The Caroline Scholars Program is a highly selective full tuition scholarship at Mount Mary University that supports students who are passionate about social justice, committed to academic excellence, and dedicated to community service.

Each year, Caroline Scholars:

• receive funding that covers 100% of tuition.*
• receive funding that covers the cost of a standard room in the residence hall (including meal plan).**
• live in a learning community in the residence hall with other Caroline Scholars.
• develop an awareness of social justice issues, learn ways to make a difference, and discover abilities and sensitivities around social issues.
• enroll in a special 2 credit course (Leadership Seminar – HUM 338) with fellow Caroline Scholars every semester.
• complete 300 hours of academic service learning each year and experience the real life social justice issues discussed in the classroom.

Program Eligiblity

To be eligible for the Caroline Scholars Program, you must:

• be entering Mount Mary as an incoming first-year student.
• have a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• be accepted to Mount Mary University as a full-time student, without provisional conditions.
• be involved in extracurricular and service-related activities in high school and in the community.

How to Apply for the Caroline Scholars Program

1. Apply to Mount Mary. Caroline Scholarship applicants must be accepted to Mount Mary University. All admissions materials must be submitted by Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (5:00 p.m. CST). Earlier submissions are encouraged.

2. Submit the Caroline Scholars Application

• Essay: When responding to this essay question, please keep in mind the following definition of social justice: “Advocating for fairness, impartiality, and equality while addressing systemic social and environmental issues.” The Caroline Scholars Program is dedicated to building leaders who are committed to improving social quality of community life. Scholars engage in discussions on causes and resolutions to social justice issues. Identify a social justice issue about which you are passionate and explain how becoming a Caroline Scholar could help you work to more fully understand and combat that issue. We encourage you to share your community and/or volunteer experience(s) in your response.
• Resume of high school and community activities, identifying up to 10 extracurricular, service activities, or work experiences that best represent you. Please include organization name, dates of involvement, positions held, description of activity and how it relates to social justice. This document should be in a resume format and information can be presented as bullet-points.

4. Two letters of recommendation are required:

• One letter of recommendation from a current teacher
• One letter of recommendation from a supervisor of one of your listed activities from your resume

5. Complete an on-campus interview (selected students). Finalists will be required to come to campus for a 30 minute, in-person interview with the scholarship selection committee.

Every year, Mount Mary University awards Grace Scholarships to 20 female high school students who live in Milwaukee or West Milwaukee, equipping them with everything they need to succeed in college and their chosen career path.

The program provides Scholars with academic, professional, and financial support through a group-learning model that encourages community building and leadership development. Grace Scholar students receive financial aid and scholarship funds to cover 85%-95% of tuition annually for four years.

The Grace Scholars Program is a partnership between the Burke Foundation and Mount Mary University.

Benefits of Being a Grace Scholar

• receive funding that covers 85-95% of tuition annually for four years
• enroll in a special course with fellow Grace Scholars earning one additional credit per year
• receive one-on-one advising and peer mentoring
• receive academic, social, mental health, and financial support through various campus resources.
• attend a six-week Summer Bridge Program before your first semester at Mount Mary. In this program, you'll develop skills for success in and outside of the classroom, build relationships as you transition to college, and earn three college credits.
• receive monthly professional development opportunities to assist with post-graduate preparation
• belong to a sisterhood that supports relationship-building and a sense of community

Program Eligiblity

• be accepted to Mount Mary University as a full-time student.
• have a high school GPA at or below 3.499.
• be a resident of the city of Milwaukee or West Milwaukee and currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of high school.
• be able to demonstrate financial need as identified by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Be Pell Eligible
• be a first-time college student.
• be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• demonstrate leadership experience through curricular and extracurricular activities. 
• be under 21 years old.

Note: Prior to submitting your Grace scholarship application, please contact your admission counselor to confirm your initial eligibility.

How to Apply

1. Apply to Mount Mary and be accepted as a full-time student for the fall 2026-2027 academic year.

2. Apply to the Grace Scholarship Program. The application will open on October 1, 2025. The deadline to apply is January 20th, 2026 by 5:00p.m.

3. Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must file the FAFSA to be considered for the program. 

4. Complete an interview. Select finalists will be invited to a 30-minute interview for one of the Grace Scholarships in February 2026.