2025 Scholarship Applications

Affording a quality higher education is hard,
but it doesn’t have to be.

The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation will accept scholarship applications for the 2025-2026 academic year from January 1 – April 1, 2025. UMHEF awards $2 million annually to nearly 1,000 students attending United Methodist-related institutions of higher education!

Applications are open to members of The United Methodist Church, the African Methodist Church, the AME Zion Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and churches that have disaffiliated from The UMC. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.

UMHEF’s two main programs are General Named Endowed (GNE) Scholarships and the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars (UMDFS) program. The GNE application allows students to be considered for 100+ scholarships funded by endowments. These are traditionally competitive scholarships that consider leadership, GPA, and financial need. Select awards support those attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as those from other diverse backgrounds.

The UMDFS program is the foundation’s most popular scholarship program. It begins with a $1,000 scholarship from a student’s church. This scholarship is matched by UMHEF to total $2,000. Participating UM-related schools and UM conference foundations may, depending on available funds, each match the initial scholarship to total up to $4,000.

Additional Information

  • Read complete details about UMHEF scholarships.
  • Applications and supporting documents for most awards are due April 1, 2025. This deadline considers expected FAFSA delays; UMHEF will not issue additional extensions this year.
  • Review answers to FAQs.
  • Want to help spread the word? Check out our media resources.

The grand vision of UMHEF is that it be financially possible for qualified students to attend a United Methodist-related institution of higher education. UMHEF scholarships are separate from those offered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The UMC. Learn more.

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