External Scholarships

St. Rita is proud to partner with several external scholarship programs: Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation, HFS Chicago Scholars, Link Unlimited Scholars, Zac Plantz Memorial Scholarship, and HighSight Scholars. The application process for these programs begins in fall/winter of a student’s 8th grade year, and families are notified of acceptance in late winter/early spring. This process ensures families the peace of mind in enrolling in a Catholic high school education.

These partnerships not only provide tuition assistance for our students, but also mentoring, tutoring, and networking opportunities. We are grateful for the time, dedication, and resources these scholarship programs and their staff provide not only to help our families afford a St. Rita education, but also for the opportunities they afford our students to ensure a brighter future beyond high school. 

Below we would like to share the mission of each partnership as well as the application deadlines (if currently available) and their application links. 

  • HFS Chicago Scholars helps underserved Chicago high school students flourish in and out of the classroom by providing educational enrichment through our lifelong mentoring, college readiness and academic excellence programs, as well as providing financial assistance to attend top Chicago-area schools.

    • Four-year partial scholarship

    • Family income must be less than $55,000 to apply

    • Student must reside in Chicago

    APPLICATION CLOSED

    Learn More

  • The Zac Plantz Memorial Scholarship is awarded to incoming high school freshmen who embody the mission of the Zac Plantz Foundation and honor the spirit of Zac through their commitment to academic, spiritual, and social growth.

    • The applicant must demonstrate a commitment to leadership, talent, and service. The scholarship will be presented to students who will positively contribute to their communities and show the potential to establish inspiring legacies of their own through their faith-based secondary education and extracurricular involvement.

    • All applicants for the 2025-2026 academic year must be an incoming freshman attending a Catholic high school in the continental United States.

    • Applications will be reviewed after the submission deadline and applicants will be notified upon application review of their award status (potentially up to a full 4-year scholarship).

    APPLICATION CLOSED

    Apply Here

  • LINK Unlimited provides high-potential Black students with the resources and support they need to change the trajectory of their future.

    • Four-year partial scholarship

    • Student must be a Black 8th grade student with a demonstrated financial need

    • Student must reside in the Chicagoland area and plan to attend a LINK Unlimited Scholars partner school

    Application Deadline: February 2, 2025

    Apply Here

  • HighSight provides scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, and college readiness programs that create new possibilities for Chicago high school students from low-income families. The HighSight experience empowers our scholars to excel in high school and graduate from four-year colleges across the country.

    • Four year partial scholarship

    • Student must reside in Chicago

    • Family must demonstrate financial need

    Application Opens: February 15, 2025

    Apply Here

  • The mission of the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund is to unlock educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need. DMSF partners with scholars, families and schools through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs and personal support so that each scholar can reach their potential.

    • Four-year partial scholarship

    • The median income of a Murphy Scholar family is currently about $37,800 each year.

    APPLICATION CLOSED

    Learn More