Saint Joseph's Offers Need-Based & Merit Based Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of donors, students, and families within the Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy community, Saint Joseph's is able to offer need-based and merit-based scholarships to qualified incoming and returning students.  Below is a list of some of our school's current scholarships:

Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy Scholarships

The Robert and Alice Thomas Scholarship
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thomas, a founding family of Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, grants a $2,000 scholarship to the Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (OLV) 8th grade valedictorian. This scholarship is a one-time gift to the OLVCS 8th grade graduate at OLV with the highest GPA each year. The recipient must apply to Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy by June 1 of his/her OLV graduation year and enroll by July 1 of the same year.  The scholarship will be directly applied toward his/her Saint Joseph's tuition. The scholarship is nonrenewable for subsequent years of enrollment. No application is necessary; the administration at OLV and SJCA coordinate to determine the recipient of the scholarship, and the winner is announced at the Saint Joe's spring Academic Awards Assembly. The Thomas family provides this generous opportunity to OLV graduates in order to continue the legacy of academic excellence and continuity of quality faith-based education at OLV and Saint Joseph's.

Christian Partner Schools Scholarship
As a show of good faith towards our Christian school partners, Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy offers a $1,000 scholarship towards a student’s first year at Saint Joseph's, pending availability of scholarship funds. Students graduating from Nittany Christian School, Lock Haven Catholic School, and other area Christian school middle school may qualify. No application is necessary.

Saint Joseph’s Fund Scholarship
The Saint Joseph’s Annual Fund is the school’s annual fund; the proceeds of which are used for student tuition support and capital projects. 100% of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy students receive tuition scholarships of varying amounts from the Saint Joseph’s Annual Fund. No application is required. This fund is supported by individual donors, alumni, and the families of Saint Joseph’s. Click here for more information about the Saint Joseph's Annual Fund and giving opportunities. 

Saint Isidore Scholarship
The students of Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy established the Saint Isidore Student-to-Student Scholarship for their fellow students. This $650 scholarship is awarded to up to two Saint Joseph's students returning for 10th, 11th, or 12 grade. The award is applied to the awardee's activity/technology fee for the coming school year.  Click here for more information about this scholarship and how to apply.

Community Scholarships

Knights of Columbus Scholarship
The State College Knights of Columbus awards $1000 scholarships to currently enrolled students which is applied to the awardee's Saint Joseph's tuition.  Application is required. Click here for more information and to apply.

Additionally, the local Knights of Columbus award scholarships of varying amounts to graduating seniors of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, to support them in their college education.  Students should contact the school office for more information.

The State College Knights of Columbus and Bellefonte Knights of Columbus are generous supporters of Catholic education.  In the 2023-2024 school year, the State College and Bellefonte Knights of Columbus collectively awarded over $12,000 in need-based and merit-based scholarships to Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy students. 

OLV Parish Scholarship
Thanks to the generosity of the parishioners of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, each year scholarships of varying amounts are awarded to incoming Saint Joseph's students whose families are parishioners at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Application is required. Click here for more information and to apply.

Fr. George Jakopac, pastor of Our Lady of Victory parish in State College, initiates an annual scholarship drive among the parishioners of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in January, often coinciding with Catholic Schools Week. OLV parishioners contribute donations towards this scholarship fund that directly benefits middle school students of OLV parishioners who want to pursue high school education at Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy.  For information on how to donate to this scholarship, contact the OLV parish office at (814) 237-7832.

PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) Funding

For the past several years, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy has been a partner in the EITC program. Through this incredible program, in 2024 - 2025 Saint Joseph's was able to award over $450,000 in varying amounts of tuition assistance to students who qualify for need-based financial aid.  Families must apply for financial aid through STS to be eligible for these funds. Below is a list of the tuition awards available through this program:

• BRAVO Foundation - The BRAVO Foundation is funded by a PA EITC Program. Depending upon available awarded funds it is distributed to students in grades PK-12, based on results from PSAS tuition aid application.
• BRIDGE Foundation Scholarships - The BRIDGE Foundation is funded by a PA EITC Program. Depending upon available awarded funds it is distributed to students in grades PK-12, based on results from BRIDGE tuition aid application.
• STAR Foundation - A needs-based scholarship program that provides tuition assistance to students who enroll in either a Catholic High School or a Catholic Elementary School (including pre-K). To be eligible for the scholarship, a family must meet the income guidelines and be a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The STAR Foundation was established as a result of the EITC program established by the Commonwealth.

To find out more about the EITC program and how you can participate and support Saint Joseph's students, check out the Saint Joseph's EITC informational webpage or contact the Saint Joseph's Principal, Mrs. Rupprecht, at arupprecht@sjcacademy.org or our school's RedefinED Donor Relationship Manager, Ms. Haylee Younkin, at hayley@redefiningeducation.org or 814-505-9835.