Religious Scholarships
Scholarships for Religious affiliation
Between Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, there are many scholarship opportunities that provide funds for aspiring church leaders, politicians, activists, academics, teachers, writers and artists. Religious organizations are committed to the education, development and recruitment of the next generation of church leaders, and you will find that almost all faiths offer some sort of scholarship program. Don't forget the resources for non-religious and atheist individuals and well. Scholarships for atheists are being offered to a growing population of critical thinkers. Scholarships for pagans are also offered to people who follow an earth-centered religion. For scholarships based on religious affiliation, check out these resources:
- Jewish Scholarships
- Christian Scholarships
- Christian College Guide and Christian Connector
- Muslim Scholarships
Scholarships for Religion and Theology Students
General theological scholarships fall outside a particular church or belief. Academics, business leaders, politicians and many other individuals craft careers built on theological degrees. Denominational colleges and universities often provide theological scholarships for their religion majors, some targeted specifically to students with an eye for ministry. Secular colleges and universities with a strong religion and theological department may offer academic-based scholarships. Please browse the list below to look through the many scholarships offered to students studying theology.
If you are interested in studying abroad during your study of theology, take a look at the study abroad resources for theology students.
List of Religious Scholarships
| Scholarship & Link | Organization | Application Deadline | Award Amount | Notes |
| Baptist Communicators Association Scholarships | Baptist Communicators Association | 8-Dec | $500-$1000 | $1000 scholarship for Undergraduate student, $500 scholarship for Graduate student, and $1000 scholarship for an Undergraduate student of minority ethnicity or international origin. Students must have vocational plans in Religious communications. |
| David H. C. Read Preacher/Scholar Award | Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church | 31-Jan | $15,000 | Applicants must be nominated by their seminary |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Educational Grant Program | Department for Theological Education | 15-Apr | $4000 per yer | Applicants must be members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and seeking a Ph.D., Th.D., or Ed.D. in theological areas appropriate to seminary teaching. |
| Undergraduates Exploring Ministry Stipend (FTE Undergraduate Fellowships) | The Fund for Theological Education | Feb 1 - March 15 | $2,000 stipend and attendance at the FTE Conferenc | Available to current sophomores and juniors considering going into the ministry. |
| FTE Congregational Fellowship | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Apr | $2000-$5000 | Financial aid for a student during his or her first year of seminary. |
| FTE Ministry Fellowship | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Mar | $10,000 | To apply for the Ministry Fellowship program, you must be nominated by the dean or president of your seminary. |
| Volunteers Exploring Vocation Fellowship | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Apr | $2,500 | To apply for the fellowship, you must be preparing to enter the first year of a Master of Divinity program at an accredited seminary |
| FTE Doctoral Fellowship for African-American Scholars | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Mar | $18,000 | Doctoral Fellowships are for African-American students entering doctoral programs who aspire to teach and do research as faculty in theological schools. |
| FTE Dissertation Fellowship for African-American doctoral students | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Mar | $18,000 | |
| FTE Doctoral Fellowship for minorities | The Fund for Theological Education | 1-Mar | $5,000 to $10,000 | To apply for an FTE North American Doctoral Fellowship, you must be a member of a racial or ethnic group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education. |
| Theological Programs for High School Youth | The Fund for Theological Education | - | Varies | Lilly Endowment supports 34 programs for high school youth at participating seminaries across the U.S. and Canada. |
| Hall Missions Scholarship | First Baptist Church | 21-Feb | $1,000 | Available to undergraduate and graduate students: Applicants must be planning a career in missions, and demonstrate financial need. |
| Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Foundation Scholarship | Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Foundation | 15-Mar | Varies | Applicants must be studying for pastoral ministry (M.Div.) and be a U.S. Citizen. |
| The Charles Wesley Essay Prize | The Charles Wesley Society | 21-May | Varies | Applicants must write a 25 page essay on the life, work, or hyms of Charles Wesley |
| William A. Heath Educational Fund | William A. Heath Educational Fund | 30-Jun | Varies | Scholarships are available to male seminary students who are under 35 years of age. Applicants must be studying for ministry, or preparing for the mission field. Applicants must have graduated from a high school in one of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia. Preference is given to Methodist and Episcopalian applicants, but anyone may apply. |
| Mary E. Bivins Foundation Ministry Scholarship Program | Mary E. Bivins Foundation | Contact foundation in January for details | up to $3000 | Scholarships are provided for an undergraduate or graduate education leading to a Bachelors or Masters Degree in a field that prepares the student to preach the Christian religion. |
| Roothbert Fund Scholarship | The Roothbert Fund | Must request application by January 31st each year. | $2000 - $3000 | While the Fund does not emphasize any particular form of religious practice or worship, it seeks to provide support to persons motivated by spiritual values. |
| Jarman Family Scholarship | Jarman Family Scholarship | 2-Mar-09 | up to $5,000 - may re-apply each year | This program is designed to help deserving children of full-time religious ministers in North or South Carolina to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree. |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Gaston Scholarship | Boys & Girls Club of Greater Gaston | Received by 5:00 pm April 30, 2009 | Varies each year | Must be a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Gaston. Must be entering or be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a college, university, post high school educational institution, or graduate degree in religious vocation. |
| Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Programme for Muslim Communities in Non-Member Countries (SPMC) | Islamic Development Bank | Varies | full tuition, medical and vision insurance, a mont | Objective is to provide educational opportunities for young Muslim students from Muslim communities in non-member countries to pursue undergraduate or first-degree study in a university and to train them in specific fields in order to improve their socio-economic conditions. |
| J. Milton Richardson Theological Fellowship (Graduate Scholarship) | Alpha Tau Omega Foundation | Varies | Varies | The scholarship is awarded to an ATO who plans to attend or is enrolled in an accredited graduate school in theology or the seminary, and who intends to become a member of the clergy. |
| The King Faisal Foundation Scholarship | The King Faisal Foundation | - | - | This is a graduate scholarship available to Muslims studying in science, medicine or engineering. The scholarship can be used at U.S. colleges and the applicant must be a practicing Muslim of high academic merit. This is a full scholarship award, paying all tuition fees, a monthly allowance, and they will give you a ticket home once during the 2-3 years you are a scholarship recipient. |
| The Arab Star Scholarships | The Arab Star, a Dallas based Arab and Muslim newspaper | Varies | $3,000 | Offers two annual scholarships to high school or college students who will major in Journalism. Each scholarship includes work training at The Arab Star. |
| The Arab American Institute Foundation Scholarships | The Arab American Institute | Varies | Varies | Lists hundreds of Scholarship available for American Students of Arab descent |
| Arab American Heritage Council Financial Aid | The American Arab Heritage Council | Varies | Varies | This is offered to High School seniors whose parents/guardians are a member of the Arab American Heritage Council (AAHC) for at least one year prior to application. |
| United Jewish Federation's Central Scholarship and Loan Referral Service (CSLRS) | The Central Scholarship & Loan Referral Service (CSLRS) of the United Jewish Federation | 4-Feb | Varies | Any Jewish high school senior, college or graduate student in the greater Pittsburgh area with financial need is eligible to apply. |
| UCC Scholarships for Seminarians | United Church of Christ | Varies | Up to $10,000 annually for students seeking pastor | Many scholarships made available by supporting the education and training of those preparing for ministry. |
| William and Alice Brown endowment | The American Bible Society | 1-May | $3,000 | Scholarships for Education, Medical and Seminary Students |
| E.C. BOUEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP | INTERNATIONAL MINISTERS WIVES AND WIDOWS ASSOCIATION | Varies | Varies | Scholarship is intended for college undergraduates who are studying or plan to study theology. Must be recommended by the wife of a minister or equivalent of your denomination. Any religion affiliation is acceptable. |
| WOMEN | Women's Missionary Union | Varies | Varies | WMU offers a number of scholarships to women or children of women missionaries and clergy. The foundation seeks to advance the support of Christian values through charity, educating and missionary work. |
| Lee Frances Heller Memorial Award | Trasngender Scholarship and Education Legacy Fund | January | $1,500 | This is a scholarship sponsored by Julie Ann Johnson and awarded to a Christian transgendered student and can be used at any college or University for religious studies. |
| Bernardin Scholars Program | Catholic Theological Union | varies | full tuition scholarship | Students must be accepted in the Masters of Arts in Theology or the Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree programs at Catholic Theological Union (CTU). |
| Romero Scholars Programs | Catholic Theological Union | varies | varies | offers Hispanic men and women a full tuition scholarship for a professional graduate degree that prepares them to minister in the Archdiocese of Chicago. |
| Tolton Scholars Program | Catholic Theological Union | varies | full tuition scholarship | Offers Black Catholic women and men a full tuition scholarship for a professional graduate theology degree that prepares them to minister in the Archdiocese of Chicago |
| Sun Angel Undergraduate Research Awards | Arizona State University Department of Religious Studies | available fall and spring semesters | $1,000 | Given to students who successfully complete a research paper in the context of a three credit independent study with a faculty advisor. |
| Kertzer Scholarship Award & Alpert Scholarship Award in Jewish Studies | Arizona State University Department of Religious Studies | contact joel.gereboff[at]asu.edu for more information |
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| Calihan Academic Fellowship | Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty | 31-Oct | up to $3000 | Awards are open to seminarians or graduate students in theology, philosophy, religion, economics, or in related fields. |
| Novak Award | Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty | 1-Dec | $10,000 | Scholars who have received a doctorate from an accredited domestic or international program in the previous five calendar years. Current doctoral candidates in the process of completing their dissertations are also eligible. |
| Jewish Community Centers of North America Graduate Scholarship Program | Jewish Community Centers of North America | Varies | up to $10,000 | This is a graduate program offered by the Jewish Community Centers, where you agree to work for them after graduation for two years to be eligible for this award. For full time students the award is for $10,000, part time students employed by JCC are eligible for $3000. |
| Scholarships from the Center for Jewish Studies | The George L. Mosse and Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies (University of Wisconsin Madison) | 27-Mar | Up to $3000 | For those obtaining a degree in Jewish Studies |
| The John Orr Scholarship Fund | Westminster College in Pennsylvania | Varies | Varies | awarded to a religion student who plans to enter the seminary. Eligible applicants must have taken at least four religion courses and be in their third year of schooling. |
| The James Corry Religion Scholarship Fund | Westminster College in Pennsylvania | Varies | Varies | Awarded to a college senior whose emphasis is on religion or another major of study which will allow them to pursue a church career. Tuition is covered under this scholarship fund and is based on the student's financial need. |
| The Irvin B. and Marge P. Black Scholarship | High Point University in North Carolina | Varies | Varies | Awarded to a student who selects a major within the field of religion. |
| The Reverend Chester Andrews Scholarship | High Point University in North Carolina | Varies | Varies | For those students who study religion and likely will serve in a ministry. |
| The John D. Idol Memorial Scholarship | High Point University in North Carolina | Varies | Varies | For those students who want to study religion. |