Scholars of Excellence
Merit Based Scholarships
Non-Merit Based Scholarships
Tuition Waiver Programs
Institutional Grants & Scholarships (updated 10.23.09)
Institutional Grants and Scholarships Overview
Institutional grants and scholarships are available for students who apply and meet specific requirements. Union offers assistance based on merit (academics and leadership), financial need (determined by FAFSA results), and eligibility based awards (monies available to students who meet specific individual scholarship guidelines). Over 90 percent of the students attending Union receive some form of institutional assistance to attend.
Questions concerning institutional funding can be directed to the Office of Student Financial Planning at finaid@uu.edu, or (731)-661-5015.
To apply for any of the following, all students follow the appropriate steps in How to Apply for Scholarships and Financial Assistance. Filing the FAFSA is not a requirement for these Institutional Grants and Scholarships.
Scholars of Excellence Program
A separate Scholars of Excellence Application is required. To qualify, students must satisfy the following two criteria.
- Minimum 31 ACT score OR Minimum 1360 SAT score (combined critical reading and math).
- Top 15% class rank OR a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Students achieving finalist or semi-finalist status with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, finalist or semi-finalist status with National Achievement, or scholar finalist or honorable mention with the National Hispanic Recognition Program will be deemed eligible for Scholars of Excellence competition in recognition of this significant accomplishment.
All applicants who meet the requirements for the Scholars of Excellence will receive an annual academic award of $8,500. Those invited to the on-campus competition weekend in February will receive one of the higher awards listed below.
- National Merit Scholarships - National Merit Finalists are automatically eligible for the Dean Scholars Award, and National Merit Semi-Finalists are automatically eligible for the University Scholars Award. National Merit Scholars are welcome to compete for a greater Scholars Award.
- National Achievement Scholarships - National Achievement Finalists are automatically eligible for the Dean Scholars Award, and National Achievement Semi-Finalists are automatically eligible for the University Scholars Award. National Achievement Scholars are welcome to compete for a greater Scholars Award.
- National Hispanic Scholarships - National Hispanic Scholar Finalists are automatically eligible for the Dean Scholars Award, and those achieving National Hispanic Honorable Mention are automatically eligible for the University Scholars Award. National Hispanic Scholars are welcome to compete for a greater Scholars Award.
- Presidential Scholars Award* - At least one applicant will be chosen each year to receive a full tuition, room and board scholarship. This scholarship includes actual tuition costs and required fees incurred and covers the first 128 total semester hours** taken at Union University, including courses taken in Winter and Summer terms. Room and board charges will be covered for a maximum of eight regular semesters in the Fall and Spring and four additional terms (January, June and July). Students must maintain a Cumulative 3.25 grade point average to retain this scholarship. Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship will be required to perform leadership services for the University up to 50 hours per semester.
- Provost's Scholars Award* - Recipients will receive a full-tuition scholarship for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer semesters. This scholarship will be for the actual tuition charges incurred and will cover the 128 total semester hours** taken at Union University. Students must maintain a Cumulative 3.25 grade point average to retain this scholarship.
- Dean's Scholars Award - Recipients will receive a 75% tuition scholarship for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer semesters. This scholarship will be for the actual tuition charges incurred and will cover the 128 total semester hours** taken at Union University. Students must maintain a Cumulative 3.25 grade point average to retain this scholarship.
- University Scholars Award - Recipients will receive a 50% tuition scholarship for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer semesters. This scholarship will be for the actual tuition charges incurred and will cover the 128 total semester hours** taken at Union University. Students must maintain a Cumulative 3.0 grade point average to retain this scholarship.
- Collegiate Scholars Award - $9,500 Annually. This award is for eight semesters, or until degree completion, whichever comes first. Students must maintain a Cumulative 3.0 grade point average to retain this scholarship.
For more information regarding the Scholars of Excellence scholarships, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 800-33-UNION. A separate Scholars of Excellence Application is required.
*Students qualifying for full-tuition or greater are ineligible to work on campus and will be unable to stack additional Union awards with limited exceptions. No student will be awarded beyond the cost of attendance through a combination of institutional and non-institutional sources. Contact Student Financial Planning for further information.
**This award is for 128 total credit hours, or until the degree is completed, whichever comes first. Awards may possibly be extended, on a case by case basis, subject to approval from the Director of Student Financial Planning, when the student is enrolled in a degree program requiring more than 128 hours for completion.
Merit Based Scholarships
- Academic Scholarship - Awards are made based upon ACT/SAT scores, High School GPA, and High School Class Rank. Recipients are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA to retain this scholarship. Amount of award varies ($7,000 maximum).
- Fine Arts Scholarship - Students planning to major in voice, keyboard, or instrumental music, may audition as required by the Department of Music. There are also scholarships available in art, theater, and communications. Contact the appropriate department for requirements in these areas.
- Leadership Scholarship - Available to students who have held positions of leadership in clubs and organizations in school, church and community. A limited number of awards are available.
- Transfer Academic Leadership Scholarship - Available to students transferring the equivalent of 24 semester hours and at least a 3.0 GPA. The award amount is between $3000 and $6000, depending on your actual GPA. Recipients are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA to retain this scholarship.
- Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship - Students who have achieved academic success at a two year community college and are continuing in a traditional undergraduate program at Union University may apply for these competitive scholarships. Separate applications required A limited number are awarded at $2,500 annually. Renewal based on 3.0 GPA.
- Athletic Scholarship - Scholarships are available in men's and women's basketball, men's baseball, men's and women's soccer, men's golf, women's softball and volleyball, and men's and women's cross country. Contact the Athletic Department or the individual coach in each sport.
- African American Scholarships - Applications for these competitive scholarships are available. A limited number are awarded at $2,000 annually.
- Minority Scholarships - Applications for these competitive scholarships are available. A limited number are awarded at $2,000 annually.
- Servant Leadership Award - Various service opportunities are available on campus to help students pay a part of their education. Students awarded a SLA will work a set number of hours each semester to complete the requirements for this award. Students are awarded based on scholarship merit and financial need.
- Academic Achievement Scholarship - The Academic Achievement Scholarship is for students who excel academically while enrolled at Union University in a traditional undergraduate program, but who did not receive an academic scholarship when they started as a freshman or freshman transfer student. This award is for the junior and senior years only.
- International Student Scholarship - International students may be eligible for at least $4000 in annual scholarship assistance.
- Engineering Scholarship - Students majoring in Engineering may apply for a limited number of $8000 annual scholarships. Separate applications required
Non-Merit Based Scholarships and Grants
- Alumni Legacy Award - A student whose parent or grandparent has completed at least 48 credit hours at Union University is eligible for this $1000 annual award.
- Institutional Endowed Scholarships - Scholarships are available through the generosity of individuals who have supported Union University through the years. These scholarships have eligibility guidelines established by the donors, and the award amounts vary. No additional application is required; recipients will be notified if awarded endowed scholarships. Listing of Endowed Scholarships
- Church and Convention Ministry Scholarship (CCMS) - Students committed to full-time Christian ministry and who are members of a Southern Baptist church may apply for a $1000 annual scholarship. A separate application is required.
- Minister's Dependent Award - These are awarded to the child or spouse of an eligible ordained full-time minister. Dependents of Southern Baptist ministers residing in Tennessee are awarded $3,000 annually, and dependents of non-Tennessee resident SBC ministers receive $1,000 annually. Evangelical non-SBC minister dependents receive $800 annually.
- Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) Award - Union awards this $1000 annually to full-time students who have been members of a Tennessee Baptist Convention church for the previous 12 months. Certification from the church is necessary. A separate application is required. 09-10 | 10-11
- Multi-Student Award - If more than one member of an immediate family is enrolled at Union as a full-time student in a traditional undergraduate program, each student will be eligible for a $1,000 annual award.
- Church Endowed Scholarships - This scholarship is available to students from Southern Baptist churches which participate in this program. Award amounts for these scholarships vary. Listing of Church-Endowed Scholarships
- SBC Seminary Dependent Award - Dependents of full-time faculty and professional ministerial staff of Southern Baptist Convention seminaries are eligible to apply.
- Missionary Dependent Award - Dependents of full-time missionaries of the International Mission Board or the North American Mission Board receive one-half tuition for fall and spring terms. This award cannot be stacked with other Union aid. Dependents of full-time evangelical missionaries (not affiliated with the SBC) are eligible for $1,500 per year in addition to any other Union aid for which they qualify. Please note: Missionary dependents in either category who attend winter or summer terms will receive six total hours of free tuition per fiscal year.
- Lifeway Dependent Award - Dependents of full-time administrators and full-time professional ministerial staff of Lifeway are eligible to apply.
- Awana Citation Achiever Award - This award is $1,000 per year for those achieving this status from Awana Clubs International. A copy of an eligibility notification letter is required.
Tuition Waiver Programs
Union University participates in the following reciprocal tuition waiver programs: Tuition Exchange, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. In addition to specific guidelines and policies related to each program, the following institutional guidelines apply (please contact the university liaison, Mr. Rich Grimm ( rgrimm@uu.edu ), with questions):
- Students must apply for federal, and if applicable, state aid, which may be applied to the cost of room, board and required fees. Outside aid restricted to tuition will reduce the amount of the Union grant.
- If a student receives a tuition waiver, and receives additional grant or scholarship aid in excess of the cost of room, board and required fees, the tuition waiver will be reduced by the amount of the excess.
- Students receiving tuition waivers must maintain at least a 2.0 CGPA and must be in good standing with the university.
- Students receiving tuition waivers may not receive any additional Union University financial assistance.
- Awards are only available to students beginning at Union in a fall semester; application should be made by Dec 1 of the preceding year.
- Before a student's request for a tuition waiver may be considered, he/she must meet minimum admission standards and be accepted for admission to the university.
- Tuition waivers will be extended for eight consecutive semesters, and may include up to two short terms. If a student fails to maintain enrollment for consecutive semesters, the tuition waiver may be forfeited.
- Tuition waivers apply to the semester bundled rate only, or to the hourly rate in the short terms, and may not be applied to the cost of overloads.
- When applications for waivers exceed space available, Union University officials reserve the right to choose individuals they determine best fit the mission and purpose of the institution.
- Students awarded tuition waivers will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the waiver in writing, and will be required to submit a $100 deposit, which will be applied to the first semester required fees. This deposit is in addition to required housing and enrollment deposits.
- Under certain circumstances, tuition waivers may be applied to the cost of one semester abroad experience. Details are available through the university liaison.
- Tuition waivers apply only to a student's first traditional undergraduate degree.
- Failure to remain in good standing in all areas of the University may result in forfeiture of a tuition waiver.
