Scholarships and grants
We believe nothing should ever stand in the way of the person you were meant to become. All Bluffton students receive one or more of the following Bluffton scholarships and grants.
For students entering Bluffton fall 2023
Scholarship competitions
Presidential Scholarship Competition
Students with a 3.5 GPA (or higher) and a 24 ACT/1160 SAT (or higher) automatically
qualify to participate in the annual Presidential Scholarship Competition on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. You may also qualify for participation with a 3.75 GPA with
no test scores required. Students attending these events compete for a full-tuition
Presidential scholarship.
This scholarship is renewable all four years, if the student maintains a cumulative 3.0 collegiate GPA, making it valued at more than $138,800 over four years. >>> more information
Academic scholarships and grants
First-year students will be eligible to receive one of the following Academic Scholarship or Grant:
- Academic Excellence Scholarship
This prestigious $20,000 award (valued at $80,000 for four years) is given to high-achieving students who have distinguished academic records and accomplishments, based on GPA at the time of admittance. This scholarship is renewable all four years if student maintains a cumulative 3.0 collegiate GPA. - Academic Honors with Distinction Scholarship
This $18,000 annual scholarship (valued at $72,000 for four years) is awarded to new students with high academic standing who have proven themselves in the classroom and beyond. It is awarded based on high school GPA at the time of admittance. This scholarship is renewable all four years if student maintains a cumulative 3.0 collegiate GPA.
- Trustees Scholarship
This $16,000 annual scholarship (valued at $64,000 for four years) is named in honor of Bluffton University's trustees who actively invest their time and resources into Bluffton students. Awarded to strong students based on high school GPA at the time of admittance. This scholarship is renewable all four years if student maintains a cumulative 2.5 collegiate GPA.
- Centennial Scholarship
This $14,000 annual scholarship (valued at $56,000 for four years) is named in recognition of the 100+ years of education that Bluffton University has provided students in preparing them to impact the global community. Awarded to new students based on high school GPA at the time of admittance. This scholarship is renewable all four years if student maintains a cumulative 2.3 collegiate GPA. - Founders Grant
A $12,000 award (valued at $48,000 for four years) is given to new students who seek to continue discovering their academic potential.
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
- Lehman-Huber-Zehrbach Scholarship
A full tuition scholarship is awarded to one nursing major with preference given to female nursing students from India. To qualify, students must live on campus all four years. - Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship
A $4,000 scholarship (valued at $16,000 for four years) is awarded to a top student in a science, technology or math field. Recipients must be Ohio residents.
More about the Knowlton Memorial Scholarship - Choose Ohio First Grant
Up to four renewable, stackable grants of $3,000 are awarded to eligible first-year and transfer students. Eligible students are Ohio residents and a female or ethnic minority in STEM, or male in nursing. Must be applied and accepted to Bluffton University by Dec. 1.
More about Choose Ohio First Grant - Natural & Applied Sciences Division (NASD) Scholarship
Math, nutrition and dietetics, biology, chemistry, pre-medicine, medical lab sciences, pre-engineering, pre-physical therapy and physics majors with a minimum 26 ACT/1240 SAT may apply for $3,000 departmental scholarships which are renewable for four years.
More about the Natural & Applied Sciences Division Scholarship - Music Major Scholarship
A scholarship starting at $2,000 (valued at $8,000 for four years) is awarded to new Bluffton students majoring in music based on an audition.
More about the Music Major Scholarship - Music Ensemble Scholarship
A $1,000 award (valued at $4,000 for four years) is awarded to new Bluffton students, not majoring in music, based on an audition.
More about the Music Ensemble Scholarship - Art Major Scholarship
A scholarship starting at $1,000 is awarded to new Bluffton students whose art portfolios are highly rated by Bluffton University art faculty. Portfolios must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2023, for consideration.
More about the Art Major Scholarship
Additional opportunities
- Mennonite Student Grant
A $5,000 award (valued at $20,000 for four years) for new students who are members of any Mennonite church congregation. - Alumni Grant
A $1,000 award is given to students whose parents, grandparents or siblings are part of Bluffton University's 15,300+ alumni. - Community Enrichment Grant
A $1,000 award (valued at $4,000 for four years) for new students from underrepresented backgrounds who participate in Project H.O.M.E — a campus mentoring program. Contact the admissions office for an application for Project H.O.M.E. - Out-of-State Grant
A $1,000 award (valued at $4,000 for four years) for new, out-of-state students to help off-set travel costs. - Bluffton Award
The Bluffton Award is offered to select residential students who file the FAFSA but who do not qualify for need-based grants. The award amount varies and is automatically renewable for three additional years. - Church Matching Grant
Matches grants from a Christian church to a student who is a member of their congregation. The program must comply with IRS regulations. Church matching grant information > - Learn and Earn program
Students may work in a campus job to help finance their college education by working eight hours each week. Learn and Earn >
- Bluffton Opportunity Grant
Awarded to students based on completion of the FAFSA form. This award can be added to the above awards. This grant is awarded based on need as determined by the FAFSA. Amounts vary.