In this article, you will learn about and also get access to application detail links of several full-ride seminary scholarships you can find out there open to receive application from different categories of students.
Attending a theological college or seminary to be trained as a minister requires a lot of money like every normal education. This can suck up students’ budgets and they can go into borrowing. Luckily, full-ride seminary scholarships have come to alleviate this problem.
So, if you wish to attend a seminary or a theological college and you do not have the finance for your education, you can apply for any of these full-ride seminary scholarships. In addition, these financial aids are being sponsored by faith-based foundations and memorial funds.
Is it possible to get a full-ride seminary scholarship?
Yes! You can get a full-ride seminary scholarship if you meet the eligibility requirements for that seminary scholarship. Most full-ride seminary scholarships depend on the applicant’s religious background, academic history, leadership qualities, and skills.
What is needed to get a full-ride seminary scholarship?
If you want to win a full-ride seminary scholarship, you will start by choosing a seminary school of your choice. By choosing a seminary school, you will check for the requirements of that full-ride seminary scholarship that you wish to apply for. Ensure that your cumulative GPA is not below 3.0 as this is the minimum GPA for most scholarships.
Once you meet the eligibility requirements, gather the necessary documents including letters of recommendation, official transcripts, essays, etc, and apply as early as possible. Ensure that you highlight what makes you exceptional in your application. This is because seminary schools are looking for students who are not only brilliant but students who possess outstanding leadership qualities.
On the other hand, the scholarship application may require a little fee. Ensure that you save up for the registration.
Treat your scholarship interview like a job interview. Make adequate research about the seminary school and ask questions from students of the school through any of the school’s support channels prior to your interview. Information gathered will help you excel during the scholarship interview and eventually win the award.
Top Full-Ride Seminary Scholarships
Here is the list of the top full-ride seminary scholarships:
Presidential Scholarship – Denver Seminary
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary – Hamilton
ATLA Scholarship for Theological Librarianship
GCF Scholarship Funds
Diamonds in the Rough Ministry Scholarship
Fuller Theological Seminary
Kingdom Scholarship Application, Denver Seminary
Engaging Hope Scholarship Application, Denver Seminary
Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Scholarship
Holly Elliott and Laurel Glass Scholarship
Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship
George and Lynna Gene Cook Scholarship
Presidential Scholarship – Denver Seminary
The purpose of establishing the Presidential Scholarship at Denver Seminary is to help new students who are enrolled at Denver and do not have funds to pursue their education at the seminary. These students possess outstanding ministerial experience, maturity, and academic records.
Beneficiaries of the financial award must be willing to complete a full-time master of Divinity degree at the seminary. The duration of the study is three (3) years. Additionally, they will have to serve in a local ministry or church throughout the duration of their studies at the Denver Seminary.
The value of the scholarship is $15,000 for tuition per academic year and $10,000 for on-campus accommodation. All of these will cover tuition and housing costs for full-time students.
As one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships, the seminary established this aid to assist three cohorts of four students over the next six years.
Scholarship Link
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary – Hamilton
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary provides financial awards that cover the cost of tuition of students enrolled at the seminary on an F-1 visa.
The scholarship is renewable, in other words, recipients can renew the award annually throughout the period of study by simply maintaining academic records.
Applicants who are willing to return o their country of origin to provide Christian leadership after graduating from the seminary will be considered for the award.
The seminary provides the financial award to qualified students only at the commencement of the program of study at the seminary. However, students who enroll in the seminary without an International Student Scholarship will not be eligible for the scholarship
Scholarship Link
ATLA Scholarship for Theological Librarianship
The American Theological Library Association (ATLA) sponsors this scholarship. It is designed for students of underrepresented religious, ethnic, or gender who are offering theological librarianship courses in addition to their ALA-accredited master’s program in library and information science.
ATLAS offers two of these scholarships every year to students in theology and Christian studies. This financial award is one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be members of ATLA or register as a member of the organization.
The scholarship email is memberrep@atla.com.
Scholarship Link
GCF Scholarship Funds
Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF) offers scholarships to students annually for them to pursue theological, biblical, or religious studies at the post-graduate level. It is part of GCF’s mission to ensure that people who have God’s calling are funded to pursue higher theological education.
As one of the full-ride seminary scholarships, it is funded by contributions from the GCFers and friends. The value of the scholarship is $5,000 annually for a period of three years. It is merit-based and applicants will have to show financial need.
Upon graduation, recipients will have to write a monograph for GCF on the implication and impact of their studies upon graduate’s ministry, workplace/professional theology, faith and work issues, or faith and culture issues, to serve a Singapore-based Christian organization for a minimum of five years.
To be eligible, applicants must citizens or permanent residents of Singapore. In addition, they must be ready to endorse the doctrinal basis of the GCF and be committed to their church.
Scholarship Link
Diamonds in the Rough Ministry Scholarship
Diamonds in the Rough Ministry is a not-for-profit organization in the United States. This foundation aims at providing scholarship opportunities to female high school seniors in Texas to pursue graduate ministerial studies in theology, Christian studies, religion, or related fields.
The value of the award varies based on the number of applicants. It is one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships.
To be eligible for the scholarship award, applicants must be females who are pursuing post-secondary education in Texas. In addition, they must be high school graduates and citizens or permanent residents in the U.S.
Scholarship Link
Fuller Theological Seminary
Every year, Charles E. Fuller offers scholarships to students possessing outstanding academic records who are pursuing degrees in theology at the Fuller Theological Seminary. Reports show that over 2,000 students have benefitted from this award.
The scholarship will cover 15% of the recipient’s tuition annually. However, the scheme offers merit-based scholarships to a limited number of incoming students at the seminary. This merit-based scholarship will cover from 25% to 100% of the beneficiary’s tuition.
Scholarship Link
Kingdom Scholarship Application, Denver Seminary
The aim of the Kingdom Scholars Endowed Scholarship is to provide financial aid to deserving Master of Divinity students pursuing careers in full-time ministry including a pastor, youth pastor, worship pastor, counselor, church planter, or missionary.
The scholarship will cover 50% of the student’s tuition and it is designed for new students only. It is one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships.
To be eligible for the award, applicants must be residents of the U.S who are enrolled for full-time studies in a Masters of Divinity program. They must not be over 35 years of age and must be pursuing a career in full-time ministry after graduation. Additionally, applicants should possess a cumulative GPA of 3.1 and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 while in school.
Scholarship Link
Engaging Hope Scholarship Application, Denver Seminary
The Engaging Hope Scholarship is given to new incoming students pursuing a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts program at Denver University. This scholarship award is one of the full-ride seminary scholarships.
It covers 50% to 100% of the recipient’s tuition. To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts program for full-time studies at Denver Seminary. Candidates must also show financial needs and have excellent academic records.
Scholarship Link
Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Scholarship
The Adrienne M. and Charles Shelby Rooks Scholarship is designed to support the seminary education of members of the United Church of Christ (UCC) from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in the church who are committed to serving the UCC.
These members will have to be enrolled in a school of theology that is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Additionally, the aid is available to members of the UCC who are African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Native-American Indian, or Pacific Islander.
The worth of the scholarship is $5,000. It is one of the full-ride seminary scholarships.
Scholarship Link
Holly Elliott and Laurel Glass Scholarship
The Holly Elliott and Laurel Glass Scholarship are established to assist students who are deaf or deaf-blind to acquire seminary education to prepare them for specialized ministries in the church or become ordained.
The value of the scholarship varies and the total of awards offered is $50,000.
To apply for the Holly Elliott and Laurel Glass Scholarship, candidates will have to provide an essay, letter of recommendation, application form, personal statement, official transcript, and evidence of disability.
Scholarship Link
Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship
Every year, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) offers the Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship. This scholarship is available to undergraduate or graduate-level racial-ethnic minority students pursuing ordained ministry (deacon or elder).
As one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships, the Journey Toward Ordained Ministry Scholarship is worth $5,000.
To qualify for the award, applicants must not be more than 30 years of age and pursuing a career in ministry, theology, Christian studies, Bible, or religion. Candidates should also be members of the United Methodist Church for at least 2 years and will have to be attending a United Methodist-related to the institution. Applicants will have to maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.85 for undergraduate degrees and 3.0 for graduate degrees.
Scholarship Link
George and Lynna Gene Cook Scholarship
The George and Lynna Gene Cook Scholarship is offered by the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF). This scholarship award is available to high school seniors or graduates from Nebraska pursuing Christian ministry education such as theology and religion.
George and Lynna Gene Cook Scholarship is worth $5,000 per year and it is one of the top full-ride seminary scholarships.
To qualify, applicants must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above from a recognized university in the U.S. More consideration will be given to candidates who are active members of the First Church of God.
Scholarship Link
Lorene L. Gerdon Seminary Scholarship
The Lorene L. Gerdon Seminary Scholarship is sponsored by the Iowa United Methodist Foundation (IUMF). This financial award is available to students pursuing graduate or professional degrees in Christian ministry. These students must come from Appanoose, Davis, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, or Wapello and they must be members of the Methodist Church.
As one of the full-ride seminary scholarships, the Lorene L. Gerdon Seminary Scholarship is valued at $7,500.
Candidates are required to be enrolled or intending to enroll in a graduate degree. They must also show financial need.
Scholarship Link
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