Besides numerous need-based scholarship programs, minority scholarships and merit based financial aid, there are several faith-based funding opportunities available for you as well. There are many academic institutions that offer Christian scholarships to candidates who are pursuing seminary degrees and those Christians who aspire to pursue advanced degrees. Most of these scholarship opportunities for Christians are available at the universities and colleges where you get enrolled. So, before you get enrolled in a degree program at a college or university, you can get in touch with the financial aid advisor at the institution whether there are scholarships that target Christian students. Doing some research on your own will equip you with more information.
In addition to universities and colleges, there are multiple church foundations that offer scholarship to Christians. A good example is the United Church of Christ's Scholarships. More information on church foundations financial aid will be available with the clergyman. Even if you wish to enter the clergy or aspire to perform some missionary work, you can avail yourself of many Christian scholarship opportunities. Whether you are graduate student or an undergraduate, you can be eligible to apply for such financial aid programs and receive the free education funding.
General Christian scholarships are available abundantly. However, it may be tough to find specific Catholic scholarships. A branch of Christianity, Catholicism refers to the beliefs and practices of a Catholic church. As per 2001, Christianity boasted more than 2.1 billion followers. Out of this 2.1 billion Christians, around 1 billion called themselves Catholics. Since a large number of Catholics reside in the United States, Catholic scholarships are hard to find in the US.
Scholarship funding is also available for Christian women. Give below are some popular church foundations, associations and organizations that offer awards to the followers of Christianity.
United Church of Christ
The church foundation offers scholarship awards known as the Brown Scholarships. Under this funding scheme, the United Church of Christ (UCC) offers up to $10,000 annually to college students who wish to enroll into pastoral degree programs. Before you apply for this funding program, you should note the eligibility criteria which are as follows.
Candidates must fulfill the general qualification criteria of the UCC.
Before applying, the candidates must have held a membership of the UCC for at least one year.s
Candidates must have got enrolled into accredited seminary school.
Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Upon completing graduation, the candidate must serve in the United Church of Christ or other partner church.
American Bible Society
The society funds scholarships to students pursuing education, medical and seminary studies. Scholarships awarded by the American Bible Society include William and Alice Brown endowment. The funding is offered to students who have shown excellent academic achievements in the fields of Medicine and Education, the award being $3,000. For more information regarding this Christian funding program, you can either send the society an email at scholarships@americanbible.org or write at the following address.
American Bible Society,
Scripture Grants Dept.,
1865 Broadway, 3rd fl.,
New York, NY 10023.
Women's Missionary Union
If you are a woman and associated with missionaries or clergy, the WMU has multiple scholarships available for you. Not only for women of women missionaries, but the WMU also offers financial support for children of these missionaries. Some of the awards offered include R. Keith Parks Scholarship Fund, Carolyn Weatherford Scholarship Fund, Julia C. Pugh Scholarship and Mattie J. C. Russell Scholarship. The award money is up to $1,000.
Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award
Sponsored by Julie Ann Johnson, the scholarship award targets Christian transgendered students. This award is available to all Christian college students who wish to pursue religious studies, regardless of which university or college they get enrolled in. The eligibility criteria also include submitting to them some church related and leadership experience. Deserving candidates will receive an amount of $1,500 under this scholarship funding scheme.
