Financial Aid Opportunities for Students

The Office of Financial Aid for Studies, National Ministries, administers the American Baptist Financial Aid Program that supports college students, graduate students, and seminarians.

Request application forms for the scholarships and grants listed below from the Office of Financial Aid for Studies, National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 (phone 800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2067; Fax 610-768-2453) or request an application form online. Please specify which scholarship or grant you wish to apply for.

Undergraduate Scholarships

To be considered for an undergraduate scholarship, a student must be

• an active member of an American Baptist church for at least one year before applying for aid (Use the Church Search function of the ABCUSA Website to verify that your church is American Baptist.);
• preparing to enter an accredited institution in the USA or Puerto Rico as a full-time freshman in the fall of the application year; and
• a United States citizen.

Scholarship amounts vary and are paid directly to the school and credited toward the recipient’s tuition.  Scholarships are renewable and require that the student maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75. These scholarships may not be combined with other funding provided by National Ministries. Applications must be received by May 31.

Graduate Study Scholarships

To be considered for a graduate studies scholarship, students must be

• an active member of an American Baptist church for at least one year before applying for aid (Use the Church Search function of the ABCUSA Website to verify that your church is American Baptist.);
• enrolled at an accredited institution in the USA or Puerto Rico; and
• a United States citizen.

Doctoral Grant (Ph.D. candidates only)
To be considered for a one-time Doctoral Grant of up to $3,000, Ph.D. candidates must have completed at least one year of their doctoral studies. Applicants must plan to teach at the college or seminary level, in a field of study directly related to preparing American Baptist ministerial leaders. D.Min. candidates are not eligible for this grant. Applications must be received by May 31.

Ellen Cushing Scholarship (female graduate students only)
The alumni of Cushing College provide scholarships to female graduate students preparing for a human service career in the secular world. M.Div. and D.Min. students are not eligible. Applications must be received by May 31. 

Seminarian Scholarships

To be considered for a seminarian scholarship, students must be

• an active member of an American Baptist church for at least one year before applying for aid (Use the Church Search function of the ABCUSA Website to verify that your church is American Baptist.);
• enrolled at an accredited institution in the USA or Puerto Rico; and
• a United States citizen.

Individual Seminarian Grants
Students attending a seminary or theological school NOT related to ABC may apply for a grant up to $750. Seminarians must be enrolled at least two-thirds time in one of the following first professional degree programs: M.Div., M.C.E., M.A.C.E., M.R.E. (D.Min. students are not eligible.) Applications must be received by May 31.

Seminarian Support Program (SSP)
This program is designed for American Baptist seminarians attending an ABC-related seminary or theological school. Pledges of support from local churches or ABC organizations will be matched up to $1,000 per academic year for designated students. Recipients must be enrolled at least two-thirds time in one of the following degree programs: M.Div., M.C.E., M.A.C.E., M.R.E. (D.Min. students are not eligible.) Recipients must be resident students of the ABC-related seminary that will award the degree. Applications for this program are available from the seminary. All pledges should be sent directly to the seminary by August 1.   

Asian American Grant
Seminarians can gain ministerial experience by working in a church during the summer. Grants of $500 are provided by the Financial Aid program and matched by the employing church. Interested seminarians should contact their pastor. Church pastors may call the Office of Financial Aid for Studies for additional information at 800-ABC-3USA, ext. 2067

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