Scholarships & Grants

Academic Scholarships

Houghton Heritage Scholarships

Four $15,000 Heritage Scholarships are awarded to first-year students and are renewable annually with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.  Eligible students who have been accepted for admission will be invited to apply for these scholarships as part of the application/interview process for the First-Year Honors Program.

Chamberlain Scholarships

Thirty-five $10,000 Chamberlain Scholarships are awarded to first-year students and are renewable annually with a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25.

Chamberlain Scholars will be paired with a faculty member or college administrator for a teaching and mentoring relationship. 

Chamberlain Scholars will get an up-close-and-personal look at scholarly research or creative work in process, and have the privilege of assisting in this process, helping an accomplished Christian scholar create new knowledge or insight into the human condition or the natural world.  By the senior year, Chamberlain Scholars will be primed to pursue their own research or creative interests, with their mentoring faculty member's guidance.

Excellence Scholarships

New students who have an SAT of at least 1200 (on the critical reading and math sections), an ACT composite of 26 or higher, or rank in the top 15 percent of their high-school class, may be considered for an Excellence Scholarship. These awards range from $1,250 to $7,500 and are renewable annually with a 3.0 GPA.

Transfer students with a college GPA of at least a 3.25 will be considered for an Excellence Scholarship.

Houghton College Merit Scholarship

Students who receive distinction as a finalist in one of the scholarship programs listed below will receive a Houghton College Merit Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 per year.  This scholarship can be held in addition to an Excellence Scholarship, and is renewable provided a student maintains a 3.25 GPA.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Transfer students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa will receive a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 per year.  This award may be held in conjunction with other scholarships and is renewable provided a 3.0 GPA is maintained.  First-year students are not eligible for the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship.

Performance Scholarships

Art Scholarships

The Art Department awards scholarships (ranging from $500 to $2,000 per year) to students majoring in art.  More details can be found here.

Music Scholarships

The Greatbatch School of Music awards scholarships in various amounts to incoming students. Awards are based on an audition. One incoming music major will be selected to receive the Music Presidential Scholarship of $12,500 per year.  Consult the School of Music webpage for more details.

Athletic Performance Grants

Performance grants are awarded to students who display exceptional talent in music and athletics. The awards range between $500 and $10,800 per year and are offered in the following sports: basketball, soccer, track, cross country, volleyball, and field hockey.

Other Grants and Scholarships

Wesley Full Tuition Grant Program

Twenty-five new students who are federal PELL Grant recipients, present a strong academic record and give evidence of Christian character and service will be chosen for the Wesley Full Tuition Grant Program.

Students wishing to be considered for this program must apply to Houghton by December 30; no separate application is required. 

The Student Financial Services Office will calculate any federal or state grants and award the difference needed in Houghton College financial assistance to cover the full cost of tuition.

Alumni Association Scholarships

Alumni Association Scholarships of $1,000 per year are awarded to selected students who are dependents of Houghton College alumni.  Recipients are selected by the alumni board.

Canadian Grant

Canadian students will receive a grant, calculated on May 1st prior to the fall semester, that helps account for the difference in exchange rate.

Houghton College Grants

Houghton College grants are typically awarded to students on the basis of financial need.

International Student Scholarships

Full-time students who are citizens of a country other than the U.S. or Canada may be considered for International Student Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year.

Matching Scholarships

Houghton College will match (up to $750 per year) scholarships awarded to a student by their local church or Dollars for Scholars.  Thus, a student receiving a $750 scholarship from their church will receive an additional $750 Matching Scholarship from Houghton.

Timothy R. Fuller Neighbor Grant

The Fuller Neighbor Grant may award up to $6,000 per year (depending on a student's financial need) to full-time students who reside in one of the counties listed below or who have graduated from and attended an eligible high school for at least two years.

Parental Christian Service Grant

Students whose parents' main source of income is derived from full-time Christian service as missionaries or pastors will receive a Parental Christian Service Grant of $1,500 per year.

Three-in-Family Grant

A Three-in-Family Grant of $2,000 is awarded to each student if there are three or more immediate family members concurrently in full-time attendance at Houghton College.

Wesleyan Student Scholarships and Grants

Wesleyan Study Grant

Students who regularly attend a Wesleyan church will receive the Wesleyan Study Grant of $1,500. This award may not be held concurrently with the Wesleyan PK/MK Grant or the Willard J. Houghton Ministerial Scholarship.

Wesleyan PK/MK Grant

Dependents of ordained Wesleyan ministers or approved Global Partners missionaries currently serving full-time with The Wesleyan Church will receive at least half-tuition in Houghton College grants and scholarships.

Willard J. Houghton Ministerial Scholarship

A grant of $5,000 per year is awarded to Wesleyan students pursuing pastoral ministry.  Recipients must select a major from those offered by the Religion & Philosophy department (or pursue an approved pre-seminary program) and also be registered with their District Board of Ministerial Development (DBMD).

Campus Challenge and WBB scholarships

Houghton accepts scholarships awarded to winners of the Wesleyan Bible Bowl and Campus Challenge competitions.