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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!

Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowships

  • Application Deadline: 11/15/2019
  • Amount: $25,000
  • The prestigious Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships are designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly to help Ph.D. candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. Candidates for Ph.D. or Th.D. degrees must be in an American doctoral [...] More

David Pohl Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • This scholarship was established by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) upon Rev. Pohl's retirement as Unitarian Universalist Association Director of Ministry in 1993. It supports the intellectual, spiritual, and professional development of individuals studying for Unitarian Universalist (UU) ministry. Priority is given those grantees that have demonstrated outstanding [...] More

Disciples Leadership Program

  • Application Deadline: 1/10/2020
  • Amount: $6,000
  • This top-tier, competitive scholarship is awarded to first-time freshmen based on leadership, academic excellence, and the commitment to explore during college a life of faith-based servant leadership. DLP Fellows receive full tuition plus two on-site mentorships ($6,000 total combined, travel-related expenses) exploring service anywhere in the world. DOC students discerning a call to ordained [...] More

Interfaith Spiritutality Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The purpose of this scholarship is to support deserving individuals who have demonstrated an interest in and are prepared to integrate interfaith understanding into their ministry and have a commitment to guiding others on their own spiritual path. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a Masters of Divinity program leading to fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist (UU) ministery. For [...] More

Iowa UMF Seminary Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $7,500
  • Iowa United Methodist Foundation offers thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants every year to students who demonstrate academic and community excellence and have maintained a faithful membership with the United Methodist Church. For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Louis-Edward Nicklies Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/28/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Louis-Edward Nicklies Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate, masters-level and doctoral students enrolled in 12+ credit hours who have graduated from a high school located in Jefferson County, KY. Applicants must be members of a Baptist church.

    For more information, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Marguerite Young Endowment Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2020
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The Marguerite Young Endowment Fund was established to provide assistance for students pursuing theology. 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. Applicants must pursue a degree or studies in Theology and be enrolled full-time in a [...] More

Oklahoma Christian University Current Student Biblical Studies Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $4,000
  • Oklahoma Christian awards more than $19 million in institutional scholarships and grants every year. Generous donors make it possible for Oklahoma Christian to offer a variety of scholarships for new and returning students majoring in preaching, Bible, ministry, vocational ministry and more.

    For more information, visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Presbyterian Student Opportunity Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/15/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The Student Opportunity Scholarship program serves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) college students by providing need-based aid for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are full-time, first-degree students attending accredited institutions in the United States. Student Opportunity Scholarship applicants will explore who God created them to be in a series of essay questions intended for students to [...] More

The Ernst Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $1,500
  • The OBES exists to provide financial Assistance in the way of scholarships to prepare American Baptist Professional Ministers for tomorrow. The Rev. Robert E. And Gladys Ernst Scholarship awarded to current ABC/Ordained pastors of American Baptist Churches in Ohio who are pursuing post-graduate ministry degrees such as Master's or Ph.D of Divinity either at accredited institutions or through a [...] More

The Ingeborg Haseltine Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Ingeborg Haseltine made a gift from her estate to establish a permanent scholarship fund to support the education of women pursuing a career in the ministry of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a Masters of Divinity degree program leading to fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister. Priority is given those grantees that have [...] More

The John A. Buehrens Ministerial Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • John A. Buehrens, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) from 1993-2001, has made enormous contributions to the life of this institution and to the Unitarian Universalist movement as a whole. To recognize and honor his work, the UUA has established a permanent fund to support the intellectual, spiritual, and professional development of future Unitarian Universalist ministers [...] More

The Lucille K. and Jerome P. Gallon Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Lucille K. and Jerome P. Gallon Scholarship was created to support promising candidates for Unitarian Universalist ministry. This scholarship is to individuals who have demonstrated strong preaching skills during their path to ministry. The funds are available to students enrolled at least half-time in a Masters of Divinity degree program leading to fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist [...] More

The Olympia Brown and Max Kapp Award

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Olympia Brown and Max Kapp Award is made to a ministerial student who, in addition to meeting the requirements for general financial aid, chooses to submit as part of their general financial application a paper, sermon, or another special project on some aspect of Universalism. Entries are evaluated by an outside reader. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a Masters of Divinity [...] More

The President William G. Sinkford Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Unitarian Universalist Association established the President William G. Sinkford Fund in 2008, during the last year of Rev. Sinkford's UUA Presidency. To honor his legacy in the years to come, the Sinkford Fund will further Rev. Sinkford's visions by providing scholarships for promising and passionate students preparing for Unitarian Universalist ministry. Applicants must be ministerial [...] More

The Rev. Chuck and Nancy Thomas Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/23/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • This scholarship serves Unitarian Universalism, and individual Unitarian Universalists like Chuck and Nancy Thomas, by valuing a history of service and leadership as critical elements of a call toward professional theological training. Each year it supports a student in the first year of seminary or in preparatory academic work. Scholars qualify for the award by demonstrating their outstanding [...] More

The Roy H. Pollack Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Roy H. Pollack Scholarship was created in 1998 to support second or third-year students who have strong academic records and are a promising candidate for the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a Masters of Divinity program leading to fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister. For more information or to apply, please visit the [...] More

The Saul Kagan Fellowship in Advanced Shoah Studies

  • Application Deadline: 1/3/2020
  • Amount: $20,000
  • The Kagan Fellowship in Advanced Shoah Studies welcomes applications from Ph.D. and post-doc candidates from around the world for funding for the September through the following August academic year.

    For more information or to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

The Susan M. Jackson Ministerial Scholars Fund

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Susan M. Jackson's children established this fund on Ms. Jackson's 85th birthday to honor her commitment and dedication to Unitarian Universalism. This scholarship is awarded to recipients who share with the wider world their enthusiasm about Unitarian Universalist (UU) ideas and conclusions, drawn from their faith, which influence their lives. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a [...] More

United Methodist GBHEM Doctorate Level Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/7/2020
  • Amount: $10,000
  • GBHEM Scholarships administers scholarship programs with one general application. Criteria for each scholarship program varies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA person and be an active member of The United Methodist Church for at least one year. Applicants must have a masters degree and be enrolled in a doctoral program for ministry. A minimum 2.5 GPA is also [...] More

United Methodist GBHEM Ministry as a Career Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2020
  • Amount: $10,000
  • GBHEM Scholarships administers scholarship programs with one general application. Criteria for each scholarship program varies.

    Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA status students and must be an active full member of The United Methodist Church for at least 1 year (International applicants must be active full members for at least 3 years. Other Methodist [...] More

Von Ogden Vogt Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/13/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • This scholarship was established in 2001 by Walter and Carolyn Vogt to honor Walter's father The Rev. Dr. Von Ogden Vogt and his dedication and commitment to Unitarian Universalism. Scholarships are given to support the intellectual, spiritual, and professional development of future Unitarian Universalist ministers who are attending Meadville Lombard Theological School. For more information or to [...] More

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by Susan Dutca-Lovell

Harvard revoked more admissions offers - this time involving 10 students who participated in a Facebook group called "Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens." Jokes about abusing children and the Holocaust and insulting comments about different racial and ethnic groups were found in the group, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Earlier this month, Harvard also rescinded an admission offer to Kyle Kashuv who, when he was 16 years old, used inflammatory and racist language, including the N-word, right before the Parkland shooting at his school, Stoneman Douglas High School. The shootings have since "changed him and made him more mature," he claims. Kashuv became famous for his conservatism, pro-gun and pro-Trump activism which he believes, represent a different view on how to prevent future, like tragedies.

In a recent Twitter post, he apologized for his past comments and stated that, "We were 16-year-olds making idiotic comments, using callous and inflammatory language in an effort to be as extreme and shocking as possible...I'm embarrassed by it, but I want to be clear that the comments I made are not indicative of who I am or who I've become in the years since." Shortly thereafter, Harvard looked into his case and eventually revoked his admissions offer. Though university personnel appreciate his "candor and expressions of regret," Harvard "takes seriously" the "qualities of maturity" and of "character" of the students it admits. Despite appealing the revocation, Kashuv was turned down. In his defense, Kashuv argues that, "throughout its history, Harvard's faculty has included slave owners, segregationists, bigots and anti-Semites. If Harvard is suggesting that growth isn't possible and that our past defines our future, then Harvard is an inherently racist institution. But I don't believe that. I believe that institutions and people can grow. I've said that repeatedly." In your opinion, should Kashuv have had his admissions offer revoked based on something he did when he was 16? Why or why not? [...]

Wiccan Prof Sues Catholic University Over Alleged Discrimination

June 11, 2019

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

A Wiccan Professor at St. Bonaventure sued the university and her alma mater for discrimination, alleging that she was not allowed to advance in her career because she is a woman and a witch. The reported discrimination began around Halloween in 2011, after she was asked to conduct an interview about her Wiccan beliefs with the university's student TV station, SBU-TV. [...]

LGBTQ Scholarships for Pride Month

June 6, 2019

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

In honor of LGBTQ Pride Month this June, Scholarships.com is recognizing the success of, and providing financial aid resources to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer community and its allies through featured LGBTQ scholarships. These colorful LGBTQ scholarships are not only intended for those who identify as LBTQ or are questioning, but are available to LGBTQ parents and allies, as well. Below is a preview of LGBTQ scholarships that were created to provide economic mobility and equality for LGBTQ students and allies who may face unique challenges on their educational journeys. For even more LGBTQ scholarships, Parent LGBTQ scholarships or LGBTQ Ally scholarships, visit here. [...]

Last Reviewed: June 2019

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