Policy and Procedures Academic Merit Scholarships
General Requirements
Institution-based merit scholarships are awarded for a student’s performance on the ACT/SAT exam, non-weighted grade point average, and class rank. Merit scholarship awards are determined at the time of the student’s admittance into the College. The scholarships are renewable provided the student is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and meeting minimum GPA requirements for the scholarship.
Beginning with the 2019-20 incoming class, Benedictine College is implementing an academic merit scholarship retention policy. This policy requires students to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) performance standard for renewal of the student’s academic merit scholarship at the original award level. Performance standards are based upon the specific merit scholarship level awarded to the student upon their entrance into Benedictine College. Initial evaluation of first-year students (beginning freshmen) will begin at the conclusion of their second (2nd) semester. Current students attending Benedictine College prior to the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year will be exempt from the performance standards evaluation.
The performance standards are as follows:
| Scholarship Beginning Freshmen |
Cum GPA Requirement |
| National Merit/National Hispanic Merit | 3.2 |
| Presidential Scholarship | 3.2 |
| Tier 1 (Dean’s/St. Benedict Scholarship) | 3.0 |
| Tier 2 (St. Scholastica Scholarship) | 2.5 |
| Tier 3 (Maathai Scholarship) | 2.3 |
| Tier 4 (Abbot Scholarship) | 2.1 |
| Tier 5 (Founders Scholarship) | 2.0 |
| Tier 6 (Incentive Scholarship) | 2.0 |
| Phi Theta Kappa (Transfers only) | 3.0 |
| International Scholarship | 2.5 |
Continuation of the evaluation process occurs at the conclusion of each semester the student is enrolled at Benedictine College. If the student does not meet their designated performance standard, the award amount of the respective merit scholarship will be reduced by $500 for the semester immediately following the student’s first failed academic performance standard evaluation. Failing to meet minimum standards for two (2) consecutive semesters results in a total reduction of $1,000 from the student’s merit scholarship. The maximum reduction of a student’s merit scholarship will be capped at $1,000. If the student achieves the required minimum cumulative GPA after having received a reduction in their merit scholarship award, the original amount of the student’s merit award will be reinstated. Subsequent evaluations may result in merit award reductions if the minimum cumulative GPA is not maintained.
| * Merit scholarship will not be reduced by more than $1,000 for not meeting standards | |
| Evaluation Results | Impact on Merit Scholarship |
| Meets/exceeds minimum standard | Student retains originally awarded scholarship amount |
| Fails to meet minimum standard | Merit scholarship reduced by $500 for subsequent semester |
| Fails to meet minimum standard in two (2) consecutive semesters | Merit scholarship reduced by an additional $500 for subsequent semester* |
| Fails to meet minimum standard after 3rd consecutive semester | No further reduction of merit scholarship. Original award amount less $1000 remains |
| Attains minimum standard at end of subsequent semester | Original merit scholarship amount reinstated for subsequent semester |
| Fails to meet minimum standard after regaining original award eligibility | Merit scholarship reduced by $500 for subsequent semester |
Transfer Scholarships
Institution-based scholarships awarded based upon the student’s cumulative GPA from all college courses completed at previous institutions, based upon official transcripts. The scholarships are renewable provided the student is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and meeting minimum GPA requirements for the scholarship.
Beginning with the 2019-20 incoming class, Benedictine College is implementing an academic scholarship retention policy. This policy requires students to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) performance standard for renewal of the student’s academic merit scholarship. Performance standards are based upon the specific merit scholarship level awarded to the student upon their entrance into Benedictine College. Initial evaluation of transfer students will begin at the conclusion of their first (1st) completed semester. Current students attending Benedictine College prior to the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year will be exempt from the performance standards evaluation.
The performance standards are as follows:
| Scholarship Beginning Freshmen |
Cum GPA Requirement |
| Tier 1 Benedictine Scholarship | 3.0 |
| Tier 2 Benedictine Scholarship | 2.5 |
| Tier 3 Benedictine Scholarship | 2.3 |
| Tier 4 Benedictine Scholarship | 2.1 |
| Tier 5 Benedictine Scholarship | 2.0 |
| Tier 6 Benedictine Scholarship | 2.0 |
| Phi Theta Kappa (Transfers only) | 3.0 |
| International Scholarship | 2.5 |
Continuation of the evaluation process occurs at the conclusion of each semester the student is enrolled at Benedictine College. If the student does not meet their designated performance standard, the award amount of the respective merit scholarship will be reduced by $500 for the semester immediately following the student’s first failed academic performance standard evaluation. Failing to meet minimum standards for two (2) consecutive semesters results in a total reduction of $1,000 from the student’s merit scholarship. The maximum reduction of a student’s merit scholarship will be capped at $1,000. If the student achieves the required minimum cumulative GPA after having received a reduction in their merit scholarship award, the original amount of the student’s merit award will be reinstated. Subsequent evaluations may result in merit award reductions if the minimum cumulative GPA is not maintained.
| * Merit scholarship will not be reduced by more than $1,000 for not meeting standards | |
| Evaluation Results | Impact on Merit Scholarship |
| Meets/exceeds minimum standard | Student retains originally awarded scholarship amount |
| Fails to meet minimum standard | Merit scholarship reduced by $500 for subsequent semester |
| Fails to meet minimum standard in two (2) consecutive semesters | Merit scholarship reduced by an additional $500 for subsequent semester* |
| Fails to meet minimum standard after 3rd consecutive semester | No further reduction of merit scholarship. Original award amount less $1000 remains |
| Attains minimum standard at end of subsequent semester | Original merit scholarship amount reinstated for subsequent semester |
| Fails to meet minimum standard after regaining original award eligibility | Merit scholarship reduced by $500 for subsequent semester |