2027-28 Merit Awards for Freshmen
New full-time Houston Christian University freshman admits will be considered for ONE of the following awards. Recipients must meet all university requirements for regular admission to the fall or spring semester. Unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale is used to calculate merit awards.
Actual scholarship award amounts may vary depending on other merit-based awards (i.e., Raise.Me). Submitting an updated transcript may qualify a student for a higher scholarship tier. Any new transcripts will be reviewed, and scholarships will be adjusted accordingly.
| Merit Scholarships and Grants | Maximum Possible Amount* | Test Optional GPA Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Founders Scholarship | $108,000 divided over eight undergraduate semesters (or up to $27,000 per academic year) | 3.88 – 4.0 HS GPA |
| President’s Scholarship | $96,000 divided over eight undergraduate semesters (or up to $24,000 per academic year) | 3.68 – 3.87 HS GPA |
| Legacy Scholarship | $88,000 divided over eight undergraduate semesters (or up to $22,000 per academic year) | 3.30 – 3.67 HS GPA |
| University Grant I* | $64,000 divided over eight undergraduate semesters (or up to $16,000 per academic year) | 3.0 – 3.29 HS GPA |
| University Grant II* | $56,000 divided over eight undergraduate semesters (or up to $14,000 per academic year) | <= 2.99 HS GPA |
* All unconditionally accepted freshmen who do not qualify for a scholarship listed above will be considered for one of these University Grants.
Get more information about Merit Awards.
Stackable Scholarships and Grants
| Additional Scholarships and Grants | Amount | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Church Matching Grant | Up to $4,000 divided over 8 undergraduate semesters ($1,000 per academic year) |
Christian churches may contribute scholarship dollars to a full-time, undergraduate student. HCU will match dollar for dollar up to $1,000 for those with unmet need. |
| Distinguished SAT/ACT Award | $3,000 per academic year | SAT 1350+ / ACT 30+ |
| Achievement SAT/ACT Award | $2,000 per academic year | SAT 1200-1340 / ACT 25-29 |
| Grace Hopper Scholarship | $2,000 per academic year | By application for engineering majors; qualification based on GPA and/or SAT/ACT score(s). |
| Ministerial Dependents Grant | $2,000 per academic year (or up to $8,000 divided over 4 years) |
Dependent children of ordained Baptist ministers and/or missionaries may apply. Recipients must maintain a 2.8 cumulative HCU grade point average. This grant can be combined with the church matching grant for those ministerial dependents with unmet need. |
| Campus Visit Grant | $1,000 per academic year | New, incoming freshman and transfer students are eligible after attending an official in-person visit to campus by April 30 prior to the semester they plan to enroll.
Qualifying Campus Visit events: Husky Preview, Experience HCU, Senior Saturday, or individual Campus Tour appointment. Attendance in a group tour does not qualify. Award is renewable for up to 4 academic years, based on the merit scholarship renewal criteria. |
| Private High School & Homeschool | $1,000 per academic year | Graduates from qualifying institutions |
| Top 10% Merit Award | $1,000 per academic year | Incoming freshmen who graduate in the top 10% of their high school class |
| BGCT Ministerial Scholarship | $50 per credit hour (for Freshmen & Sophomores). $70 per credit hour (for Juniors & Seniors). |
To qualify, a student must have accepted Christ as Lord and personal Savior, be a member of a Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) church, and provide church-affirmed evidence of a sense of call to ministry. |
| Talent Based Grants | Award amounts vary | Students who contribute special abilities or services to the University may qualify. Talent grants are awarded in music, art, cheer, forensics, athletics and/or nursing. Those interested in a talent based grant should contact the individual department(s) for more information. |
Renewal of Freshmen Merit Awards
Earn up to $70,000 With Raise.Me
HCU has partnered with Raise.Me to offer “micro-scholarships” that recognize your accomplishments in high school and allow you to start earning scholarship money starting in 9th grade! Students can earn scholarships for visiting campus, earning an “A” in a class, participating in a sport, performing community service, and much more! Students can earn up to $14,500 per year, which will be part of their HCU financial aid award. Freshman applicants can earn these micro-scholarships through Oct. 1 of their senior year. Visit raise.me/signup to sign up and start earning scholarships at HCU! Scholarships earned through Raise.Me are included within a student’s merit scholarship; they are not additional, stackable scholarships.