Scholarships for International Undergraduate Students
A rewarding part of joining the ACU family begins with the President’s International Scholarship, a four-year, $22,000 award guaranteed for international undergraduate students. If you choose to live on campus, you are eligible for the Wildcat Housing Grant, valued at $3,000 per year for up to two years. You could also be eligible for one of more than a dozen competitive scholarships based on your leadership experience, extracurricular activities and program of study.
Scholarships for International Graduate Students
Each graduate program at ACU offers unique scholarships targeted to the skills and outcomes most valuable for your career. When you apply for a graduate scholarship, you will be able to demonstrate your experience, expertise and aspirations for the program and for your future. Additional outside, privately funded scholarships are available within your field by professional organizations and accrediting bodies.
2025-2026 Tuition, Fees and Living Expenses
| Fall and Spring Semester | Undergraduate |
| Tuition | $45,500 |
| Student Activity Fee | $300 |
| Housing and Food | $13,600* |
| Health Insurance | $1,650 |
| Books | $700 |
| I-20 Total | $61,750 |
*Price may vary based on residence hall and meal plan selections
| Scholarship | Undergraduate |
| President’s International Scholarship | $22,000 |
| Wildcat Housing Grant* | $3,000 |
| Total Scholarship | $25,000 |
| Total Estimated Net Cost | $36,010 |
*Awarded to students required to live on campus for the first 2 years out of high school or up to age 21.
About This Estimate
To provide the greatest opportunity for our students, ACU offers an annual block tuition model, allowing full-time undergraduate students to pay one price per academic year, general fees included. Block tuition includes fall, spring and summer terms for in-person, online and study abroad classes.
The above figures are based on the assumption that the student lives in a residence hall and has a meal plan. (Single undergraduate students with less than 60 credit hours are required to live on campus unless they are 21 years of age or older. Those who have completed at least 60 credit hours have the option of living off campus.)
This estimate does not include expenses such as transportation to and from one’s home country ($1,450 or more), vacation travel, personal expenses and supplies ($200 or more), clothing, the support of additional persons, or other miscellaneous expenses ($1,822). Note: It is important to understand that tuition increases each year and that living and insurance expenses may increase each year as well.
ACU Academic Scholarships
Honors Fellowship Award
The Honors Fellow Scholarship is one of ACU’s highest honors. To be considered, recipients must be named a Presidential Scholar and be admitted to the Honors College. The Honors Fellow Scholarship amount varies and combines with other scholarships received.
Apply to the ACU Honors College by December 1 or March 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.
National Merit Finalists, Semi-Finalists and Commended Scholars
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, board and/or books.
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.
Program-Specific Scholarships
Agriculture and Environmental Science Scholarships
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.
Art and Design Scholarships
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.
Deadline for portfolio submission is March 1. Recipients will be announced April 1.
Bible, Missions and Ministry Scholarships
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 have submitted the FAFSA to apply.
College of Business Administration Scholarships
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.
Communication and Sociology Scholarships
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.
Entrepreneurship Scholarships
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.
Journalism and Mass Communication Scholarships
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.
Music Scholarships
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.
School of Information Technology & Computing Scholarships
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.
ACU General Scholarships
Athletics
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.
Big Purple Marching Band
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.
Church-Match Scholarship
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.
Community Servant Leader and Cultures of ACU Award (LYNAY)
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 submit the FAFSA to apply.
Missionary Dependent Discounted Tuition
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.
Complete the Missionary Dependent form and submit it to Wildcat Central.
Onstead Scholarship
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 have submitted the FAFSA to apply.