Undergraduate Scholarships

The University of Mary Catholic Scholars Program — offered to eligible graduates of Catholic high schools who are first-time, full-time freshmen — provides a scholarship that is the equivalent of free room and board. It is donor-funded and designated for graduates of verified Catholic secondary educational institutions.

The Catholic Scholars Program is designed to help make a Catholic college education readily accessible. The scholarship offered through this program cannot be combined with any other institutional aid, such as other scholarships. Many of our students, including those from Catholic high schools, often qualify for more substantial institutional aid based on merit and need.

Students enrolled in the University of Mary Nursing Program at our main Bismarck campus qualify for their senior year tuition-free! That’s a value of $18,000.

Learn more about the CHI Nursing Scholarship requirements and application process.

The Community Commitment Scholarship was created to keep the promise of our founding sisters of meeting the academic needs of the region. This scholarship is awarded to first-time freshmen graduates of the Bismarck-Mandan area. Bismarck-Mandan area high schools include Bismarck High School (BHS), Century High School (CHS), South Central, St. Mary’s Central High School, Shiloh Christian School, Legacy High School (LHS), Marmot High school, and Mandan High School (MHS). 

The Community Commitment Scholarship can be combined with other eligible scholarships.

The Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation Scholarship is a competitive award of $2,000 to $5,000 per academic year based on funds from the Edson and Margaret Larson Foundation, other academic awards received, and financial need. This scholarship is intended for students who exhibit strong leadership potential and who plan to either continue their studies in North Dakota or Minnesota, or pursue careers in North Dakota. 

Eligible junior or senior students (those with 60 credits) are chosen based upon their demonstrated levels of community service and proven academic, leadership, and entrepreneurial success. Year-Round Campus students may receive an award for graduate studies. North Dakota residents and/or graduates of ND high schools will be given preference.

The Need-Based Gift Grant is awarded to first-time freshmen and transfer students. The grant fulfills a student’s unmet calculated need after federal, state, and institutional aid have been determined by their FAFSA application.

The Phi Theta Kappa scholarship is a merit-based scholarship offered to PTK members admitted as transfer students in recognition of their high academic achievement.

The Presidential Honor Scholarship is an elite academic scholarship affiliated with the Gregorian Scholars Honors Program.  Students compete for this opportunity by submitting an essay to the directors of the Gregorian Scholars Honors Program. 

The Presidential Honor Scholarship is not stackable with the Servant Leadership Seasonal Scholarship.

The Sanford Health Directors Award for Careers in the Health Care Industry awards $2,500 to freshmen and up to $7,000 to juniors. 

Learn more about eligibility and the application process on the Sanford Scholarship page.

Undergraduate admissions hosts fall and spring scholarship competitions for first-time, full-time freshmen with a 3.25 GPA or above.

Awards include:

• Trustees' Scholarship: one winner at $8,000 per year for four years
• Founders' Scholarship: one winner at $4,000 per year for four years
• Deans' Scholarship: two winners at $2,000 per year for four years

The Servant Leadership Scholarships – Deans', Founders', and Trustees' – can be combined with the Saint John Henry Newman Scholarship or the Sister Thomas Welder Scholarship. They cannot be combined with the scholarships for the Honors Program or Catholic Scholars.

Register for the Fall Competition 

Register for the Spring Competition

The Sister Thomas Welder Leadership Scholarship is an academic scholarship awarded to full-time undergraduate students based on prior academic standing. Students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of eight semesters.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Scholastic Achievement Award is an elite academic scholarship affiliated with the Gregorian Scholars Honors Program. Students compete for this opportunity by submitting an essay to the directors of the Gregorian Scholars Honors Program. The St. Thomas Aquinas Scholastic Achievement Award is awarded to the top 10 admitted students in the Gregorian Scholars Honor Program and is stackable with either the Newman Scholarship or the Sister Thomas Scholarship.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Scholastic Achievement Award is not stackable with Servant Leadership Seasonal scholarship offers.