Christian Scholarships
Scholarships are a great way to save on the cost of your college education. While grants are similar, many rely on your parents’ financial details. You might not get enough money just because your parents make too much on paper, even if they don’t support you. Then there are loans, which require that you spend years paying back the money you borrowed while you try to focus on your career. With scholarships, you get cash to pay your tuition, housing, and any other expenses you have. There are even some Christian and faith-based scholarships. The funds often come from religious organizations that want to support the next generation of students.
Below, you’ll find 30 of the best faith-based and Christian scholarships that are available today. Each one has some similar and some different requirements. You may need to write an essay about what your faith means to you or demonstrate you have leadership experience. Every scholarship also has a deadline by which applications are due. You must ensure your entire packet reaches the program by the deadline to get the funds that you need. Now is a good time to learn more about the best Christian and faith-based scholarships and how to apply.
1. General Conference Women’s Ministries Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Due Date: October 15
Who Can Apply? Female Seventh-day Adventist Church members
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Seventh-day Adventist Church members who are also women can apply for one of these scholarships. The General Conference Women’s Ministries requires that you have experience helping your community as well as high academic marks and financial need.
2. Robert E. Simmons Christian Studies Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: July 1
Who Can Apply? High school students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Simmons and Fletcher is a personal injury law firm in Texas. The firm offers this scholarship in honor of Robert E. Simmons, one of its founders. While one student receives $1,000, another student will get $500. The application asks for an essay where you write about your Christian leadership experience.
3. Dorothy Peek Scholarship for New Morgan Hill Baptist Church
Amount: $7,500
Due Date: March 15
Who Can Apply? New Morgan Hill Baptist Church members
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina established this scholarship program for students in the region. Four worthy students enrolled in technical schools or colleges receive funds every year. The program is open to those between 17 and 23.
4. Champions for Christ Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: May 11
Who Can Apply? Undergraduate and graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Ministry majors
Champions of Christ is a Christian organization associated with the City View First Baptist Church. Marc Snyder of that group launched this scholarship program for students who study or plan to study ministry subjects and work for the church. Every year, it awards 43 scholarships worth $1,000 each.
5. Alma Gilmore Doud Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: February 10
Who Can Apply? Any college student
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Available from the Saginaw Community Foundation, this program uses volunteers who review applications blindly to pick the winners. You must list any activities you did in high school with a focus on those related to your church or religion along with your school transcript.
6. American Baptist Home Mission Societies Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Baptist undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Seminary or religious studies
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies award multiple scholarships annually to Baptist students who want to serve in or work for the church. You must attend a college or university in the United States or Puerto Rico and be a resident of the country. The societies also require a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
7. Grace Cunningham First Christian Scholarship Fund
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Technical, vocational, college, and university students in the Fremont area
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Fremont Area Community Foundation offers scholarships for students of all ages and leaves who live in the region. This scholarship provides students with $1,000 and asks for a resume that includes the top activities you did in high school with an emphasis on church activities.
8. David W. Self Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? United Methodist members
Do You Need a Specific Major? Religious majors
The United Methodist Church oversees this scholarship, which it awards to students who were active in their local churches for at least one year. You must be in your first year of college and have a 2.5 GPA or higher. The organization also asks that you show your financial need.
9. Community Foundation Scholarships
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: Early January
Who Can Apply? Any student in the Richmond area
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Students in the Richmond area receive more than $50,000 in scholarships annually from the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond. When you apply, you complete one application and can then apply to more than 200 scholarships to get even more money for college.
10. Jerry Jenkins Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Due Date: March 10
Who Can Apply? Graduate students or undergrads in their third or fourth year
Do You Need a Specific Major? Priority is given to Christian journalism majors
Co-author of the popular “Left Behind” series, Jerry Jenkins established this scholarship. It gives priority to members of the Evangelical Church and those in Christian journalism programs. You must be in one of your final years as an undergrad or in a graduate program and have a 3.0 or higher GPA to apply.
11. United Brethren Grant
Amount: $4,000
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Church of the United Brethren in Christ members
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Huntington University offers a grant for current and incoming students. It is only available for Church of the United Brethren in Christ members who attend church service. The grant gives priority to students who are involved in their community as well as the church.
12. Douglas J. Trouten Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Up to $1,000
Due Date: March 10
Who Can Apply? Graduate students or undergrads in their third or fourth year
Do You Need a Specific Major? Priority is given to Christian journalism majors
Another scholarship for Evangelical students is this one, which offers awards between $500 and $1,000. Students must be enrolled full-time and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Church gives priority to students studying Christian journalism but accepts all journalism majors.
13. Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: December 9
Who Can Apply? High school and college students with a diploma or GED
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley maintains several scholarship programs that accept both college and high school students. You need to apply online with your Student Aid Index (SAI) number, high school transcript if you have one, and ACT or SAT score.
14. Dr. James Earl Massey Intercultural Leadership Scholarship
Amount: Up to $10,000
Due Date: February 1
Who Can Apply? Anderson University freshmen
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Available to Anderson University incoming and current freshmen, this scholarship recognizes their leadership experience. You must provide a complete application that shows you maintained a GPA of 2.75 or higher in high school, demonstrate financial need, and provide a short essay.
15. Cheryl Duff Memorial Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Due Date: February 1
Who Can Apply? Immanuel Lutheran Church members and Muskegon County residents
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Cheryl Duff Memorial Scholarship is one of several available through the Muskegon Foundation in Michigan. Though you can use the funds at any college or university, you must be a resident of Muskegon County and regularly attend the Immanuel Lutheran Church.
16. Helen Young Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: February 15
Who Can Apply? Church of Christ members attending Pepperdine University
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Church of Christ worked with Pepperdine Legacy Partners to establish this scholarship. To apply, you must be an active member of the church and attend or plan to attend a university in Southern California. The scholarship also requires that you submit the FAFSA.
17. Community Foundation of the Ozarks Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Students living in the Ozarks
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
If you live in the Ozarks, you can apply for one of the scholarships from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The application asks for proof you are a member of a local church and active within it. You may need to demonstrate your leadership skills or community involvement, too.
18. Christian Leadership Award
Amount: $5,000
Due Date: February 15
Who Can Apply? Church of Christ members attending Pepperdine University
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
If you apply to Pepperdine University, you can apply for this scholarship at the same time if you submit the FAFSA. The Church of Christ asks for a letter of recommendation from a church member. You also need a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a completed application.
19. Presbyterian Study Grant
Amount: Up to $6,000
Due Date: Early May
Who Can Apply? Graduate students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Divinity or a related field
To help the next generation of leaders, the Presbyterian Study Grant provides them with up to $6,000 they can use for any of their expenses. You can get the same amount annually for two years. The grant goes to students with financial needs who are active in the Presbyterian Church.
20. Sons and Daughters of Ministry Scholarship
Amount: $250
Due Date: Early March
Who Can Apply? The children of ministry workers attending Point University
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Point University is a major Christian university in Georgia that offers multiple scholarships. This one is designed for the children of Christians doing ministry work in the United States and abroad. As long as you maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, you can renew the scholarship every year.
21. Presbyterian Scholarship for Undergraduates
Amount: Up to $4,000
Due Date: Early May
Who Can Apply? Presbyterian Church undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
This scholarship goes live every year in January and gives you a few months to apply. The Church recognizes students who belong to the church and are active within it in different ways. Though the award size ranges, you get money you can use for books, tuition, and other expenses.
22. Emmanuel University Church Matching Scholarship
Amount: Up to $500
Due Date: May 15
Who Can Apply? Emmanuel University undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Emmanuel University matches the funds that students receive from their churches. You need to submit proof that the funds came from your church and apply before the deadline. The university will match up to $250 per semester or $500 for the entire school year.
23. ARFORA Helen Muntean Education Scholarship for Women
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: May 10
Who Can Apply? Romanian Orthodox female members
Do You Need a Specific Major? Education
This scholarship comes from the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. The founders designed it as a way to help young women pay their way through school before becoming teachers. You can download the application online and view the scholarship requirements.
24. Lee Pate Whitehead Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? Students at partner schools
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Lee Pate Whitehead Foundation designed its scholarship program for Christian students with a financial need. It works with more than 200 partner schools in the south and grants scholarships to more than 10,000 students annually. You’ll need to contact your university to apply.
25. AbleLight Scholarship
Amount: Up to $3,000
Due Date: May 10
Who Can Apply? College and seminary students
Do You Need a Specific Major? Seminary or religion
Get up to $3,000 for college through the AbleLight Auxiliary Scholarship Committee. Designed for seminary students, it is also open to undergrads who plan to attend the seminary. AbleLight looks for students who plan to work with the disabled and share their love of God.
26. Texas Christian University Scholarships
Amount: Up to $27,000 a year
Due Date: Varies
Who Can Apply? All students
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Texas Christian University ranks as one of the best private institutions in Texas. When you enroll, you complete the FAFSA, which helps you qualify for financial aid. TCU offers a variety of scholarships you can renew every year. The university bases the amount you receive on your GPA.
27. George N. Boulukos EOCS Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Due Date: May 1
Who Can Apply? Eastern Orthodox Scouts
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting has a scholarship for Scouts who achieved the highest rank in their program and are a member of the church. It’s open to both high school students and those in home school programs who complete a few other requirements.
28. Quest Whole Leader Scholarship
Amount: Up to full tuition
Due Date: January 15
Who Can Apply? Oral Roberts University undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
Oral Roberts University offers this scholarship for students with Christian leadership experience. The university established a January 15 deadline, but it will slowly reduce the number of students who qualify based on select criteria. Only 15 students receive one of the university’s scholarships.
29. Leslie A. and Helen R. Wilson Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $500
Due Date: Early April
Who Can Apply? Webster County, Nebraska residents
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
The Wilsons spent much of their life in Webster County and established this scholarship fund for local students. You must live in the county to apply. It gives priority to those with a strong religious background who plan to teach and study education, but anyone can apply.
30. Greenville University Free Methodist Scholarship
Amount: $20,000+
Due Date: Early spring
Who Can Apply? United Methodist undergrads
Do You Need a Specific Major? No
When you apply to Greenville University and complete the FAFSA, you can also apply for this scholarship. It’s open to the children of pastors within the Free Methodist Church and students who attend the church or participate in one of its youth groups, giving them $20,000 or more annually.