Missoula Catholic Schools (MCS) is proud to congratulate the Loyola Sacred Heart High School (LSH) Class of 2026 on earning a record $9.6 million in college scholarships and gift aid — the highest total in school history, with 90% of the graduating class offered some form of financial award.
The 31 recipients in the graduating class of 2026 earned an average of $309,677 in scholarships and gift aid per student — also a school record. The achievement caps a five-year stretch in which LSH seniors have received more than $46.3 million in combined financial offers.
“Our students continue to demonstrate what can happen when academic excellence is paired with hard work, outstanding teachers and a community that believes in them,” said Paul Richardson, principal of Loyola Sacred Heart High School. “While we’re certainly proud of the award amounts, we’re even more proud of the young men and women behind those numbers. Their success reflects years of commitment in the classroom and a school culture that challenges students to grow intellectually while remaining grounded in faith, character and service.”
Scholarship and gift aid awards for LSH graduating classes over the past five years included:
- 2022: $6.57 million among 34 graduates, averaging $193,235 per student
- 2023: $9.11 million among 39 graduates, averaging $233,589 per student
- 2024: $5.55 million among 39 graduates, averaging $142,307 per student
- 2025: $9.31 million among 43 graduates, averaging $216,511 per student
- 2026: $9.6 million among 31 LSH graduates, averaging $309,677 per student
More than 90% of Loyola Sacred Heart seniors go directly to four-year colleges and universities — a measure of success the school attributes to its Jesuit-endorsed academic model and high-caliber faculty.
Graduates headed to nationally ranked institutions
Over the past five years, LSH graduates have also gone on to enroll at some of the top colleges and universities in the country, including:
- Boston College
- Clemson University
- Hamilton College
- Princeton University
- UC San Diego
- U.S. Military Academy at West Point
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Southern California
- Vanderbilt University
- Wake Forest University
- Wellesley College
In addition to attending outstanding national universities and colleges, LSH students have enrolled in top institutions in Montana and the surrounding area, including:
- Carroll College
- University of Montana
- Montana State University
- Gonzaga University
Strong ACT performance among juniors
Academic achievement at Loyola Sacred Heart doesn’t end with its graduating classes. The school is also reporting strong test results from its junior class, the Class of 2027, which posted an average ACT composite score of 22.5. That score is well above both the Montana and national averages of 19 and 19.5, respectively. Students showed particular strength in reading (24.4) and science (23.1), reflecting the critical thinking and analytical skills developed through LSH’s college-preparatory curriculum.
“Our ACT results are another reflection of the strong academic foundation our students receive every day,” Richardson said. “Our teachers challenge students to think critically, communicate effectively and develop a genuine love of learning. Those academic skills, combined with the values we strive to instill as a Catholic school, prepare our graduates not only for success in college, but also for lives of purpose and service.”
About Loyola Sacred Heart High School
Loyola Sacred Heart High School is a Jesuit-endorsed Catholic high school in Missoula, Montana, dedicated to the education of the whole person: mind, spirit and body. LSH prepares students to become people of compassion, conscience, competence and community. Loyola Sacred Heart is part of Missoula Catholic Schools, which also includes St. Joseph Elementary and Middle School. Founded in 1873, Missoula Catholic Schools is one of the two oldest Catholic school systems in Western Montana.
For more information, visit missoulacatholicschools.org.
