Fees and Financing
Future Students
Tuition and Fees
Events
University will be a major investment of time and money. Will it be worth it? No question. But even though your degree might not come with a money-back guarantee, what we can say for sure is that your mind, heart, spirit, and life will be permanently enriched.
You owe it to yourself to find out everything you can about what it will cost and how to get help with those costs. Here’s what you need to know:
- St. Jerome’s $$ = Waterloo $$ - the St. Jerome’s-Waterloo integration means that your tuition and other fees are identical to those paid by main-campus students. In fact, the University of Waterloo’s Finance department looks after calculating and collecting all your payments.
- Two sets of scholarships – St. Jerome’s University Student Success Office will handle most of your entrance scholarships and other awards, and you could qualify for additional scholarships through Waterloo as well.
- Outside help – If you need additional funds, you can apply for financial assistance, which can mean bursaries and/or government aid.
- The co-op contribution – By joining Waterloo’s world-renowned co-op program – the largest of its kind in North America – any St. Jerome’s University student can tap into that network of more than 7,500 co-op employers. As you explore your interests, expand your professional network, clarify your career goals and gain up to two years of paid work experience, you will be creating positive change in the world. On average, Waterloo co-op students earn between $9,000 to $16,000 per work term.
- Other financial resources – You’ll find other valuable information on the Waterloo website for future students:
- Paying your student fees – how to save money while you’re at university
- Answers to frequently asked questions for Ontario and International students
St. Jerome’s University has staff that are dedicated to help you through this process. Please reach out to info@sju.ca for more information or assistance.
Tuition and Other Fees
What you need to know
- At St. Jerome’s University and the University of Waterloo, a school year consists of two four-month academic terms:
- either back-to-back (regular), e.g., September to April;
- or alternating with four-month paid work terms (co-op), e.g., September to April and May to August.
- You pay your tuition and fees for each individual four-month term that you’re enrolled for classes. That means you don’t pay for the entire year (eight months) all at once.
- Fees below based on 2024-25 tuition rates.
- After you’ve enrolled in your classes, the precise amount owed will be posted on your account on Quest – Waterloo’s online student information system.
- You will not be considered officially registered and cannot earn credits toward your degree until you have paid your tuition and fees in full or made arrangements to pay them.
Estimated costs in Canadian dollars
|
Honours Arts Honours Arts and Business |
Domestic Students (Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident) |
International Students |
|
First-year tuition (2 academic terms/8 months) |
$9,000 |
$57,000 |
|
Books and supplies for 8 months |
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
|
Co-op programs |
$786** |
$786** |
|
Residence fees for the St. Jerome’s University Residence, including your meal plan – other residences will have different fees that might not include meals. |
$14,698 - $15,898* |
$14,698 - $15,898* |
Important:
- **This amount is per 4-month term (payable for the study term just before each co-op work term)
- You can estimate your own persona costs using the Interactive Budget planning tool on the Waterloo website for future students.
Scholarships
St. Jerome’s University Entrance Scholarships
|
Deadlines
|
Program / Award
|
Range of scholarship
|
Criteria
|
|
Automatic
Mid-May |
Board of Governor's Scholarship
|
$3,000 first-year;
$2,000 available in upper-years |
- Academic performance
- Honours Arts/Arts & Business
|
|
Automatic
Mid-May |
President's Scholarship of Distinction
|
$2,000 Entrance Scholarship;
$1,500 International Experience Award and/or; $1,500 Research Award |
Open to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at St. Jerome's who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in fall 2025.
- Early May admission average of 95%+
- Arts
- Visit the President's Scholarship web page for complete eligibility details
|
|
Automatic
Mid-May |
President's Scholarship
|
$2,000
|
Open to students admitted to full-time first-year degree studies at St. Jerome’s University, who are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in fall 2025.
- Early May admission average of 90%+
- Arts
|
|
Automatic
Mid-May |
Arts Entrance Scholarship
|
$1,000
|
- Academic performance
- St. Jerome's Arts applicants are also eligible for some University of Waterloo named scholarships
- Mid-May admission average of 85-89.9%
|
|
Automatic
Mid-May |
Founder's Scholarship
|
$1,000
|
One student each from selected Roman Catholic schools in Brantford, Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo, and North Bay.
- Academic performance
- May be awarded in addition to a St. Jerome's entrance scholarship
|
|
September 2025 |
$1,000
|
One student from one of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board's secondary schools or continuing education sites.
- Registered at St. Jerome's University in first year
|
|
|
September 2025
|
Red Seal Scholarship
|
$500
|
Students graduating from Waterloo Catholic District School Board and Wellington School board with a Specialist High Skills Major (Red Seal) will be given a $500 scholarship.
To claim this scholarship, students must submit their high school diploma to the Registrar's Office by the indicated deadline
|
|
Automatic 2025
|
Catholic Education Foundation of Ontario Catholic Student Award
|
$500
|
Students beginning studies at St. Jerome's University in the Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business program in fall 2025; or beginning studies at the University of Waterloo and living in residence at St. Jerome’s University beginning in fall 2025.
- Connect with your Guidance Counsellor for more details.
|
|
March 3rd 2025
|
The Roslyn and Hubert Dietrich Memorial Scholarship
|
$10,000 for full first-year tuition
|
Awarded to an incoming co-registered St. Jerome’s University student who has completed or is completing high school and is beginning full-time first year studies. The student must demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST): respect for the dignity of all persons, a commitment to social justice, and thoughtful contribution to the common good of society, and identify how the funds will help them achieve their long-term goals and aspirations.
- Student to provide a letter of reference from a school counsellor.
The fall 2025 application form will be availble soon.
|
|
March 3rd 2025
|
The Suzanne (Kuntz) Forth Bursary
|
$5,000
|
Awarded to an incoming co-registered St. Jerome’s University student from a secondary school within any of the Ontario Catholic District School Boards (4 total scholarships available)
- The student must be nominated by a teacher or guidance counsellor from their respective high school. Click here for the nomination form.
- Eligible students must demonstrate financial need
|
|
March 3rd 2025
|
The Joseph & Rosemary Donaldson Bursary
|
$1,500
|
Awarded to up to 5 incoming co-registered St. Jerome’s University students
- Eligible students must demonstrate financial need
Click here for the application form.
|
|
March 3rd 2025
|
The Gordon and Margaret Vanstone Scholarship
|
$2,500
|
Awarded to up to 2 incoming co-registered St. Jerome’s University Students
Click here for the application form.
|
Other scholarship opportunities
- St. Jerome’s students may be eligible for scholarships from the Faculty of Arts.
- Check the additional scholarship information on the Waterloo website for future students.
- Additional information on student scholarships is available on the Student Awards and Financial Aid site.
Financial Aid - Government Loans, Bursaries
If the costs of your education are more than you can afford, help is available:
- Government loan programs – the Ontario version is called the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Bursaries
Government loans (OSAP)
Many governments support university students in need by providing funds to pay for their education. If the funding is a loan, you must repay any amounts you receive.
Ontario Residents (as defined by OSAP):
- OSAP provides government loans and bursaries to help you finance your education.
- Application forms are available on the OSAP website in early May each year.
- Visit Waterloo's Student Awards & Financial Aid website for helpful information, including details about government aid, and applying for OSAP. Deadline information can be found on each individual page.
Other loan programs
If you're not an Ontario resident, Student Awards & Financial Aid provides links to government funding in other Canadian provinces and to U.S. and other loan programs.
Bursaries
- If you are an incoming first-year student who has completed or is completing high school and are beginning full-time first year studies in the fall you can apply for entrance bursaries through your Quest account. Click here for more information: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/bursaries
- Bursary opportunities specifically for students registered at St. Jerome’s University are also available. For eligibility criteria and application instructions please refer to the scholarships chart above
Important:
- The application deadline for a Waterloo Entrance Bursary is in April. You should apply by the deadline even if you haven’t received an offer of admission by then.