Scholarships and Discounts

The following information is about scholarships and discounts that are offered by the University. These funds do not have to be paid back.

Academic Scholarships
Academic scholarships are awarded on the basis of GPA from high school and/or ACT or SAT test scores (for SAT tests, combined Critical Reading and Math scores). Scholarships will be limited to 50% of tuition for non-boarding students and 100% of tuition for boarding students. In order to receive an offer of academic scholarship money, the following forms must be submitted to the Office of Admissions:

   1. Completed application for Admissions
   2. A three-year transcript from high school
   3. ACT or SAT test score

Academic scholarships begin at the 3.0 GPA level and/or a 22 ACT (1020 SAT; combined Critical Reading and Math scores). Anyone admitted to FHU on restriction, will not be able to receive an academic scholarship their first year. These scholarships are awarded on a first come first serve basis. Preference will be given to those that submit their required forms early. Early awarding begins in August or September of the senior year of high school. Academic scholarships are renewable each year provided the student maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA, not including AP, IP, and CLEP credits. The student's college cumulative GPA is reviewed after each spring semester.

Trustees' Scholarship
The Trustees' Scholarship, which is our largest award, is equal to full-tuition and is awarded to incoming freshman who have a minimum high school GPA of 3.75 or higher and have a minimum ACT composite score of 30 (1320 SAT; Critical Reading and Math scores ONLY). The Trustees' scholarship will cover tuition up to 132 hours, provided the student maintains a 3.4 college cumulative GPA (not including AB, IB, and CLEP credits) that is reviewed at the end of every spring semester. The required forms (application for Admissions, 3-year transcript, and ACT/SAT test scores) must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

Students receiving this award must live in university housing or a lesser award will be given.

National Merit Finalists
Students receiving this honor will receive the Trustees' scholarship (full-tuition). To receive this scholarship please send your official report to the Office of Admissions by March 1st. Students awarded this scholarship will maintain a 3.4 cumulative GPA (not including AB, IB, and CLEP credits) that will be reviewed at the end of every spring semester. Students receiving this award must also live in university housing or a lesser award will be given. National Merit Semi Finalist will receive special consideration for the highest general academic scholarship. 

Transfer Scholarships
Scholarships for students transferring 30 or more semester hours of college work will be determined on the basis of the student's cumulative college GPA. The Chart below shows the cumulative college GPA equal to a yearly award amount. 
                3.0 - 3.29  Award Amount - $2,000
                3.3 - 3.59  Award Amount - $3,000
                3.6 - 4.0    Award Amount - $4,000

Endowed Scholarships
A limited number of endowed scholarships are available for entering freshman and returning students. Awards are given based on criteria designated by the donor. The majority of these scholarships are awarded in a general faculty meeting, in each department, to students who have completed at least one year of college.  Amounts and recipients of these awards will not necessarily be the same from year to year.  Some of the endowed scholarships are need-based as well. To be eligible for the Endowed Scholarships, the FAFSA and the Endowed Scholarship Application must be completed.

Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes Scholarships
The Office of Financial Aid receives the list of possible recipients from Lads to Leaders headquarters usually in the spring semester of the students that have completed the Lads to Leaders Scholarship Application and have listed FHU as a top choice of college. The university will award the scholarship and notify the student of the award when they receive his/her financial aid award package. Financial aid award packages are sent out once the FAFSA is filed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and it will be renewed at the end of every spring semester. Recipients must be enrolled full-time.


FHU Associates Endowed Scholarship
The Freed-Hardeman Associates is a women's organization designed to support and encourage Christian education at Freed-Hardeman University.  To apply for this scholarship an application needs to be completed. Please click on the application link to download the application - Associates Endowed Scholarship Application.

Outside Scholarships
There are several outside scholarships out there that you can apply for.  Click here to explore links to scholarship searches. Outside scholarship checks and notification should be mailed to the Office of Financial Aid. Scholarship links listed on the Financial Aid Links page are from scholarships that we have researched and some that our students have received in the past. 
    
Departmental Scholarships
Several departments on campus offer scholarships. Only a few departments award scholarships to incoming freshmen. Most of the departmental scholarships are awarded to students that are currently in that program of study. The departments that offer scholarships are: Bible, Business, Art, Music, Band/Makin' Music Band, Theatre, Journalism, Radio and TV and Athletic.


State of Tennessee Scholarship Programs
There are several programs offered by the State of Tennessee.  Scholarships to check into that are not listed below are the Christa McAluiffe Scholarship, Dependent Children Scholarship, Minority Teaching Fellows Program, Tennessee Teaching Scholars Program, Ned McWherter Scholars Program, and Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program.  You can visit their website for more information or applications: www.tn.gov/collegepays

TN Hope Scholarship 
  • Award amount is $4000 at 4-year institutions and $2000 at 2-year institutions.  
  • Must be an entering freshmen with at least a 21 ACT (980 SAT; Critical Reading and Math only) taken on a national or state test date OR have an overall weighted 3.0 grade point average (GPA).
Aspire Award 
  • Award amount is $1500 supplement to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship.  
  • Must meet TN HOPE Scholarship requirements and have parent's or independent student's (and spouse's) adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less on tax form.  
  • Student's may receive GAMS or Aspire, but not both.
General Assembly Merit Scholarship (GAMS) 
  • Award amount is $1000 supplement to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship.  
  • Must be an entering freshman with at least a weighted 3.75 GPA AND minimum 29 ACT (1280 SAT; Critical Reading and Math only).  
  • Tennessee home school students must enroll in 12 college credit hours (at least 4 courses) with a 3.0 GPA at a Tennessee college or university while enrolled in the TN home school program. 
Tennessee HOPE Access Grant 
  • Award amount is $2750 at 4-year institutions.  
  • Must be an entering freshmen with at least a weighted 2.75-2.99 GPA AND 18-20 ACT (860-970 SAT; Critical Reading and Math only) taken on a national or state test date AND 
  • Must have parents' or independent student's (and spouse's) adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less 
  • Non-renewable - may qualify for TN HOPE scholarship by meeting the renewal criteria
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship (Non-Traditional)
  • Award amount is $4000 at 4-year institutions.
  • Must be at least age 25 with an adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less
  • Must enroll as an entering freshmen or at least two (2) years after last attending college
  • Must maintain continuous enrollment and attempt 12 semester hours with at least a 2.75 GPA before becoming eligible
HOPE Renewal Criteria
  • Eligibility shall be reviewed at the end of the semester in which the student as attempted a total of 24, 48, 72, or any multiple of 24 semester hours thereafter
  • Must have a TELS GPA of 2.75 after attempting 24 and 48 semester hours
  • Must have a TELS GPA of 3.00 after attempting 72, 96, or any multiple of 24 semester hours thereafter; or
  • On the Provisional Method, must have a TELS GPA of 2.75-2.99 and a semester GPA of at least 3.00 after attempting 72 semester hours or any multiple of 24 semester hours thereafter
  • On the Provisional Method, student must be enrolled full-time and must be evaluated each semester until reaching the next benchmark.
Tennessee HOPE Dual Enrollment Grant
  • Award amount is $600 per academic year; $300 per semester
  • Must be a high school junior or senior
  • Courses taken must be applied towards the student's program of study
  • Must meet admissions criteria for dual enrollment at the postsecondary institution in which the student is applying
  • To be eligible for a dual enrollment grant for any semester beyond the first semester, the student must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.75 for all postsecondary courses attempted while participating in the Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant program
  • Must complete an on-line application for each semester for enrollment.  Deadline for fall semester is September 15th and deadline for spring semester is February 1st.
Tennessee HOPE Foster Care Grant
  • Must have been in state custody for at least one year after reaching the age of fourteen (14); for at least one (1) year after reaching the age of fourteen (14) and placed for adoption by the Department of Children Services (DCS) or placed in permanent guardianship by the DCS after reaching the age of fourteen (14)
  • Award amount is based on the student's unmet financial need for the cost of attendance in an academic year and not to exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at a public 4-year or 2-year eligible postsecondary institution
  • Student must meet the applicable high school academic requirement for the TN HOPE Scholarship or TN HOPE Access Grant


Discounts
In addition to scholarships, the following four discounts are available from the University: Chester County Discount, Jackson Christian School Discount, K-12 Christian School Faculty/Staff Discount, and Christian College Faculty/Staff Discount.  All discounts are limited to 132 hours of course work.

Chester County Discount - Students who has graduated from Chester County High School prior to May 2011 can receive the following discount. The student must be full-time and the discount does not apply to summer school. The amount is $2,600 per year. Students must complete the FAFSA and any federal or state aid is subtracted from the amount of the discount. Academic scholarships cannot stack on top of the discount unless the student is a boarding student. This discount is automatically applied for eligible students.


Beginning with the 2011 graduating class, Chester County High School graduates will receive an automatic 25% tuition discount.  This discount is stackable with institutional aid up to full-tuition.


Jackson Christian School Discount - A 25% tuition discount is offered to all graduates of Jackson Christian School. This automatic discount can be stacked with other institutional aid up to full-tuition for boarding students or up to half-tuition (or the larger award) for non-boarding students. If the student's parent is a full-time employee with Jackson Christian School, an additional 50% tuition discount will be awarded. The two can stack up to 75% of tuition if the student is a boarding student. Academic scholarships with the 75% tuition discount can also stack up to a total of full-tuition. The Jackson Christian School Discount is capped at 132 credit hours. The Christian School Discount Form must be completed and signed by the employee's school, certifying the parent is a full-time employee. The deadline for this form is July 1st.

Mars Hill Bible School Discount - Beginning with the 2010 graduating class, an automatic 25% tuition discount is offered to all graduates of Mars Hill Bible School.  This discount is stackable with institutional aid up to full-tuition.

Columbia Academy Discount - Beginning with the 2011 graduating class, an automatic 25% tuition discount is offered to all graduates of Columbia Academy.  This discount is stackable with institutional aid up to full-tuition.

Knoxville Christian School Discount - Beginning with the 2011 graduating class, an automatic 25% tuition discount is offered to all graduates of Knoxville Christian School.  This discount is stackable with institutional aid up to full-tuition.

Riverside Christian Academy Discount - Beginning with the 2012 graduating class, an automatic 25% tuition discount is offered to all graduates of Riverside Christian Academy.  This discount is stackable with institutional aid up to full-tuition.

K-12 Christian School Faculty/Staff Discount - A 25% tuition discount is awarded to dependent children of full-time employees of any K-12 Christian school associated with the Church of Christ. This, along with other institutional aid cannot exceed tuition. The K-12 Christian School Faculty/Staff Discount is capped at 132 credit hours. The Christian School Discount Form must be completed and signed by the employee's school, certifying the parent is a full-time employee. The deadline for this form is July 1st.

Christian College Discount - A 50% tuition discount is awarded to dependent students whose parents are full-time employees of the following Christian Universities: Abilene Christian University, David Lipscomb University, Faulkner University, Harding University, Lubbock Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, Ohio Valley University, and Pepperdine University. Parents must remain full-time employees for the student to receive this discount. This, along with other institutional aid, cannot exceed tuition. The Christian College Discount is capped at 132 credit hours. The Christian School Discount Form must be completed and signed by the Administration of the college, certifying that the parent is a full-time employee. The deadline for this form is July 1st.