Cathedral Grads Get Guaranteed Admission, $40K Scholarship

Cathedral High School graduates with a 3.0 GPA can now secure admission to CSB or SJU with a renewable scholarship attached.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold vector editorial illustration of a winding stone path climbing a green hill toward an open doorway in a low building, evoking a guaranteed route to college admission. — Cathedral High School graduates with a 3.0 GPA can now secure guaranteed admission to the College of Saint Benedict or St. John's University, with a renewable scholarship attached. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The College of Saint Benedict, St. John's University, and Cathedral High School announced the Pathway Partnership, which guarantees general admission to eligible Cathedral graduates who hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and meet application requirements.

Why it matters

For Cathedral students, the partnership turns admission into a defined pathway with a scholarship attached, which can make planning for college costs more predictable. Eligible graduates are guaranteed the highest Academic Achievement Scholarship at St. Ben's and St. John's upon admission.

Eligibility requires a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and completion of application requirements. Both scholarships are renewable for up to four years, contingent on academic progress, with the Academic Achievement Scholarship currently valued at $40,000 per year for students entering in fall 2027.

The players

College of Saint Benedict

A private Catholic liberal arts college for women in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a Pathway Partnership participant.

St. John's University

A private Catholic liberal arts university in Collegeville, Minnesota, and a Pathway Partnership participant.

Cathedral High School

A high school in St. Cloud, Minnesota, whose graduates are eligible for guaranteed admission under the partnership.

The details

Under the partnership, an eligible Cathedral High School graduate who meets the 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and submits the required application is guaranteed general admission to either the College of Saint Benedict or St. John's University. Scholarship eligibility is awarded upon admission, so students receive the highest Academic Achievement Scholarship at the school they enter. Students also receive a $1,000 annual Central Minnesota Scholarship, and both awards can renew for up to four years as long as academic progress is maintained.

Over the past three years, 26 Cathedral graduates continued their education at CSB and SJU.
Fall 2027 is the entering term for which the $40,000 Academic Achievement Scholarship value currently applies.

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Education Landscape

Guaranteed-admission pathways between local high schools and regional private colleges are a way institutions secure a stable pipeline of students while giving families earlier clarity on cost. This partnership places a specific scholarship value and renewal term on top of admission, a combination that gives families a defined picture of expected aid before application.

If you are a Cathedral High School student, the partnership offers a defined admission path if you reach a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete the application requirements. Ask the admissions office at either school how the scholarship renewal and academic progress standards are measured each year.

The takeaway

Guaranteed admission paired with a renewable scholarship gives eligible Cathedral graduates a clearer financial picture before they apply. Keep your cumulative GPA at or above 3.0, and confirm the current award terms with the admissions office at the school you are considering.