On-Campus
Bachelor's Degree Scholarships

New Student Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships are available year-round. 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. Transfer students with 24 or more completed college credits will be awarded based on the transfer academic chart.

First-Year Student Academic Scholarships | 2025-26

*Academic awards can increase through March 1 of the high school senior year with the submission of an updated transcript.

Transfer Student Academic Scholarships | 2025-26

Additional New Student Scholarships

Cornerstone Grants

Various grants (free money) are available to new and returning students each year through Cornerstone University and local state, and federal agencies.

Cornerstone Commitment Grant 2025-26

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 full Pell 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.

The amount of the Commitment Grant will not increase in future years and, when combined with all other Cornerstone, state, and federal gift aid, will not exceed the cost of tuition.

Middle Class Grant

As a way to partner with students and families whose income level disqualifies them from receiving the federal Pell Grant, Cornerstone offers a need-based Middle Class grant to qualifying students. This grant provides $2,000 per year toward the cost of tuition for students who exceed Pell Grant requirements, making a Cornerstone education even more affordable for qualifying students. Students must file the FAFSA, and demonstrate financial need based on their SAI, to be considered for this grant.

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

State & Local Aid

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 award is valued at up to $5,500 per year. Students must be enrolled full time (12 credit hours per semester) to qualify.

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. 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 (two years of grants require four years of service, and three years of grants require five years of service). If the requirement to serve is not met, the grant funds convert to a 0% interest loan with a repayment period of 10 years. Learn more and apply here.

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 2024-2025 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 attributes, interests, 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