Financial Aid Site Scholarships Where Do I Begin

Academic Scholarships

National Merit Scholarship
Awarded to incoming freshmen who are National Merit Finalists and Semi-Finalists and have selected Harding University as their first-choice university with the National Merit Corporation. The minimum award for this scholarship is full tuition.

Trustee Scholarship
Awarded to a large number of incoming freshmen, as determined by an admission interview. All applicants with a minimum score of 31 on the ACT or 1360 (combined verbal and math score) on the SAT are invited to interview for this scholarship. The award amount is full tuition.

Academic Achievement Scholarship
Awarded to freshman applicants with a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 and an ACT composite score of 22 or higher or an SAT total score of 1020 or higher. Award amounts range from $3,200 to $10,000 per year.

Transfer Student Scholarship
Awarded to transferring students (transferring more than 14 hours) with a GPA of 2.5 or greater. Award amounts range from $1,500 to $2,500 per year.

Need-based Grant

Harding Freshman Grant
All students with financial need may qualify for a one-time Harding Freshman Grant award of up to $7,000 to help pay first-year direct-cost expenses (tuition, fees, room, and board) not already paid by federal student loans, the family contribution as determined by the FAFSA, and other grants or scholarships awarded by Harding University or federal/state sources. Awards from the Harding Freshman Grant fund will be reduced by any and all grants, scholarships, and discounts the student receives. This program is only available for the first year of school, and is limited to new (freshman) students with fewer than 14 units earned at another college or university.

Tuition Discounts

Christian College Employee Discount
Awarded to selected full-time (minimum of 12 hours) students of full-time Christian college employees, as certified by letter from the administrator of the school. The school must be affiliated with the churches of Christ and a length of service of at least one year is required. Award amount: 50% tuition. Award may not be combined with an academic scholarship.

Christian Ministers Discount
Awarded to selected full-time (minimum of 12 hours) students who are children of full-time church of Christ ministers. Beginning with the fall 2005 semester, new undergraduate (freshman or transfer) students will receive a 25 percent tuition discount. This discount may be combined with an academic scholarship, though it may not exceed full tuition. To qualify, ministry or youth ministry must be the full-time (40-hour) paid vocation for at least one parent. That parent must have been employed as a minister at least one year prior to receiving the discount. A verification letter signed by two elders of the respective congregation must be sent to the Admissions Office. Returning or former Harding students or graduate students are not eligible.

Christian Missionary Discount
Awarded to unmarried dependents of Christian missionaries serving and living outside the United States. A letter must be received annually from an elder of the sponsoring church of Christ congregation giving the current status of the parents. Award amount: 25% tuition, and may not be combined with other non-academic discounts. Award may be combined with an academic scholarship, and awardees must be enrolled in at least 12 hours per semester.

Christian Orphan Discount
Awarded to unmarried residents of a Christian children's home associated with the churches of Christ, as certified by an administrator of the home. Award amount: 50% tuition. Award may not be combined with an academic scholarship, and awardees must be enrolled in at least 12 hours per semester.

Christian School (K-12) Discount
Awarded to selected full-time (minimum of 12 hours) students of full-time Christian school (K-12) employees, as certified by letter from the administrator of the school. A length of service of at least one year is required. The school must be affiliated with the churches of Christ and a member of the National Christian School Association (NCSA). Award amount: 25% tuition. This discount may be combined with an academic scholarship, though it may not exceed full tuition.

Tuition Exchange Discounts
Harding University is a member of Tuition Exchange and offers a 100% tuition discount for one year to qualified children of faculty and staff employed at another Tuition Exchange college or university. Awardees must be first-time in college freshmen. Award may not be combined with academic scholarships.

Other Scholarships

Restricted/Endowed
A limited amount of funds are available based on restricted criteria, such as awards to benefit students from certain regions of the country. Should an applicant match the restricted criteria established by a donor, the applicant will be contacted and invited to apply for restricted/endowed funding.

Internet and Local Scholarship Resources
Our Web site, www.harding.edu/finaid, provides a link to an abundance of information on national scholarships. In addition, your local high school guidance counselor will have information on scholarships available in your home community.

Legacy Scholarship
Members of the Class of ‘72 have established an endowed fund for the purpose of providing one or more scholarships each year for incoming freshmen who are descendents of former Harding students. Download 2009 application.