9 Ways St. Edward’s Is Making College More Affordable

St. Edward’s is founded on the idea that everyone deserves an equal opportunity for a quality Holy Cross education no matter their background. Nearly 145 years later, that idea is still at the heart of what we do on the hilltop day to day.
 

1. Federal Grant Support

We join our peers in supporting efforts to increase Federal Pell Grant funding. The Federal Pell Grant provides need-based grants for eligible students. Each year, the Pell program makes higher education possible for nearly 7 million low- and moderate-income students (typically less than $40,000 per year).
 

2. Personalization

We offer a personalized approach to financing students’ educational goals. Individual counselors work with students throughout their time at St. Edward’s and beyond.
 

3. Generous, Stable Scholarships

Financial aid counselors work to keep students receiving the same amount of institutional funds annually, so they can have greater stability year to year. We offer generous academic scholarships to our first-year students — up to $30,000 a year.
 

4. FAFSA Education

Our financial aid counselors volunteer with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, hosting FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) nights and workshops with local high schools. 
 

5. Financial Literacy

Our financial aid counselors host webinars with current students on the subject of student debt alleviation, among other topics of financial wellness. Financial literacy is an important part of the university's LiveWellSEU initiative. 
 

6. Support for First-Generation Students

We support first-generation students — exemplified by First-Gen Scholars Week and the First Generation Scholars student group.
 

7. Support for CAMP Students

In 2022, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of CAMP, a federal program for migrant students. St. Edward’s has the longest-running College Assistance Migrant Program nationally and the only one that offers support, mentorship and resources for all four years of college. 
 

8. Community Support

As soon as students apply to St. Edward’s, they plug into a caring community with resources that bolster their academic achievements, physical and mental health, and financial well-being. Whether it’s student success coaches, our Live Well SEU initiatives, financial aid counselors, or Hilltopper emergency resources, we are a tight-knit community focused on uplifting and supporting our students to ensure their success.
 

9. Financial Aid Tools

We provide helpful financial aid tools for the college search that show how to determine the affordability of colleges by comparing the “sticker price” versus the “net price” for each school. Very often, St. Edward’s is much more affordable than students and their parents realize. Families can see their real bottom line for college in just minutes by viewing our "How to Calculate Scholarships and Tuition" video (seen on this page) and using our Net Price Calculator (NPC). 

NPC is an estimate. The official aid offer is sent by St. Edward's Student Financial Services office based on a student's Admission to the university.