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Undergraduate On-Campus
Scholarships & Grants

At Cornerstone University, we are committed to making college affordable for students through federal, state and CU scholarship and grant programs. Scholarships are available for students based on merit, while grants are available based on financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Scholarship and grant programs are only applicable towards a student’s first bachelor’s degree with few exceptions.

Cornerstone Scholarships

Academic Scholarships

We believe in the value of a Christ-centered education. It’s a unique investment and one that we take seriously, which is why we offer scholarships to help you reduce the cost of college.

Determine your first-year student award based on the chart below. Transfer students with less than 24 college credits will be awarded a first-year student award.

Freshman Academic Scholarships

GPAScholarshipScholarship Amount
4.0 & abovePresident's Scholarship$6,000 per year
3.5-3.99Chancellor's Scholarship$4,000 per year
3.25-3.49Dean's Scholarship$3,000 per year
3.0-3.24Partners for Success Award$2,000 per year
2.5-2.99Cornerstone University Assistance$1,000 per year

Transfer Academic Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to select transfer students with 24 or more completed college credits.

GPAScholarshipScholarship Amount
3.5 and aboveDean's Scholarship$3,000 per year
3.0-3.49Partners for Success Award$2,000 per year
2.5-2.99Cornerstone University Assistance$1,000 per year

President’s Fellows Program

Valued at $10,000 per year, the President’s Fellows program connects select Student Fellows with prestigious leaders (National Fellows) from diverse industries. Under the mentorship of these individuals and university president Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, Student Fellows will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from thought-provoking, industry-leading experts.

Deadlines & Important Dates:

  • Jan. 10 | Application due
  • Feb. 23 | On-campus interview
  • March | President’s Fellows notified of decision

Qualifications:

  • Incoming freshman or transfer student for the upcoming fall semester.
  • High school or college GPA of 3.3 or higher.
  • Must be admitted to Cornerstone University by Jan. 10 for the upcoming fall semester.
  • Must live on Cornerstone’s campus to remain eligible.

Scholarship Program Details

Leadership Scholarship

The Leadership Scholarship is awarded to select students who have shown exceptional Christian leadership through ministry involvement. This scholarship award is valued at up to $1,000 per year. This scholarship is for new incoming students each fall semester.

Deadlines:

  • Jan. 25 | Application due
  • Jan. 31 | Recommendation due

Qualifications:

  • Incoming freshman or transfer student for the upcoming fall semester.
  • High school or college GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Recommended by a pastor, youth pastor or para-church ministry leader. Recommendations are based on demonstrations of your spiritual maturity, strong academic credentials, church and community participation and desire to influence the world for Christ.
  • Must be admitted to Cornerstone University by Jan. 31 for the upcoming fall semester.
  • Must live on Cornerstone’s campus to remain eligible.

Apply for Leadership Scholarship

Missionary Family Scholarship

The Missionary Family Scholarship is awarded to U.S. citizens or international missionary kids whose families are serving overseas. This scholarship award is valued at up to $1,000 per year. This scholarship is for new incoming students each fall semester.

Deadlines:

  • Jan. 15 | Application due
  • Jan. 20 | Recommendation due

Qualifications:

  • Incoming freshman or transfer student for the upcoming fall semester.
  • High school or college GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Recommended by your mission director, pastor or dorm parent. Recommendations are based on demonstrations of your spiritual maturity, strong academic credentials, church and community participation and desire to influence the world for Christ.
  • Must be admitted to Cornerstone University by Jan. 15 for the upcoming fall semester.
  • Must live on Cornerstone’s campus to remain eligible.

Apply for Missionary Family Scholarship

Music Scholarship

Music scholarships are awarded to select students with advanced skills in music. Music majors and non-music majors are encouraged to apply. Scholarship award values range from $500 to $4,000 per year.

Scholarship applicants are required to be accepted to Cornerstone and complete an audition in person or by submitting a video recording.

View Music Scholarship Details

Short Story Scholarship Contest

Creative writing is a valuable skill and form of self-expression. The School of Ministry, Media & the Arts invites you to explore your creativity during our Short Story Scholarship Contest for the chance to win a one-time scholarship of up to $1,000 to attend Cornerstone.

Deadlines:

  • March 3 | Short story submission due

Qualifications:

  • Incoming freshman or transfer student for the upcoming fall semester.
  • Must be applied to Cornerstone for the upcoming fall semester by the submission deadline.

Recipients of this scholarship must enroll at Cornerstone for the upcoming fall semester to receive the award.

View Scholarship Contest Details

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships are awarded to outstanding athletes. Scholarship award values range from $500 per year to full tuition.

If you are a student-athlete interested in athletic scholarship opportunities, complete a recruitment form.

Recruit Me

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Members of Phi Theta Kappa may qualify for a $1,000 scholarship from Cornerstone University. To see if you qualify, complete the scholarship form below.

Please Note: This scholarship is only available for incoming transfer students.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Application

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship Recommendation

Donor-Funded Scholarships

Cornerstone annually awards scholarships donated to by generous friends of the university. Scholarships are awarded in the spring for the following academic year.

Please Note: These scholarships are designed for select current and returning students. Eligible incoming freshmen and transfers are still encouraged to apply.

Learn More About Donor-Funded Scholarships

Cornerstone Grants

Cornerstone Influence Grant

The Cornerstone Influence Grant assists students with their financial need as determined by the FAFSA. The amount of the grant (free gift aid) varies.

Cornerstone Commitment Grant

Eligible students who receive the Cornerstone Commitment Grant pay no out-of-pocket tuition when they enroll at Cornerstone. This grant covers the remaining cost of tuition for students who receive a Pell grant (in any amount), Michigan Tuition Grant and the maximum Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Eligible new on-campus students will be awarded a combination of scholarships and grants (free gift aid) which will cover the full cost of tuition.

Eligibility deadline: must have a submitted and processed FAFSA by May 1 to be considered. FAFSA’s take 3-5 days to process.

Cornerstone Ministry Major Grant

The Cornerstone Ministry Major Grant is provided to Michigan residents who are ineligible for the Michigan Tuition Grant due to their enrollment in a Christian Ministry major. Students must have attained junior or senior status and otherwise demonstrate eligibility for the MTG to be eligible for this grant. The amount of the grant is one-half of the state grant eligibility for the year.

Eligibility deadline: must have a submitted and processed FAFSA by May 1 to be considered. FAFSA’s take 3-5 days to process.

State & Local Aid

Michigan Tuition Grant

The MI Tuition Grant is awarded by the state to Michigan residents who qualify according to FAFSA information. This grant awards up to $3,000.

Eligibility deadline: must have a submitted and processed FAFSA by May 1 to be considered. FAFSA’s take 3-5 days to process.

Michigan Achievement Scholarship

The MI Achievement Scholarship is awarded by the state to 2023 and later Michigan high school graduates who qualify according to FAFSA information. This grant awards a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $4,000.

Michigan Future Educator Fellowship

The MI Future Educator Fellowship will offer up to $10,000 in aid for students demonstrating financial need for up to three years. Learn more and apply here.

Qualifications:

  • File a FAFSA.
  • Be admitted to a teacher education program in Fall 2022 or later.
  • Have earned at least 56 credits.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year.

This Fellowship requires a recipient to serve in Michigan classrooms. One year of funding requires three years of service, and each additional year of funding adds a year of service (tw0 years of grants require four years of service, and three years of grants require five years of service). Service obligations may be less in critical needs districts. If the requirement to serve is not met, the grant funds convert to a 0% interest loan with a repayment period of 10 years.

Michigan Future Educator Stipend

The MI Future Educator Stipend is a $9,600 stipend paid to students during the student teaching semester to support Michigan’s hardworking student teachers as they continue their journey to being in the classroom full-time. Learn more and apply here.

Community Foundations

Community Foundations across the country are designed to provide grant funding and scholarship support for residents of their community, even if you attend school outside your community. Most often, scholarship and grant deadlines are in the spring for awards disbursed the following academic year. To find your local community foundation, search your hometown, county, or nearest city and “community foundation” or “area foundation.” Examples include the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Fremont Area Community Foundation, and the Community Foundation for the Holland/Zeeland Area.

Federal Aid

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to students who demonstrate significant financial need based on FAFSA information. Federal Pell Grants are awarded up to $7,395 for the 2023-2024 academic year. Eligible students can receive additional grant funding for summer enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is awarded to students who demonstrate significant financial need based on FAFSA information. This grant is much smaller than the Federal Pell Grant due to limited funding.

Federal TEACH Grant

The TEACH Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching. As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach: in a high-need field; at an elementary school, secondary school or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

Qualifications

  • Complete the FAFSA.
  • Be enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-eligible program.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
  • Receive TEACH Grant counseling each year that you receive a TEACH Grant.
  • Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve each year that you receive a TEACH Grant.

Please Note: If you do not complete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed.

Federal Loans

For more federal aid opportunities, explore federal loan options.

Explore Federal Loans

External Scholarships

Additional external scholarships are also available. Consider applying for external funding awarded by businesses and organizations. Here are some helpful tips for finding private scholarships:

  • Search for scholarships based on your interests, hobbies, or involvements. The more niche and specific you are, the more competitive you may be.
  • Set aside consistent time each week to apply for scholarships.
  • Save your essays and long answers. Often scholarships will ask for submissions along similar themes. Don’t reinvent the wheel every time!
  • As with any activity on the internet, be aware of scams. Often, scams will ask you to take immediate action, provide personal and sensitive information, sound too good to be true, and include typos or just seem “off.” Trust your gut, and don’t give any information you don’t feel comfortable providing.

Net Price Calculator

To get a good idea of what your degree may cost and what financial aid you may qualify for, use the Net Price Calculator.

Net Price Calculator

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