Each year, Cedarville University awards donor-funded scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need, academic merit, or alignment with specific donor-established criteria. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of alumni, families, and friends who are investing in the lives of our students — often in honor or memory of a loved one.
Selection Process and Criteria
- All Cedarville students with a completed general scholarship application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be considered based on eligibility.
- These donor awards are primarily awarded to returning students.
- Scholarships are competitive and limited in number.
- Many are need-based, so students with a higher Student Aid Index (SAI) may not qualify.
- A few merit-based scholarships are available, but these are also limited.
- Recipients are selected by the Financial Aid office and various scholarship selection committees composed of Cedarville faculty and staff.
Renewal Policy: Unless noted as a one-time award, many donor-funded scholarships are renewable if the recipient continues to meet the criteria and reapplies annually. However, renewal is not guaranteed.
Grateful to Our Donors
These scholarships are more than financial awards — they represent stories, legacies, and faithfulness. We are deeply grateful to the individuals and families who support Cedarville students through donor-funded scholarships.-
My time at Cedarville was instrumental in any and all success I’ve since had. I’m currently working as a professional theatre actor/artist in Chicago, Illinois. Over the course of the years since graduating, I’ve utilized nearly every area of training that the Cedarville theatre program provided me, even more so than the MA I received after Cedarville. That graduate program was helpful, but it didn’t provide the hands-on, real-life experience that Cedarville provided. It is not an exaggeration to say I would’ve gotten nowhere in this field without Cedarville’s training. Whether it be directing, acting, stage managing, lighting, ushering, playwriting, prop work, and numerous situations for which I recalled past problem-solving, I can thank Cedarville for nearly everything about my success.
Hunter Johnson '21 
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I have been pushed continually to excel academically while being taught by professors who are competent in their specialties and passionate both for social work and the Word of God. Through the yearlong internships that we are required to complete and professors who do not stray from discussing difficult social topics in the classroom, I feel especially prepared for where God will lead me next, and I know that this comes largely in part from my experience in Cedarville University’s social work program.
Hannah Lankford 
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply for each scholarship individually?
No — most scholarships are matched to your profile after completing the general scholarship application. If any additional steps are required to apply for a scholarship, these steps will be clearly indicated.
Who decides who receives the scholarships?
The Financial Aid office and scholarship committees select recipients based on need, merit, and alignment with scholarship-specific criteria.
Can I apply every year?
Yes. Many scholarships are renewable if you continue to meet the criteria and reapply each year.
When do I apply?
The application is closed for 2025–26. The 2026–27 donor-funded scholarship application will open October 1, 2025.
Where do I go if I need help?
Students with questions about donor-funded scholarships should contact Tim Entner in the Financial Aid office.