Methodist College Scholarships

Are you an active member of a Methodist congregation who is planning on attending college in the near future? You may be eligible for a Methodist scholarship. As with many other religions, active members of the church are often eligible for tuition assistance as a reward for their support and good standing in the church.

The best-known Methodist scholarships are available through the United Methodist Church's General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). The funds available through GBHEM are a church-wide educational service to Methodist students. To qualify, applicants must be active members of a UMC church for a minimum of a year, be admitted to an accredited U.S. institution, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. For those needing financial assistance in addition to any scholarships they earn, UMC's loan program is one of the nation's oldest loan programs, allowing students to borrow up to $5,000 per year at 5% interest.

Aside from the typical requirements of demonstrating financial need, some scholarships require commitment to community service or volunteer work through the Methodist Church. Others are awarded to those pursuing a degree in theology. Still others are merit-based and offered for superior grades and scores on aptitude tests like the SAT or ACT.

Outside of the UMC's scholarship offerings, nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Methodist Church may also offer scholarships, as well as local churches. Contact the ministry or speak to your local administration for further information regarding exact qualifications and requirements, as well as the application processes and deadlines for submitting applications.

List of Methodist Scholarships

• GBHEM Graduate Scholarships — Various scholarships awarded to UMC students pursuing graduate studies. Scholarships include: the $5,000 Rosalie Bentzinger Scholarship for deacons pursuing a Ph.D. in Christian education; the $5,000 Esther Edwards Graduate Scholarship for female graduate students pursuing studies in higher education administration; the Women of Color Scholars Program; and many others.


• GBHEM Scholarships for Undergraduate and/or Graduate Students — Multiple scholarships available to both undergraduate and graduate students who meet the criteria established in each individual scholarship. Scholarships are available for those 35 and older, for minority students, and more.


• GBHEM Scholarships for Undergraduate Students — Multiple scholarships available for undergraduate UMC students who meet the criteria established in each individual scholarship.


• Iowa United Methodist Foundation Scholarships — The Foundation offers a large number of scholarships to Iowa residents who meet specific criteria. For example, the Westmar Scholarship provides $2,000 each year for students attending or planning to attend a college in Iowa that is affiliated with the UMC church, and who meet all other requirements, with preference given to students from certain Northwest Iowa counties.


• Young People's Ministries Scholarships — Scholarships include the David W. Self Scholarship, which is awarded to United Methodist youth who have been active in their local church for at least one year, who have been admitted to a program at an accredited university, who are pursuing a church-related career, and who meet all other requirements; and the Richard S. Smith Scholarship, which is awarded to UMC racial/ethnic minority youth only.

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Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.