: University grants and loans, state grants, and federal student aid are available.

Performance-Based: Departments of Music scholarship awards are based on talent, academic achievement, and financial need. The initial audition is used to determine performance-based scholarship upon successful admittance into the university academically. Priority scholarship consideration will be given to those who audition on or before the February audition date.

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Departments of Music Scholarships and Stipends
The Departments of Music offer scholarships for full- and part-time study during the fall and spring semesters (not for summer study). Limited stipends are available also to teaching assistants. The awarding of Departments of Music scholarships and stipends is highly selective and is usually based on performance ability as well as academic achievement. Departments of Music scholarships are normally awarded prior to the fall semester for the entire academic year after the student has been accepted into the university academically; as a result, funds may be limited or unavailable for requests made during the fall semester for spring-semester consideration.

All students who audition are considered for music scholarship. We also strongly recommend that graduate applicants also submit GRE scores (General Aptitude Test only, not music subject test). Although these are not required for admission or for Departments of Music scholarships and stipends, they are required for academic scholarship consideration (see below). Submitting them thus makes the applicant eligible for consideration for a broader range of scholarship aid from the University.

Other University Scholarships
For information and application forms and requirements related to other University scholarships, please contact:

Graduate Financial Aid Counselor: 202-319-5057
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC 20064

Graduate applicants for University scholarships (other than Departments of Music scholarships) must submit Graduate Record Examination scores (General Aptitude Test only). GRE-based scholarships are normally available to new students only (not to continuing students). For these scholarships, the deadline for submitting GRE results and gaining admission is February 1 for the following fall semester. Please consult the website of the Office of Graduate Studies for further details.

Submission of GRE scores and admission to the Departments of Music by February 1 enables qualified applicants to be considered for multiple scholarships.

Other Financial Aid
Graduate applicants needing financial aid and student loans should contact the Graduate Financial Aid Counselor at the above address for information and application requirements. Because a loan application can sometimes be a lengthy process, applicants are advised to begin the process early. Required forms and documentation should be submitted no later than June 1 for the following fall semester.