Religion/Theology Scholarships

There are many religions people align themselves with and for the most dedicated followers, life after college doesn’t mean a swanky corner office and unlimited expense accounts: It means becoming part of the faith they were raised in or educating others about it. But how does one gain the necessary knowledge to do so? By majoring in religion or theology.

Whether your goal is to become a priest, rabbi, teacher, activist or writer, a deep understanding of your chosen religion is vital in landing the position you desire. Expect to take a fair amount of history, anthropology, philosophy and writing-intensive courses in addition to your major classes and consider the possibility of studying abroad or accepting an internship or research fellowship to further immerse yourself in your studies. Funding your education, however, can become quite expensive and the best way to graduate with a limited amount of student loans (and the possibility of future debt) is to apply for religion and theology scholarships and grants to pay for school.

Scholarships.com lists numerous faith-based scholarship awards – Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Episcopalian, Hindu, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist, Muslim, Pagan/Wiccan and Presbyterian – but many universities like Fuller Theological Seminary and the Claremont School of Theology offer their own religion and theology scholarships. For additional scholarship opportunities, conduct a free scholarship search today!

Mark B. Holzman Scholarship
Application Deadlines: June 01, Annually
Applicants for the Mark B. Holzman Scholarship must be a Delaware resident and enrolled in a graduate-level program in either dentistry, medicine, religion or law. For more information and to request an application, please contact: Mark B. Holzman Scholarship Trust c/o Wilmington Trust Company Att: Personal Trust and Private Banking 3 South DuPont Highway Georgetown, DE 19947-2802 [...] More

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines: March 01, Annually
Applicants for the Nellie Martin Carman Scholarships must: - Be a graduating senior from a public high school in the county of King, Pierce or Snohomish in the state of Washington in the year of appointment - Be a United States citizen - Plan to attend a college in the state of Washington on a full-time basis Application forms are only available through the high schools in the counties [...] More

Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowships
Application Deadlines: November 15, Annually
Applicants must be candidates for Ph.D. or Th.D. degrees in doctoral programs at graduate schools in the United States. Candidates with D. Min., law and other professional degrees are not eligible. These awards are made to Ph.D candidates who are in the writing stage of the dissertation. Usually, this means that fieldwork or other research is complete and writing has begun by the time of the [...] More

Ohio Baptist Education Society Scholarship
Application Deadlines: Varies
Available to seminary and college Jrs. & Srs. going into full time ministry or missions. Applicant must be resident of Oho(permanent)and member of an American Baptist Church of [...] More

Jewish Community Center (JCC) North American Graduate Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 01, Annually
Full-time students receive up to $10,000 per year for a one or two-year period to pursue graduate studies that lead to a professional career in the JCC Movement. As a JCC of North America Graduate scholar, each recipient will participate in a program of selected JCC Association educational experiences and career development seminars. Acceptable graduate degrees include social work, Jewish [...] More

Lilly Scholarships in Religion for Journalists
Application Deadlines: Varies
Journalists interested in taking college courses in religion or spirituality may apply for a scholarship program offered by the Religion Newswriters Association. Journalists will receive scholarships for up to $5,000 each to study religion at any accredited college, university or seminary. Scholarships cover expenses including tuition, registration fees and books. Scholarships are funded by a [...] More

Oklahoma Christian University Current Student Bible/Vocational Ministry Scholarships
Application Deadlines: February 15, Annually
Majors and non-majors alike learn from experienced ministers and Bible/ministry professors with diverse educational backgrounds such as Oxford, Baylor, Wheaton and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, to name a few, at Oklahoma Christian University's College of Biblical Studies. In addition to biblical scholarship, students have hands-on ministry prospects through a vocational ministry [...] More

Dora Maclellan Brown Seminary Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 15, Annually
Scholarships given to Christian men and woman from the greater Chattanooga area who are theologically and biblically conservative, and are seeking a Masters of Divinity or Masters of Theology degree at a theological Seminary approved by The Foundation. The Scholarship Committee's preference is for candidates for the pulpit ministry, although applications for other ministry training will be [...] More

Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines: January 20, Annually
Students are selected to participate in our Smart Start Scholarship Program, providing full tuition (less financial aid) scholarship and four years of paid internships with JPMorgan Chase. Eligibility Requirements: High school seniors graduating in the spring who are New York City residents attending New York City public, private or parochial schools, accepted to one of the participating New [...] More

Bache Renshaw Fellowship
Application Deadlines: January 17, Annually
The ISI Bache Renshaw Fellowship awards each recipient $12,000 toward doctoral study in education that will influence the discipline with the ideas, values, and institutions that are fundamental to America’s Western tradition. Successful candidates will intend to pursue doctoral study so that they may teach future teachers, shape and influence curricula, and contribute to the larger dialogue on [...] More

Marguerite Young Endowment Fund
Application Deadlines: March 31, Annually
The Marguerite Young Endowment Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation was created to provide assistance to seminary students. Marguerite Young was a sincere Christian woman who was a faithful member of her church and an unwavering supporter of theological education for the training of faithful Christian ministers. This scholarship was set up at her request and the selection process is handled by some [...] More

FTE Ministry Fellows Program
Application Deadlines: March 01, Annually
The Ministry Fellowships provides enrichment to Master of Divinity students who embody the highest intellectual and spiritual qualities essential for Christian pastoral leadership. Applicants must be entering their first year of a Master of Divinity program at an accredited seminary in the fall. Currently enrolled students and M.T.S., Th.M., and M.A. students are not eligible for this program. [...] More

Muktabodha Indological Research Institute Fellowships
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Muktabodha Indological Research Institute has been actively encouraging the development of the next generation of scholars of the Hindu Tantra in India and the West through fellowship grants and scholarships. Recognizing that students play a key role in defining the next generation of scholarship, Muktabodha offers two levels of scholarships. Graduate Scholarship Program in India: This [...] More

Fund for Nurturing Unitarian Universalist Scholarship
Application Deadlines: March 15, Annually
The Panel on Theological Education of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is receiving applications for grants up to $25,000 from Unitarian Universalist (UU) scholars who are committed to strengthening the UU movement through research and publication, excellence in teaching, and educational leadership. Candidates eligible for this program, in order of priority, are: 1. Ph.D. candidates [...] More

Presbyterian Church-U.S.A. Student Opportunity Scholarships
Application Deadlines: June 01, Annually
The Presbyterian Church-U.S.A. Student Opportunity Scholarships serves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) college students in select majors (Education, Health Service/Science, Religious Studies, Sacred Music, Social Service/Science) by providing aid for the expenses of their third and fourth years of an undergraduate program. Preference in this program is extended to racial ethnic students in order to [...] More

Mary E. Bivins Foundation
Application Deadlines: June 03, Annually
The purpose of the Mary E. Bivins Foundation Religious Scholarship Program is to educate and train ministers to teach Christianity. $1,000 to $3,000 scholarships are available to undergraduates and graduates who are pursuing a degree in a field that prepares the student to preach the Christian religion. This scholarship is available for young men who are: committed to their studies, maintain a [...] More

Stoody-West Graduate Fellowship
Application Deadlines: March 15, Annually
The purpose of the Stoody-West Fellowship is to enhance the recipient's professional competence and thereby help to perpetuate the standards exemplified by Ralph Stoody and Arthur West. Religious journalism is interpreted to include news writing for secular press, church press and for church institutions. The committee will consider appropriate news and journalism forms, including electronic and [...] More

The Reverend Dr. Robert M. Simmons, Ph.D. Scholarship Foundation
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Reverend Dr. Robert M. Simmons, Ph.D. Scholarship Foundation is established in honor of the Late Rev. Dr. Robert M. Simmons, academician, Pastor, and Sacred Music Scholar. The goals and objectives of The Reverend Dr. Robert M. Simmons, Ph.D. Scholarship Foundation are: (A) The perpetuation, promotion and advancement of the African-American ideals through the medium of sacred music and [...] More

Women of the ELCA Mary Seeley Knudstrup Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 15, Annually
This scholarship is intended to help ELCA women complete graduate courses of study that will ready them for occupations in Christian service. The applicant must: - be at least 21-years-old - be a citizen of the United States of America - hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - have experienced an interruption in education of two or more years since completion of high [...] More

FTE North American Doctoral Fellows Program
Application Deadlines: March 01, Annually
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. You must be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religion or theology and you must have a record of high academic performance. You must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of either country. You must [...] More