UM Dollars for Scholars

• STEP ONE: A student’s church offers support with $1,000 (on a church check sent directly to UMHEF by the deadline after the student has applied). Eligible churches include United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, AME Zion Church, and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. If your church has recently disaffiliated from The UMC but would like to sponsor you, please contact us to discuss your options.
• STEP TWO: UMHEF matches that for a total of $2,000 (while funds last).
• STEP THREE: Participating United Methodist-related schools may match with $1,000. (This match level is not guaranteed.)
• STEP FOUR: For United Methodist applicants, participating UMC Conference Foundations may match up to $1,000. (This match level is not guaranteed.)
• Your UM Dollars for Scholars scholarship may total up to $4,000.

Other Important Information

• Applicants must meet basic eligibility requirements found here; updated annually.
• You must apply annually to be considered for a scholarship each school year.
• Some schools may not provide the same matching award to non-UM members or graduate students; check with your school to verify matching for your degree program.
• Doctor of Ministry students are eligible for this award program; other doctoral students are not eligible.
• Students attending Andrew College or Louisburg College (our 2-year UM-related schools) may apply through June 30.

Please Note: Funds are limited at each matching level, so awards and award totals are not guaranteed. Matched funds from participating schools and conference foundations listed here may vary and are not guaranteed. Each partner may have a limit to the number of awards they can match in any given year.

• Applications will be posted here beginning January 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• The deadline to apply will be April 1, 2025. This date considers expected FAFSA delays; UMHEF will not issue any additional extensions.
• Once you have applied, please watch your email and/or mail for notification from us about your scholarship; most notifications will be sent by mid-June.
• For additional questions, please see our FAQ page.

This exciting award begins with the generous support of a student’s church! If you represent a church, here are some things to keep in mind:

• If, after applying, a student decides to attend a school that is not UM-related, a refund will be issued to the sponsoring church. Due to our schedule of processing applications, refunds will not be made until after July 1 (at the earliest), or 30 days after we receive the church check if it’s after July 1.
• If you represent a United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, AME Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, or a church that has recently disaffiliated from The UMC and have questions about sponsoring a student/students, please contact our Director of Scholarships, Jamie Cook, or call 615-649-3990.