Fall 2026 Mount Mercy University Catherine McAuley Full-Tuition Award (US Based)

Scholarship Awarding University: 

Type of degree: 
Bachelor’s

Scholarship Deadline:
Applications for this scholarship will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Scholarship Summary: 
The Catherine McAuley Scholarship at Mount Mercy provides free tuition to Iowa freshmen students whose family income is $50,000 or less annually. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years, and students are automatically considered upon admittance to Mount Mercy.

Scholarship Applicant Criteria:
To be eligible, students simply need to:
•  Be an Iowa resident and graduate from an Iowa high school.
•  Be admitted as new freshmen to Mount Mercy.
•  Reside all four years on Mount Mercy’s campus during the academic year.
•  File the FAFSA by July 1 (first year and subsequent years) that shows family income of $50,000 or less and Pell Grant eligibility

Value of Scholarship: 
The Catherine McAuley Scholarship  will be combined with your institutional and state aid to cover your entire tuition and fees cost, hence it bridges the gap between financial aid and anticipated tuition and fees cost

Scholarship Application Guide: 
There is no separate scholarship application; simply into Mount Mercy for consideration.

Renew your scholarship
As a McAuley Scholar, you’ll have the chance to make a difference on and off campus. The McAuley Scholarship can last for your whole four years on the Hill, if you continue to meet the following renewal requirements.
  • Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of each academic year
  • Successfully complete at least 24 credit hours each academic year
  • Reside all four years on Mount Mercy’s campus during the academic year
  • Complete the McAuley Scholars: Service & Success course during the fall semester of your first year at Mount Mercy
  • Complete the FAFSA each year by July 1 to confirm your eligibility
  • Meet regularly with the program director, the director of career services, and your assigned peer mentor
  • Complete service hour requirements each academic year. This could include service:
  1. To the community through ongoing engagement with a local non-profit organization
  2. To the university through pre-arranged opportunities with staff and faculty
  3. To the Mount Mercy community through one of the numerous pre-approved student leadership positions on campus

Scholarship Website: 
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Mount Mercy University Freshman Scholarship Page.