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Beginning with new students entering in fall 2027, Bona Access will combine eligible federal and New York state grants with St. Bonaventure scholarships and grants to cover the full cost of tuition.

The initiative is designed to provide students and families with greater clarity about affordability earlier in the college search process.

“We know how powerfully a St. Bonaventure education can transform a student’s life. Bona Access Guarantee is a tangible expression of our Franciscan mission and our commitment to opening doors for talented students who will use their education to serve their communities and make a difference in the world, ”said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, university president.

Eligible students will be considered automatically after applying for admission, submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and completing the New York State Tuition Assistance Program application. No separate Bona Access Guarantee application will be required. For fall 2027 applicants, the deadline for Bona Access Guarantee eligibility determination is Dec. 15, 2026.

To qualify, students must:

• Be New York state residents.
• Be admitted as new first-year students for fall 2027.
• Have annual family income of $80,000 or less and assets within program guidelines.
• Enroll as full-time undergraduate students.
• Live in university housing.
• Complete all admission and financial aid requirements by the published deadlines.
  

“Families should not have to decipher a complicated financial aid formula before deciding whether a university is worth considering,” said Christopher Cartmill, executive director of Financial Aid. “Bona Access Guarantee makes the most significant portion of the cost much easier to understand. Eligible students will know that grants and scholarships will cover their tuition.”

Under the guarantee, eligible federal and state grants and St. Bonaventure scholarships and grants will first be applied to tuition. If those resources do not equal the full tuition charge, the university will provide additional institutional funding to cover the remaining tuition balance.

The guarantee applies to tuition only. It does not cover university fees, housing, meal plans, books, supplies, transportation or personal expenses. Students must live in university housing to maintain eligibility. Students’ FAFSA information will be reviewed for any additional need-based award eligibility. 

Students must reapply for financial aid each year and continue to meet the program’s financial, enrollment, residential and academic requirements to renew the guarantee.

“Students sometimes eliminate a private university from their list before ever learning what it would actually cost their family,” said Dean Whitcomb, associate vice president for Enrollment. “We want New York students to apply, visit campus and experience this community before making that decision. Bona Access Guarantee gives them another important reason to take that first step.”

Students and families can learn more about eligibility, deadlines and the financial aid process at /affordability/bona-access-guarantee