Scholarship Opportunities

Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and are African American, Hispanic American or Latinx, Indigenous or attend school in a rural area or small town, may be invited by the College Board to apply for academic recognition as part of the College Board National Recognition Programs. 

ACU awards an additional scholarship — up to $6,000 per year for four years — to students recognized through College Board programs. This scholarship may be used in addition to other ACU scholarships and grants up to the cost of full tuition but cannot be applied toward room and board expenses.

Provide your College Board National Recognition Program Certificate to your admissions counselor to receive this scholarship. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply

The Honors Fellowship is a scholarship offered to undergraduate ACU Honors students interested in helping lead and serve as a student ambassador for the College. 

Honors Ambassadors serve as student panelists, activity facilitators, event coordinators, guest speakers, tour guides, student liaisons, outreach event participants, and more. Ambassadors develop leadership, presentation and project management skills for their own educational and professional development.

Apply to the ACU Honors College by December 1 or April 1.

A student’s application for admission, application for the Honors College, recommendations, test scores and high school transcript are considered when selecting recipients of this scholarship.

All National Merit Finalists and Semi-Finalists are guaranteed full tuition, when coordinated with federal, state and institutional grants, to attend ACU. Additionally, these students are provided a $1,500 stipend per year to help cover the costs of room and board.

National Merit Commended Scholars are awarded a $2,000 scholarship per year that stacks with their other merit-based awards.

No application is required; however, you must submit the FAFSA. Provide a copy of your National Merit Certificate to your admissions counselor to receive this scholarship.

The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students demonstrating a high level of involvement in extracurricular activities, have a history in leadership positions, participate in faith-based settings and excel academically.

The Presidential is valued at $5,000 per year and is awarded in addition to other academic scholarships. 

A student’s application for admission, test scores and high school transcript are considered when selecting recipients of this scholarship.

ACU offers graduating valedictorians and salutatorians a one-time $1,000 scholarship in addition to their merit-based award. Submit your official final high school transcript to receive this scholarship.

The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science awards scholarships to select incoming freshmen who declare a major in Agribusiness, Animal Science, or Environmental Science. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply.

The Department of Art and Design awards merit scholarships and study abroad/travel vouchers to select incoming freshmen who declare a major in art, graphic design, interior architecture and design, art education and art therapy. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply and submit a portfolio for review.

We request that you include 10-15 works of art in your portfolio. Make sure that the photographs of your pieces are of high quality and provide a faithful representation of the actual artworks. We welcome drawing, painting, 2D + 3D design, sculpture, ceramics, digital and graphic design and photography. Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Keystone are excellent software choices for creating your digital portfolio.

Apply for the Art & Design Scholarship at the button below.

Apply here

Deadline for portfolio submission is March 1. Recipients will be announced April 1.

Students majoring in bible and ministry or ministry and vocation are eligible to apply for the Bible, Missions and Ministry scholarship. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.

ACU’s College of Business Administration (COBA) is dedicated to recognizing and rewarding academic excellence and potential in our future leaders. Because of this, we are proud to offer unique scholarship opportunities to business majors. Every incoming freshman declaring a major in marketing, management, information systems accounting, or finance is eligible to receive a Business Professionals scholarship and/or an experiential learning voucher, determined by their high school academic profile. Business Professionals scholarships and experiential learning vouchers do not require application, and students will be directly notified if chosen as recipients.

High-achieving business students may be invited to apply to our two Distinguished Scholar programs: Heacock Scholars (all business majors) and Dukes Scholars (finance majors only). Participation in these programs includes scholarship funds ranging from $7,000-12,000+ per year, which takes place of any previously awarded business scholarships, and increased experiential learning vouchers. Test scores are required to be invited to apply.

Incoming freshmen pursuing technology majors within the School of Information, Technology, and Computing (digital entertainment technology, computer science, or computer science & math teaching) are eligible for scholarships that differ from those offered to business majors, but are similar to the Business Professionals scholarships in that they are awarded based on high school academic profile, not open for application, and recipients will be directly notified.

The Department of Communication and Sociology awards scholarships to select incoming freshmen who declare a major in communication or sociology. Students must also enroll in at least three hours of their major each semester. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply.

The ACU Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy offers scholarship awards for new students no matter your major who are pursuing one of the entrepreneurship degree offerings, including a certificate in entrepreneurship, a minor in entrepreneurship or the entrepreneurship track within the Business management degree.

Apply Here

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication awards scholarships to select incoming freshmen who declare a major in journalism, advertising/public relations, or multimedia. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply.

Apply HERE

Incoming freshmen pursuing technology majors within the School of Information, Technology, and Computing (digital entertainment technology, computer science, or computer science & math teaching) are eligible for scholarships based on high school academic profile. These awards are not open for application and recipients will be directly notified.

Scholarships in vocal and instrumental music are available to qualified music and non-music majors and require an audition. For questions regarding music scholarships, please contact Laura Dickson at laura.dickson@acu.edu.

ACU is a member of the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference. Athletic scholarships vary in amount and are determined by the NCAA and head coach of each sport. To inquire about availability, complete a prospect questionnaire for your sport of interest.

All students participating in the Big Purple Marching Band and remaining in good academic and behavioral standing with the University receive a scholarship award for the fall semester. An audition is not required for this scholarship. 

Learn more about the Big Purple Marching Band Scholarship

All dependent children of full-time employees at Church of Christ universities are guaranteed a minimum of 50% discounted tuition when coordinated with other institutional aid. Students must have submitted the FAFSA to apply.

ACU matches church gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $500 per year. Complete our church match form and submit it with payment to Student Financial Services.

All first-time, incoming students are invited to apply to ACU’s Community Servant Leader and Cultures of ACU Award.  Recipients of these awards are invited to join the LYNAY community as part of the Center for Building Community at ACU.  LYNAY’s purpose is bold but simple: to build a world of better communities by fostering, inspiring and encouraging a new generation of community servant-leaders, who work together to promote active leadership and service to our world in hopes of building stronger, more engaged and loving communities.  

Community Servant-Leader Award
Recipients are expected to be servant-minded students who demonstrate strong leadership potential, the ability to succeed academically and the desire to build a stronger and more engaged society.

Cultures of ACU Award
Recipients are expected to enhance the academic, social and spiritual environment around them by sharing their unique cultural backgrounds, experiences and perspectives in order to promote a community of diversity and equality.

The application for these awards opens October 1 with priority consideration given to applications received by December 1. Students who complete this application are considered for each of these scholarship opportunities. Recipients of either award must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA at ACU, attend weekly meetings and fulfill a community service commitment each semester. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.

Apply Here

Children of full-time Church of Christ supported missionaries serving internationally are guaranteed 75% discounted tuition when combined with all other gift aid from federal, state and institutional sources. Students must have submitted the FAFSA to apply.

Apply HERE

All dependent children of full-time employees of an ACU Education Partner or NCSA school are eligible to apply for this scholarship, valued at $5,000 per year for up to four years. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply. Please reach out to your Admissions Counselor to see if your private Christian school is an ACU Education Partner.

The NCSA school list can be found at the button below:

NCSA school list

Apply for the ACU Education Partnership and NCSA Faculty/Staff Dependent Scholarship at the button below:

Apply Here

Students who graduate from an ACU Education Partner or NCSA school are eligible to apply for this scholarship, valued at $1,000 per year for up to four years. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply. Please reach out to your Admissions Counselor to see if your private Christian school is an ACU Education Partner.

The NCSA school list can be found at the button below:

NCSA school list

Apply for the ACU Education Partnership and NCSA Graduate Scholarship at the button below:
Apply Here

First-time, incoming freshman students, who are dependent children of full-time Church of Christ ministers, can apply for this endowed scholarship created by Bob and Kay Onstead. This scholarship is renewable annually for up to four years. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.

Apply here

ACU offers a $1,000 scholarship for students who have obtained any of the following achievements through the Boy Scouts of America or Girl Scouts USA: Eagle Scout, Venturing Silver, Sea Scouting Quartermaster, Gold Award or the American Heritage Girls Stars and Stripes.

This scholarship is renewable annually for up to four years. Students must be admitted to ACU to apply.

Apply here

* Upload scouting certificate

Scholarships for the ACU Debate Team are available to qualified students interested in joining ACU’s Debate Team! An application, three references, and an audition are required. Student GPA and standardized testing scores will be evaluated. For questions regarding Debate Team scholarships, please contact Sheila Ritchie at sheila.ritchie@acu.edu

Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply. The deadline to apply for this award is April 1st.

Apply here

ACU participates in the Tuition Exchange (TE) and the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) programs. These are tuition benefit exchange programs between ACU and partner institutions. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.

Contact your admissions counselor for more information. 

If you plan to use a VA benefit, or if you are a dependent of a servicemember who plans to transfer their benefit to you, begin exploring your benefit options on our Veterans Affairs web page. 

Benefits eligibility questions are fundamentally the responsibility of the Veterans Administration. Questions about qualifications, amounts of benefit and months of eligibility may be directed to the VA website or by calling 1-888-442-4551.

The Nellie Snyder and Mildred O. Nation Endowed Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to ACU students from the Texas Panhandle. Applicants must be a resident of a zip code starting with the following numbers: 790xx, 791xx, 792xx, 793xx or 794xx. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.

The Rio Grande Valley Scholarship is awarded to outstanding students from the Texas Rio Grande Valley area. Students must be admitted to ACU and plan to file the FAFSA to apply.