STAR Foundation Scholarships

St. Peter Cathedral participates in the STAR scholarship program.

STAR scholarships are awarded through the Diocese of Erie Star Foundation to help families provide their children with a Catholic education. The awards are based strictly on financial need and cover a broad range of family size and household income. While most scholarships do not cover the entire cost of tuition, they do help make tuition more affordable for many families.

To apply for a STAR Foundation scholarship or a secondary school scholarship for a high-school child, simply fill out the Bishop’s Tuition Assistance Application Form. Some documentation is required.

All applications must be postmarked by March 31 for the following school year. (For families applying for scholarships for high school as well as elementary school, the deadline is March 1.)

FAQ's about STAR scholarships

What is the STAR Foundation?
The STAR Foundation was established by the Catholic Diocese of Erie as a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit scholarship organization to provide financial aid to qualified students who wish to attend Catholic elementary or secondary schools.

How much money is available?
Local businesses can donate to the STAR Foundation for preschool and elementary students at St. Peter Cathedral. This program is called the Earned Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). Depending on the amount of money donated, is how much we will have available for scholarships.

Who gets scholarships?
Families receive STAR tuition assistance based on the financial need of the family.

Will I qualify?
Income eligibility standards have been established by the state of Pennsylvania as follows:

How do I apply?
Every St. Peter Cathedral School family receives an application form in January or you can download a form.

Is there a deadline?
Yes, for families with children in preschool through eighth grade, the deadline for applications is March 31 for the following school year. For families with high-school-age children, the deadline is March 1. If you are applying for scholarships for children in both high-school and grade school/pre-school, the deadline is March 1.

Is documentation required?
Along with pertinent financial questions, each family is asked to include proof of household income in the form of all Commonwealth of Pennsylvania tax returns (Form PA-40, its equivalent) filed by the members of the household for the most recently completed calendar year. ALL INFORMATION SHALL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.

How are scholarships awarded?

1. Scholarships are awarded on a non-discriminatory basis and will not exceed the amount of tuition and fees charged.
2. Scholarships are not awarded to students for athletic purposes.
3. Scholarship Application Forms will be ranked in priority according to the level of financial need of the student, in relation to the amount of tuition charged by the school. Those most in need of financial assistance will receive first priority in the awarding of scholarships.