Scholarship Regulations

1. Only one academic scholarship may be awarded during any school year. The student’s cumulative grade point average is reviewed at the end of each academic year to determine eligibility to retain the scholarship. The grade point average must be satisfied at the beginning of each academic year. Summer credits and grades will be applicable in calculating scholarship eligibility.
2. Freshmen need no formal scholarship application, as the award is made on the basis of high school transcripts or test scores. The highest composite score from any test will be used. It is not permissible to combine the highest scores from several test sittings.
3. Transfer students are awarded scholarships on the basis of previous college academic performance. Transfer students should send college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Academic scholarships and GPA for transfer students are reviewed at the beginning of each academic year.
4. If a scholarship is upgraded on the basis of ACT/SAT scores, the lesser scholarship is dropped.
5. These awards are applied to Direct Cost (tuition, room/board, fees) for full-time undergraduate students only (maximum four years). Grants and other scholarships are applied to the school bill first. The annual amounts are subject to adjustment, with prior notification.
6. The total of all grants and scholarships may not exceed the student’s Direct Cost (tuition, fees, room, board). If the total exceeds the Direct Cost, Institutional funds will be reduced to bring the total back to the Direct Cost. Olivet funds may never generate a credit balance on a student’s account and may not be used for off-campus living expenses or textbooks.

Nazarene Church Scholarships: Because Nazarene churches of the Central Educational Region support Olivet with more than $3 million annually, Olivet feels a special concern to assist the students of those churches to achieve their goals for Christian higher education.

The ONU Nazarene Advantage Scholarship: A student attending a Nazarene church is eligible for an additional $1,000 per year ($500 per semester) for each term the student is enrolled full-time.

Nazarene Senior Pastors and Full-time Associate Pastors: The ONU Pastor’s Children Scholarship is awarded in special recognition that a pastor’s family deserves. The student must be a dependent, living at home, and have never been married, and the parent must be a full-time pastor or full-time associate pastor.

District Scholarships: The Nazarene Youth International organizations of 11 districts of the Central Education Region of the Church of the Nazarene offer several scholarships each to students from their district attending Olivet Nazarene University. Conditions under which these scholarships are granted may be obtained by corresponding with the District NYI presidents. Additionally, some districts have other scholarships which are offered under varying criteria. Information regarding these other scholarships offered should be obtained by corresponding with the district office. Many District Scholarships are matched by ONU, up to $250 per semester, per student.

The Olivet Nazarene University Prize for Bible Knowledge (Bible Quizzing): Olivet Nazarene University awards an annual prize of up to $500 in tuition credit to the Nazarene high school student on each of the districts of the Central Educational Zone who best demonstrates his or her knowledge of an assigned portion of the Bible as a Bible quizzer, provided the district will add an equal or greater amount to the prize. The student is nominated by the district NYI council. This scholarship is not transferable to another student from the district. Olivet also gives a scholarship of $1,000 to the top quizzer at the Olivet Regional Quiz each year.

Church-Sponsored Scholarships: Many congregations of the Church of the Nazarene encourage young persons from their congregation to enroll at Olivet Nazarene University by offering general aid to all who enroll. The ONU Office of Financial Aid will initially award the Nazarene Church Scholarship in the amount of $250 per semester. It is the student’s responsibility to check with their home church to see if they participate in this program. If the church does not participate, the student can inform the ONU Office of Financial Aid, and they will delete the award from the student’s file. Since the amount and terms of these awards vary, the conditions should be investigated with the pastor of the local church, followed by the notification of the ONU Office of Financial Aid.

Several scholarship opportunities are available through funds administered by the International Board of Education of the Church of the Nazarene:

The International Students Scholarship Fund is made available by Widmeyer and Yeatts. It is awarded on the basis of need to students from mission fields. Application is made through the Olivet Office of Financial Aid.

The General Superintendent Scholarship Fund makes $500 scholarship awards to students upon recommendation of the President, based on financial need. The student must be enrolled full-time. Priority is given to students preparing for full-time ministry. Application is made to the President of the University.

The Edna McCormack Memorial Scholarship Fund is awarded on the basis of need to students attending any of the Nazarene institutions of higher education. Application is made through the ONU Office of Financial Aid.

The Council of Education Scholarship Fund is available to students attending any of the Nazarene institutions of higher education, but the majority of awards must be made to those attending Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Application is made through the ONU Office of Financial Aid.