Undergraduate Scholarships

Make all those high school accomplishments count. Check out our scholarship offerings for incoming freshmen and transfers at Spring Arbor University. The list below includes scholarships through Spring Arbor University, as well as the federal government and state government. To learn more about the financial aid offered at the state level, visit the Michigan student financial aid website. Learn about federal student aid from the U.S. Department of Education by visiting studentaid.gov. To view scholarships for transfer students, scroll down.

To calculate merit scholarships as an incoming freshman, use the GPA table below. Please note GPA is calculated on an unweighted scale.

2024-2025 Undergraduate Merit Scholarships

GPA 3.75+$17,500 per academic year
GPA 3.30 – 3.74$16,000 per academic year
GPA 3.00 – 3.29$14,000 per academic year
GPA 2.50 – 2.99$10,000 per academic year

Scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year are coming soon!

Additional Freshman SAU Scholarships

Scholarships

These scholarships are available for freshmen students who are starting on campus. They are renewable each subsequent year, based on eligibility.

Multicultural Leadership Scholarship – $3,000 per year

You’re eligible if you’re an American minority student demonstrating interest in advancement of minorities in American society, and admitted to SAU with completed MLS application and essay by Feb. 15. Apply

E.P. Hart Honors Program Scholarship – $1,000 per year

You’re eligible with a high school of GPA: 3.6 or comp ACT of 26 or SAT equivalent and accepted into the Honors program. You must maintain a GPA of at least 3.6 and annual honors participation standards. Apply

Art Scholarships – Award amount varies

You’re eligible if you’re a new freshman studio art major, and submit a portfolio and application to the SAU Art Department. Please contact your admission rep to arrange your portfolio review.

Music Scholarship – Award amount varies

You’re eligible if you’re a music major, minor or participant in SAU musical ensemble, and audition with the SAU Music Department by January.

Athletic Scholarship – Award amount varies*

Your eligibility is considered based on your leadership, academic standing, sportsmanship, respect for authority, competitive spirit and athletic ability. This scholarship precludes all other forms of SAU aid other than academic scholarships. Apply

Free Methodist Ministerial/Missionary Scholarship $1,000

You may be eligible for this scholarship if at least one of your parents or guardians is a Free Methodist pastor or missionary. Call 517.750.2900 (ext. 2900) or talk to your admissions representative for details.

Grants

Grants are renewable each year, based on eligibility.

Free Methodist Church Matching Grant – Maximum of $2,000 per year, matched dollar-for-dollar.

You’re eligible as a Free Methodist student whose home church provides a scholarship on your behalf. Contact the SAU Office of Financial Aid for the appropriate form — 517.750.2900 (ext. 2900) or financialaid@arbor.edu.

SAU Grant – Amount Varies

You’re eligible if you demonstrate a significant level of unmet need based on the FAFSA information. Award amount varies based on unmet need. Apply through submission of FAFSA.

Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) Cobb Scholarship – $5,000 per year

You’re eligible if you have been involved with the Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI) and plan on majoring in social studies, political science or history and/or are planning on pursuing a career in public service following graduation. Must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, unweighted, or an ACT score of 25 (or an SAT score of 1200-1230). The recipient may retain the scholarship in subsequent years by maintaining a minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.7. Apply by submitting this form with an essay of 1,000 words or less, describing how your studies at SAU will prepare you for a future career in public service. Candidates must also complete the FAFSA.

Private Donors and Lenders

Financial aid from private parties usually takes the form of scholarships and grants that businesses, organizations or donors established to honor local students. Be it the Rotary or Lions Club, an area bank or hospital, or a wealthy citizen, you can be eligible for these by entering a certain field of study, attending a certain college or university, participating in certain extracurricular activities or graduating with a certain GPA. Loans might come from a bank or relative.

NOTES: Students who participate in a non-SAU semester-long, off-campus study program will forfeit all institutional aid for that semester. To replace a portion of the forfeited aid, students may apply for aid from a Spring Arbor University external studies fund. Details on the fund and an application are available from the Cross Cultural Studies Office.

*Due to athletic scholarship agreement conditions, these are the only institutional scholarships available for students receiving an athletic scholarship.

Transfer SAU Scholarships

As a transfer student, you know what it takes to be successful in college, and your hard work can really pay off when you come to Spring Arbor University. Scholarships are renewable each year, based on eligibility.

2023-2024 Transfer Merit Scholarships

GPA 3.65+$12,000 per academic year
GPA 3.10 – 3.649$10,000 per academic year
GPA 2.60 – 3.099$8,000 per academic year
GPA 2.59 or below$6,000 per academic year

Multicultural Leadership Scholarship

  • Eligibility: Must be an American minority new student with a demonstrated interest in the advancement of minorities in American society
  • Value: $3,000 per year (one awarded per year)
  • Applying: Must be admitted to SAU and complete the application and essay by Feb. 15.
  • Renewal policy: Renewable; maintain involvement in a multicultural student organization

Music Scholarships

  • Eligibility: Music major, minor or participant in an SAU musical ensemble
  • Value: Varies
  • Applying: Auditions are available only on specified dates. Contact the Music Department to schedule an audition.
  • Renewal policy: Renewable

Private Donors and Lenders

Financial aid from private parties usually takes the form of scholarships and grants that businesses, organizations or donors established to honor local students. Be it the Rotary or Lions Club, an area bank or hospital, or a wealthy citizen, you can be eligible for these by entering a certain field of study, attending a certain college or university, participating in certain extracurricular activities or graduating with a certain GPA. Loans might come from a bank or relative.

State Scholarship

Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG)

  • Eligibility: Must be a Michigan resident and demonstrate financial need
  • Value: $3,000
  • Applying: Must file FAFSA by the MTG deadline, which is March 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year, and must have Spring Arbor University listed as the first college of choice (federal school code: 002318)

Work Study

Spring Arbor University utilizes many avenues to help students find work while attending SAU. Because of the demand for employment opportunities, it is important for students to follow the employment hiring guidelines and check in with the student employment office to learn of new job openings. To find out more about becoming a student worker at SAU, visit the student employment section of our human resources site.