Aim Higher Foundation to Award Scholarships Up to $1,500

After nearly a decade of offering $1,000 scholarships, the Aim Higher Foundation is excited to announce that the amount per scholarship will increase in the 2026-27 school year.

Beginning this fall, kindergarten and first-grade students who are awarded Aim Higher scholarships will receive up to $1,500 per year through 8th grade. Students currently receiving $1,000 scholarships will continue to receive $1,000 annually.

In addition, for the 2026-27 school year, the Aim Higher Foundation is also announcing its largest ever increase in total scholarship investment. The Foundation intends to award $3.5 million in tuition assistance for children across the Twin Cities, an increase of $600,000 from the previous year.

This historic growth means more families will gain access to the life-changing opportunity of a Catholic school education.

“The continued growth in our scholarship funding is essential to fulfilling our mission,” said Ricky Austin, president of the Aim Higher Foundation. “This historic increase is not just a financial milestone—it’s a statement. It says to families navigating rising costs and real uncertainty: we see you, and we are committed to walking with you for the long term. By providing $3.5 million in scholarships, we are positioned to serve more children—and support schools at a deeper level—than at any point in our history.”

In the current school year, the Aim Higher Foundation is supporting 2,900 children with scholarships worth $2.9 million across the 80 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The scholarships renew each year for students as long as their family continues to show financial need in their application. With this expansion, the Aim Higher Foundation continues its commitment to ensuring that more children can access schools where they are known, challenged, and supported—today and for years to come.