Religious Scholarships and Grants

Religious Scholarships and Grants

“The real source of wealth and capital in this new era is not material things… it is the human mind, the human spirit, the human imagination, and our faith in the future.” – Steve Forbes

Religion students are fortunate in that they not only have all of the general scholarships available to them; they can also apply for a myriad of religious denominational awards, too. For instance, in the category of Christian, one could apply for those designated as protestant or catholic. If you do your research, you will discover funds are available for almost any religion – you just have to look for them. Applying for a scholarship is far from difficult if you prepare early, do your research, get your paperwork and reference letters lined up, and check to make sure you satisfy the eligibility requirements for each award you are going to apply for. Thousands of scholarship and grant dollars go unawarded each year simply because no one applied for them – don’t hesitate – just do it!

Christian Scholarships

SMU Perkins

“Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology offers an outstanding combination of spiritual, educational, and physical resources, enabling you to answer your call in a fully supportive environment.” And, like most major universities, they will work with you to bring your financial situation in line with an education at their institution. Of course, it goes without saying that your academic record, leadership abilities, and strength of character are also considerations. There are also merit based awards which require a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 to apply, and there are tuition grants and needs-based grants available. All together, Perkins provides approximately 75% of its students with some form of financial assistance. If you would like more information about their programs, go to the website: http://www.smu.edu/Perkins/Admissions/financial.

Vance H. Havner

The Havner Scholarships have been awarded for over 20 years to full-time seminary students who are led toward evangelism and the mission field. Students receiving these scholarships must be enrolled or have been accepted to any accredited seminary in the United States. For more information, go to the website: www.vancehavner.org.

Concordia University Presidential Scholarship

If you are a high school graduate who is led to the ministry, and you have a minimum GPA of 3.6, at least a 27 on the ACT, or 1210 on your SAT, you may qualify for one of these two generous annual scholarships. You will have to submit documentation of participation in community projects during high school. Students apply for this award by attending Presidential Scholarship Competition Day on the campus in Ann Arbor, MI, where they are given one hour to write an essay relating their leadership abilities and how it has served them in various situations. The scholarships are renewable for up to four years, and could total as much as $75,000 in funds. If you would like more information, the website is: https://www.cuw.edu/Undergraduate/future/scholarships.html.

The Coy-Muckle

If you are an ordained Baptist minister that is employed full-time in a participating North or South Carolina church, and are seeking your first bachelor’s degree, you might like to learn more about this program. Amounts of the awards vary, but all recipients receive a grant package at least equal to full tuition. For more information, take a look at the website: www.wingate.edu.

Liberty Baptist Fellowship

Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers scholarships to both resident and on-line seminary students. Resident awards are in the amount of $1,000 and renewable for up to four years. On-line amounts range from 25 to 100% discounts on tuition. Graduate students are not eligible for these awards, and counseling courses are not covered by this fellowship. Verification of church membership is a requirement to apply for this scholarship. If you would like more information, check out the website at: http://www.liberty.edu/financeadmin/financialaid/index.cfm?PID=298 or http://libertycpn.com/chaplains/

All Saints Evangelical Lutheran

This scholarship is only available to seminary students who are current members of the All Saints Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio. It is funded by the church and the Columbus Foundation. Application and other eligibility information can be found at: www.edonorcentral.com/scholarship/scholarshipinfo.aspx?scholarship=533.

Vision International Education Network

Vision International operates seminaries in four locations around the world, with Ramona, California, as its U.S. site. Students may attend in residence or on-line. The Joseph J. Bohac Memorial Scholarships provide ten students each year with tuition assistance. These students may be seeking undergraduate or graduate degrees. Studies in counseling and education do qualify for this program. The Karen S. DeKoven Memorial Scholarships are awarded to ten students and cover partial tuition. Funds may be used for expenses incurred in pursuit of bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees. Eligibility requirements include academic performance and previous ministry work. For details, go to the website: http://www.vision.edu/web/viu/.

Mark Bondurant Memorial

Seminary students majoring in pastoral studies, with at least a 3.0 GPA, may apply for this scholarship. Funds received are designated for use at the Nazarene Bible College, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. To learn more, http://www.nbc.edu/financialaid/programs.php.

Gladys Cooper

Male seminarians with a calling to parish ministry may apply for this award. They must be able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance to continue their education. Funds awarded are designated for use at the Nazarene Bible College, Colorado Springs, Colorado. To learn more: http://www.nbc.edu/financialaid/programs.php.

Other Religious Scholarships

Claremont School of Theology

All seminary students attending this school who can demonstrate financial need receive it. You may also apply for merit scholarships based on your academic record and evidenced potential for the ministry. Claremont, located in Claremont, California, believes that potential seminarians should have an education available to them, no matter what their financial situation may be, and more than two-thirds of their students receive some sort of assistance. Awards are funded by private donations. For more details: http://www.cst.edu/.