Scholarships for Private Christian Schools

Students attending private Christian elementary schools, high schools and colleges can find scholarship programs to help them pay for school. Elementary and high school scholarship programs, typically offered by private organizations, often limit applicants based on age or year in school. College scholarship programs can base awards on academic achievements or financial need. Guidelines vary and programs may extend eligibility based on the religious views of the student or require recipients to attend school within a designated region.

Elementary and Primary School Scholarships

Certain organizations offer scholarships for kindergarten through twelfth grade students to help them attend private Christian schools. The Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) offers funding for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade to attend independent, parochial or denominational schools. CSF offers scholarship that pay up to 75 percent of tuition, as of March 2011. Applicants must meet income limits and CSF typically does not offer funding for high school students. The Big Shoulders Fund offers multiple scholarship programs to help student attend Catholic high schools and elementary schools in Chicago. Award amounts for Big Shoulders scholarships vary from program to program.

School-based College Scholarships

Christian colleges and universities often offer internal scholarships to help their students pay for school. Oklahoma Christian University (OCU) offers the Transfer Scholarship for students transferring to OCU from other colleges. The transfer program bases funding on student grade point averages (GPAs) and recipients can receive funding for a maximum of 10 semesters. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or above can receive up to $4,000 per school year and students with GPAs of 2.5 or above can receive up to $2,000 per school year, as of March 2011. Dallas Christian College's student aid programs include the Presidential Scholarship, which pays up to $4,000 per school year, as of March 2011. Presidential Scholarship recipients must have at least a 3.5 GPA.

Seminary Scholarships

Seminary students can often find scholarships available through private family funds or foundations. The Dora Maclellan Brown Seminary Scholarship extends eligibility to male and female Masters of Theology and Masters of Divinity students attending school in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. The Brown Seminary Scholarship does not offer funding for doctoral students and only accepts applicants with conservative biblical and theological views. The Pittsburgh Foundation administers the Marguerite Young Endowment Fund, with offers scholarships for Masters of Divinity students. Young Endowment Fund candidates must enroll at a Protestant seminary and must have at least a 3.5 GPA.

Need-based Government Scholarships

Certain private Christian colleges and universities participate in federal student aid programs that provide need-based funding for students. Students with a financial need can often receive funding through the Federal Pell Grant program. As of March 2011, the Pell Grant pays up to $5,550 per academic year. Students with a financial need may also qualify for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), which pays a maximum of $4,000 per academic year. Qualified students may receive funding through both the Pell Grant and FSEOG programs.