10 College Scholarships for Christian Students
What’s Covered
- Do Christian Scholarships Exist?
- Typical Requirements for Christian Scholarships
- College Scholarships for Christian Students
With the cost of college rising, more and more students are looking to scholarships as a way to ease the expense. Increased interest also means a rise in competition, but one way students can improve their chances of winning a scholarship is by applying for smaller, more focused awards—for example, awards aimed at particular groups, like Christian scholarships (only about 70% of the U.S. is Christian) or even more specifically, Catholic scholarships (only a little over 20% of the U.S. is Catholic).
Do Christian Scholarships Exist?
Not only do Christian Scholarships exist, but there are an abundance of them supporting students from a broad spectrum of denominations and offered by organizations and individuals ranging from churches to foundations to business leaders. The reasons for Christian scholarships are plentiful; for some organizations it’s a means to support members of their religious community, for others it’s a vehicle to promote their spiritual values, while others see it as a tool to develop their future leaders.
Typical Requirements for Christian Scholarships
The requirements to earn a Christian scholarship are far-ranging, but one characteristic many have in common is that you need to show your religious affiliation. For some scholarships, this is done through membership, while others want a church leader to provide a recommendation. Another way to ensure only properly affiliated students receive scholarships is to make them good only at particular institutions, for example, an award will only be paid to Catholic colleges or universities. It’s also common for Christian scholarships to incentivize students to remain active with their church by binding the renewal of a scholarship to a recipient’s church attendance during the school year.
*College-bound and current Christian-affiliated college students will want to explore the 10 Christian scholarships listed below. However, listing these awards is not an endorsement of them or their requirements, which are solely at the discretion of whoever is funding the scholarship.
College Scholarships for Christian Students
1. Young Christian Leaders (YCL) Scholarships
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: 15th of every month
Eligibility: Active member of a local church; minimum 3.0 GPA; permanent resident of New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
Application Requirements: Official transcript
The intention of the Young Christian Leaders scholarships is to support the next generation of Christian professionals. YCL scholarships are a monthly award and are available to high school seniors planning to enroll full-time as undergraduates and current full-time undergraduate college students. Recipients of the YCL Scholarships are selected based on four qualities: online voting, character, accomplishments/service, and need.
2. Samuel Robinson Award
Amount: $2,000-$4,000
Deadline: June 1, September 1, and December 1
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors attending Presbyterian-related colleges or universities
Application Requirements: Membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and successfully reciting the answers to the Westminster Shorter Catechism from memory
College juniors and seniors attending Presbyterian-related colleges who are hopeful of winning the Samuel Robinson Award will need to recite the answers to the Westminster Shorter Catechism from memory. The Westminster Shorter Catechism was written over 350 years ago, consists of 107 questions and answers, and has been at the foundation of Presbyterian families since its creation. Applicants can choose to write an optional essay for the opportunity to win a larger award.
3. United Methodist Church GBHEM General Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Deadline: March 24
Eligibility: Active, full member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year; minimum 2.5 GPA; either a high school senior planning to attend college or a full-time undergraduate
Application Requirements: Varies
The United Methodist Church Greater Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) provides millions of dollars in scholarships annually. GBHEM administers 70 different scholarship programs, which are broken down into three categories: General Scholarships, Racial-Ethnic Scholarships, and Ministry as a Career Scholarships. One application is used to apply for all of the GBHEM scholarships, although individual requirements vary.
4. Baptist Life College Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Insured on a premium-paying or paid-up Baptist Life certificate
Application Requirements: Pastoral reference, personal statement, and transcript
The Baptist Life College Scholarships are provided by Baptist Life, a Christian organization that offers life insurance and annuity products. Awards are given to both undergraduate and graduate students who have achieved excellence in both their studies and personal lives. Selection criteria for Baptist Life scholarships include academic achievement, financial need, and an applicant’s ambitions and goals.
5. Knights of Columbus Scholarships
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school seniors who are members of Knights of Columbus—or children of a member—planning to attend a four-year, undergraduate program at a Catholic college or Catholic university
Application Requirements: Transcript, reference, 300- to 500-word essay
The Knights of Columbus offer several awards to college-bound members planning on attending a Catholic college or university full time to pursue a bachelor’s degree. To receive one of these awards, the applicant is required to be a member of the Knights of Columbus, the child of a member, or the child of a deceased member.
6. Italian Catholic Federation
Amount: $400-$1,000
Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Roman Catholic graduating seniors of Italian descent in Arizona, California, Illinois, and Nevada with a minimum GPA of 3.2
Application Requirements: Transcript and a personal statement
The Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships in support of more than 6,000 Catholic college students. Recipients are eligible to receive awards ascending in value as they progress in their college careers—with $500 available in their second year, $600 in their third year, and $1,000 in their fourth year. Recipients are evaluated on a variety of factors, including:
- Academic achievement
- Financial need
- Leadership
- Extracurricular activities and charitable work
- Membership and participation in the ICF
7. National Presbyterian College Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising freshman, member of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and demonstrated financial need
Application Requirements: Pastor endorsement, transcript, and a secondary school report
The Presbyterian Church (USA) awards between 25 and 35 of these scholarships annually to Presbetryian students in need of financial assistance with college. The National Presbyterian College Scholarship promotes leadership development and discernment of vocation. The scholarship is renewable, provided applicants maintain a 2.5 GPA, participate in a campus ministry or regularly attend church, and answer a series of essays that asks them to consider who God is calling them to be.
8. Christian Connector Scholarship
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Enrolling as a first-time, full-time student at a Christ-centered Christian college, university, or Bible college
Application Requirements: Complete a short questionnaire
One of the easiest scholarships that Christian students can apply for, the Christian Connector Scholarship only requires applicants to complete a short survey on their college intentions. Winners are chosen at random, however, the scholarship is only valid for use at Christ-centered Christian colleges, universities, or Bible colleges—any school that is a member of the CCCU, NACCAP, or ABHE is a qualifying institution.
9. Wischer Scholarship
Amount: $11,000
Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Texas residents enrolled as full-time undergraduates or graduate students with preference given to “applicants who are Christians and attend church regularly”
Application Requirements: Essay and recommendation
Established in 2007 by the highly respected San Antonio businesswoman and philanthropist, Mrs. Irene S. Wischer, this scholarship supports Texas college students. “Applicants who are Christians and attend church regularly” are looked on favorably. The value of the award varies depending on the recipient’s financial need, and the scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
10. The Robert S. Simmons Christian Studies Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Enrolled or accepted at a Christian college or university and have participated in community work
Application Requirements: 1,000-word (minimum) essay
The Robert S. Simmons Christian Studies Scholarship supports college-bound and current college students in the pursuit of their spiritual and academic education. The selection criteria is an essay that should explore how Christian education and business leaders can improve the moral fiber of the U.S. and how the applicant will benefit from a Christian education.
