$100 million in new donations to university high school for Catholic, Jesuit education scholarships
Marquette University High School announced a historic $100 million commitment dedicated entirely to scholarships and financial aid, marking a significant step toward expanding access to its rigorous Catholic, Jesuit education for future generations of Milwaukee-area families.
The commitment consists of two coordinated $50 million pledges and is described by the school as the largest known philanthropic gift to a single high school in Wisconsin history and the largest known donation ever made to a Catholic high school in the United States. Funds will bolster existing aid programs, addressing economic barriers that can limit enrollment at the private boys’ school.
Full tuition at Marquette High is $26,375 for the current school year, with every student already receiving a base grant of nearly $10,000, which reduces the sticker price to $16,475.
Roughly half of families receive additional financial assistance, and the school awards an average of about $3.1 million in aid annually.
With more than 900 students enrolled last year — including approximately 150 participating in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program — the new resources will allow the school to support more talented young men regardless of family income.
This aligns directly with the Jesuit mission of forming “Men for Others” and ensuring the school’s college-preparatory experience remains open to a broad cross-section of the community.
Rev. Michael Marco, who is concluding a decade as president, emphasized the gift’s long-term impact.
“The legacy of these benefactors is not merely in the dollars committed, but in the lives that will be transformed,” he stated. Rev. Daniel Kennedy will assume the presidency on July 1.
This commitment reflects a growing recognition among private schools that sustained scholarship funding is essential for demographic and economic resilience. By directing the entire gift to aid rather than facilities or operations, it prioritizes human capital—helping qualified students thrive in an environment that combines academic rigor, character formation, and service.
Marquette High has long worked to balance excellence with accessibility.
The scale of this commitment positions the school to potentially reduce its reliance on tuition as a share of its budget while maintaining its educational model.
In an era when many independent and religious schools face enrollment pressures and rising costs, such targeted philanthropy can serve as a model for preserving choice and opportunity in K-12 education.
The announcement arrives at a moment of strength for the institution, founded in 1857.
It underscores the enduring value placed on Jesuit formation in Milwaukee and the power of visionary giving to shape educational futures.
For families who have dreamed of a Marquette High education but worried about cost, this gift opens meaningful new pathways.