Scholarships

At O'Hara, we aim to keep you and your family updated on all different scholarship opportunities that become available throughout the year! We will periodically update this page as the school year moves along with new potential scholarships that can be applied for, or opportunities to look further into. 
 
Ellis Tuition Assistance Grant
The Ellis Trust for Girls helps young women in the Philadelphia area enhance their high school experience and prepare for post-secondary success. Each year, the Trust awards grants to eligible young women to support their education and life goals by providing tuition assistance for students attending independent and parochial high schools. 
Application opens January 1, 2024 and deadline is March 15, 2024.
 
Scholarships are awarded to students who are graduating from 8th grade and to students already in high school. If you are interested in applying for an application you must submit your request to [email protected].
Applications must be returned by 2 PM on Friday, April 5, 2024.
 
The Monsignor Mitchell Scholarship Fund supports high school students in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who are Catholic and African American, with academic ability and financial need. One (or more, if economically feasible) one-year scholarship(s), up to $2,500, are awarded annually based upon the determination of the Selection Committee. Student recipients must reapply each year. Please see the application application in the highlighted link above for details on application details and submission. 
Application deadline is April 30, 2024.
 
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Merit Scholarship Application

Along with academic scholarships, Cardinal O’Hara offers Merit Scholarships as well. Once you have submitted your child’s application for admission, be sure to fill out the Merit Scholarship application. The following Merit Scholarships can be applied for right from your child’s admissions portal:

 

Academic Awards

  • Excellence in Mathematics
  • Excellence in Science
  • Excellence in English
  • Excellence in History
  • Excellence in Religion
  • Excellence in Technology
 

Fine & Performing Arts Awards

  • Excellence in Art (must submit 3 samples of art work)
  • Excellence in Instrumental Music (audition is required to qualify for this scholarship)
  • Excellence in Performing Arts (may include vocal, acting or dance; please see below for audition requirement)
 

Faith & Service Awards

  • Commitment to Community Service
  • Commitment to Leadership
 
All applications require a different essay completed by the student for each individual scholarship. These essays are reviewed for award based on the story behind them - Did your student have a teacher that made an impact in a particular subject? Did they come to love a subject after a particular situation? Click the button below to log into your child’s admissions portal and submit your merit application today! All applications, essays, and other materials must be received by Sunday, December 3, 2023.
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Additional Scholarship Information

Along with academic scholarships and merit scholarships, applicants are invited to apply for any scholarships* below that you may meet the criteria for. Please click on the linked title for each scholarship to learn more and, in some cases, to apply.

 

* To be considered, a student must also have a completed application for admission to O'Hara.

 
This scholarship will be awarded to incoming students in the Class of 2028 whose parent or grandparent graduated from O'Hara. Our committee evaluates this application and makes awards to a limited number of recipients. This scholarship ranges from $500-1000 per year for four years based on a student's good academic and behavioral standing.
The deadline for the application is Friday, December 1, 2023
 
This scholarship is awarded to multiple incoming freshmen attending Cardinal O'Hara High School per year who have demonstrated academic excellence (maintaining at least an 88 average GPA in grade school with no grade lower than an 80 in any class), involvement in school or their community, and financial need. The scholarship covers 25% of full tuition costs and students must maintain grades and school involvement to renew the scholarship each year. Candidates for this scholarship must also have demonstrated financial need for consideration, and tax returns must be submitted to the Director of Admissions, Kelly Gust at [email protected]. If you have not done so, please complete the FACTS financial aid application so family need can be evaluated. Click the following link to access the FACTS application: https://online.factsmgt.com/aid.
Applications will be collected until Friday, December 1, 2023.
 
This Archbishop's Grant is for full-time employees of the Archdiocese who work in a parish, school or AOP setting. Grants apply to high school tuition and recipients may only use the grant at one AOP high school.
Application deadline is December 31, 2023.
 
This scholarship is awarded to one incoming freshman of Cardinal O'Hara High School per year. Please note that a student's academic records, standardized test scores, and if applicable, scholarship test scores will be evaluated in the selection process of this scholarship. Candidates for this scholarship must also have demonstrated financial need of at least $5,000 for consideration. If you have not done so, please complete the FACTS financial aid application so family need can be evaluated.
Application deadline is December 31, 2023.
 
This scholarship is awarded to one incoming freshman from St. Francis Parish to Cardinal O'Hara per year, and is determined through reviewing student's academic records and standardized test scores, along with involvement in extracurricular activities and the desire to continue involvement at Cardinal O'Hara.
Application deadline is December 31, 2023.
 
Applicants must be related to or recommended by a STM alumnus; plan on attending at Catholic high school during the 2024-2025 year; be active in school, sport or church activities; have a good academic record and be involved in community service.
Application deadline is December 31, 2023. 
 
Any female 8th grade student with a mother/grandmother/sibling/aunt/cousin that has graduated from J.W. Hallahan will be eligible to apply for a scholarship of $1,500 per year to honor their commitment to Catholic education, and to further recognize the respected connection among Archdiocesan high schools.
Application deadline is January 31, 2024.  
 
Each year scholarships are awarded to two 7th graders, two 8th graders, four high school students (all who attend a Catholic school) and two students who will/do attend Neumann University. Students must be a practicing Catholic, have a B average or better. More details and requirements listed on the website in the link for the scholarship above. 
Application deadline is February 1, 2024.
 
 
Click here for access to the FACTS financial aid application*.
Priority consideration will be given to all applications filed by December 31, 2023.