Scholarships to Attend a Catholic School

The Aim Higher Foundation Scholarship

The Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000, student-based scholarship awarded to K-8 students from families with demonstrated financial need. Once a student is awarded the scholarship, they will continue to receive an additional $1,000 scholarship each year up to and through 8th grade as long as the yearly financial aid application continues to show need. The scholarship will also follow the student from year to year if he or she transfers to another Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

To be eligible for the Aim Higher Scholarship, a student must be in enrolled in or have plans to apply to the grades K-8 in a K-6, K-8, or K-12 Catholic school in the Archdiocese. Returning scholars are also eligible if they are enrolled in, transfer to, or plan to enroll in a 6-12 or 7-12 Catholic school. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need as determined by the TADS financial aid application.

Applications for the 2023-24 school year will be accepted during the following periods:

November 1, 2022, through February 22, 2023
May 30, 2023, through August 11, 2023

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The Catholic Services Appeal Foundation/Aim Higher Scholarship

The CSAF/Aim Higher Scholarship is a $1,000 student-based scholarship awarded to five students in grades K-8 from families with financial need at each eligible Catholic school. The scholarship is awarded annually based upon demonstrated financial need.

To be eligible for the CSAF/Aim Higher Scholarship, a student must be enrolled in or have plans to apply to the grades K-8 in an eligible Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need as determined by the TADS application.

HOW DO I APPLY?

The primary application for the 2023-24 school year is now closed. The summer application will open on May 30th. Priority will be given to students new to Catholic schools during the summer application.

When the application period is open, apply by visiting mytads.com and completing the application for the school or schools to which your child is enrolling. Here’s how to begin:

Visit mytads.com, click on the TADS Financial Aid application.
Create an account or login to your existing account.
Fill out the online Financial Aid application form.
This form has 23 sections. For a preview of the online form, download the Financial Aid Application Worksheet. You will receive a TADS Reference Number once the online form is submitted.
Near the end of the application, you will be asked to enter your child’s name in order to apply to either or both of the scholarships above.
Upload required documentation to your application.
The required documentation varies by applicant, but TADS recommends having your most recently filed federal taxes, W2s, and paystubs close by.
TADS reviews your application.
TADS will audit your application to ensure accurate household need. This audit can result in a period of communication between you and one of our auditors.
The schools or scholarship organizations listed on your application review to determine aid.
This process and notification timeline looks different for each of our partner schools and scholarship organizations. Once your application is in completed status you can direct award questions to your school or scholarship organization.
TADS is here to help at each phase of the financial aid application. Please click the green “Need Help?” button on the right of your screen to find frequently asked questions. You can contact them via email, chat or phone for assistance. Support hours are 7:00 AM-8:00 PM CST Monday-Friday.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will I learn if my child received a scholarship?
For the 2023-24 school year, initial decisions will be communicated on or before March 22, 2023.

If my student receives other forms of tuition assistance, are they eligible for Aim Higher scholarships?
Yes. A student may receive tuition assistance from his or her school or another organization without affecting his or her eligibility for one of Aim Higher’s scholarships.

If my student received a scholarship last year, do I need to reapply again this year?
Yes. To be eligible for any of Aim Higher’s scholarships, both returning and new scholars must submit an application via TADS.

If my student is awarded a scholarship, when do we get the money?
The scholarship will be sent to the school on the student’s behalf after their enrollment has been verified in October. It will be applied directly to the student’s tuition amount by your school.

What happens if a student is awarded a scholarship but then declines it or has their enrollment application denied by a school?
An Aim Higher Scholarship that is declined or denied is returned to the Aim Higher Foundation.
A CSAF/Aim Higher Scholarship that is declined or denied is awarded to the next eligible student.

If my child is awarded a scholarship and then transfers to another eligible school midway through the school year, does my scholarship follow my child to that school for that year?
The Aim Higher Foundation treats each scholarship as fully applied to the total cost of tuition at the time of the student’s enrollment verification in October. Therefore, Aim Higher Scholarships only follow the student to another eligible school at the beginning of each new school year up to eighth grade. CSAF/Aim Higher Scholarships do not follow the student.

My child attends a 5-12 or 6-12 Catholic school. Are they eligible to receive a scholarship?
Students at 5-12 or 6-12 Catholic schools are eligible only if they are in grades 5-8 and were awarded an Aim Higher Scholarship in the previous year. The scholarship will follow them through 8th grade at whichever school they attend in the Archdiocese.

Other Questions?
Please reach out to Laura Hester at 612-819-6711 ext. 104 or by emailing at lhester@aimhigherfoundation.org.