Unlocking Your Potential: A Guide to Taylor University Scholarship Opportunities

Taylor University offers a variety of scholarships to help students finance their education and achieve their academic goals. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, leadership qualities, service, and financial need. Scholarships are a type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid, and are awarded based on merit, ability, or talent. Ninety-nine percent of the student body receives financial assistance from scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study employment.

Investing in Your Future: The Value of a Taylor Education

A Taylor education is an investment that extends far beyond graduation, serving as a launchpad for a meaningful life. Taylor students graduate faster, in an average of 3.9 years, which is more than a full year ahead of the national average. In 2023, 58% of Taylor graduates had debt, owing an average of $26,015, which is less than the national average of $33,600 for private college graduates. Full-time students enrolled in the fall or spring can attend tuition-free in January, saving up to $15,000 over four years through the J-term program.

Types of Scholarships Available

Taylor University offers a diverse range of scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria and award amount. A significant portion of Taylor’s scholarships are based on academic merit and demonstrated need. These scholarships can be broadly categorized as follows:

Merit-Based Scholarships

These scholarships recognize and reward academic excellence. They are primarily based on GPA, standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, or CLT), and class rank.

University Scholarship Awards: These awards are based on test scores and GPA, rewarding hard work in high school. Students interested in academic awards must have the required ACT, SAT, or CLT score and GPA to receive the amount listed. These merit-based awards are renewable with a 3.0 college GPA and available to all incoming freshmen beginning in the fall of 2026.

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The minimum scores and corresponding scholarship amounts are:

President Scholarship: \$21,000 (or \$84,000 over 4 years) for students with a GPA of 3.70+ and a minimum score of 1430 on the SAT, 32 on the ACT, or 103 on the CLT.
Dean Scholarship: \$19,000 (or \$76,000 over 4 years) for students with a GPA of 3.70+ and a minimum score of 1270 on the SAT, 27 on the ACT, or 90 on the CLT.
Faculty Scholarship: \$17,000 (or \$68,000 over 4 years) for students with a GPA of 3.70+. No minimum test scores are required.
Trustee Scholarship: \$15,000 (or \$60,000 over 4 years) for students with a GPA between 3.30 and 3.69. No minimum test scores are required.
Director Scholarship: \$11,000 (or \$44,000 over 4 years) for students with a GPA of 3.29 and below. No minimum test scores are required.

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA at Taylor to retain the President, Dean, and Faculty scholarships; otherwise, the scholarship drops to the Trustee Scholarship level. Test scores must be received by April 1 for merit scholarship consideration.

Alice Hamilton Scholarship: This is a competitive scholarship for high-achieving, highly academic students. To be invited to interview for the Alice Hamilton Scholarship on Scholars Day in November 2026, students must have a 3.70 GPA and a 32 ACT, 1430 SAT, or 98 CLT score. Students must apply for admission to Taylor University and be accepted by November 1 to be eligible to be invited to Scholars Day. The amount is 100% of tuition.
Top Scholar: This is a merit-based scholarship related to academic performance. Recipients are high achievers and stand out among their peers. Beyond an outstanding record of academic achievement, a TOP SCHOLAR student demonstrates strong leadership qualities and has a history of volunteer service participation.

Need-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are designed to assist students with financial need, making a Taylor education accessible to a wider range of students.

Opportunity Scholarship: This need-based scholarship has a two-fold purpose: it enables first-year students from the widest range of backgrounds to obtain an education they may not have access to otherwise, and it provides for current students who face unforeseen financial hardship to continue their education. Sixty percent of students are eligible for need-based aid.
General Fund Greatest Unmet Scholarship Needs: The GENERAL FUND augments endowed scholarships that are a part of the 10:10 Challenge. Resources are directed to endowed scholarships where dollars are most urgently needed.

Program-Specific Scholarships

These scholarships are targeted towards students pursuing specific fields of study or participating in certain programs.

Art Scholarships: These scholarships are available to students accepted to Taylor and declared as Studio Art, Design, Illustration, Photography, Pre-Art Therapy, or Art Education majors.
Athletic Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to students who have been accepted to Taylor and demonstrate exceptional athletic ability.
Computer Science and Computer Engineering Scholarships: These scholarships are available to students who have been accepted to Taylor and are declared Computer Science or Computer Engineering majors. Amounts for some scholarships may consider FAFSA.
Music Scholarships: These scholarships are available to students who have been accepted to Taylor and demonstrate exceptional music ability. An audition with the Music department is required.
Halbrook Freedom Scholarship: This scholarship inspires and encourages Taylor students of deep Christian beliefs to grasp the essentiality of, and strive to uphold, the enduring principles of the United States of America. There is a special, though not exclusive, interest in helping students interested in entrepreneurship, education, media, and government. Most reserved for full-time upperclassmen.

Scholarships Based on Service and Leadership

These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to service and leadership in their communities.

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Servant-Leadership Scholarship: All incoming students are eligible for the Servant-Leadership Scholarship, in recognition of their community involvement in high school and in expectation of the impact they will make on the Taylor community during their time on campus.
Christian Leadership Scholarship: This scholarship is open to incoming students at Taylor University who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills. It is also available to graduating seniors who are residents of Indiana.
Cultural Diversity Scholarship: This scholarship is open to students at Taylor University who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and contribute to cultural diversity.
International Student Scholarship: This scholarship is open to students at Taylor University who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, contribute to cultural diversity, and are non-US citizens.

Scholarships for Specific Demographics

These scholarships target students from specific geographic locations or with specific backgrounds.

Dr. Jay & Janie Kesler Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship celebrates the excellence of a Taylor education for alumni families who maintain a wholehearted commitment to the Taylor mission.
Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a resident of Ohio who graduated from a high school in Ohio and is interested in majoring in a STEM-related field. The scholarship amount is \$5,000.
Indiana Education Scholarship: This scholarship is for Indiana residents, full-time students majoring in Education, eligible for need-based aid, and have a personal relationship with Christ. The scholarship amount is \$7,000. Video and application required by February 1.
Indiana Business Scholarship: This scholarship is for Indiana residents, full-time students pursuing a business degree, eligible for need-based aid, and have a personal relationship with Christ. The scholarship amount is up to \$9,000. Video and application required by February 1.
Summit Scholarship: Awarded to Summit students who enroll full-time as first-time students at Taylor University. Attendance is required during the summer prior to senior year in high school. The scholarship amount is \$1,000 per year.
Ministry Service Scholarships: These scholarships honor the lives of ministerial professionals. They ensure that the children of families in missions and ministry callings have access to a quality, Christ-centered post-secondary education.

Transfer Student Scholarships

These scholarships are specifically for students transferring to Taylor University from another college or university.

Transfer Student Scholarships: Awarded to all transfer students who have taken at least one semester of college credit after high school. Awards are based on your college GPA. This academic scholarship is awarded in lieu of other academic scholarships and is renewable each year with a cumulative 3.0 Taylor GPA.

The GPA merit scholarship awards are:

3.75+ \$18,000*
3.5-3.74 \$16,000*
3.25-3.4 \$14,000*
3.0-3.24 \$12,000
2.99 & Below \$10,000

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA at Taylor to retain the top 3 award amounts; otherwise, the scholarship drops to the \$12,000 level.

Endowed and Annual Scholarships

Taylor University offers both endowed and annual scholarships. Endowed scholarships are designed to give annual awards to students indefinitely. The gift from the donor is invested, and a portion of the interest earned provides yearly scholarships for students, while the original gift or principal is never used. A minimum of \$50,000 is needed as principal for at least one year before awards from an endowed scholarship can be given to students. Gifts of any size may be added to the fund in a span of five years in order to reach the \$50,000 starting point. Annual scholarships are funded by the generous gifts of Taylor donors. The amounts given by March 15 are directly awarded to students the following academic year. A minimum investment of \$2,500 is necessary to create an annual scholarship.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Taylor

How to Apply for Scholarships

To maximize your chances of receiving scholarships, it is essential to understand the application process and deadlines.

Apply for Admission: To be eligible for any scholarship, applicants must apply to be entering in the upcoming Fall.
Complete the FAFSA: File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1. Start by creating your FSA ID. The FSA ID confirms your identity on the FAFSA and related documents. Students and parents must create their own FSA IDs. Once you have your FSA ID, log in to Federal Student Aid with your FSA ID. Financial aid is processed on a rolling basis after December 1 once we have received the FAFSA and any other required documents.
Meet Deadlines: Test scores must be received by April 1 for Merit Scholarship consideration. April 1 is also the deadline to submit the Church Matching Grant pledge form. Notify the financial aid office of any outside or private scholarships, grants, or loans you receive by July 1.
Submit Additional Materials: Some scholarships may require additional materials, such as essays, recommendations, or auditions. Be sure to carefully review the requirements for each scholarship you are applying for and submit all necessary materials by the deadline.

Additional Financial Aid Information

The total cost to attend college includes tuition, fees, housing, food, and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. The difference between your family’s resources, which is called the Student Aid Index (SAI), and the total cost of attending college determines your financial need. The SAI is determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

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