Grace Hopper Scholarship covers the balance of tuition costs for STEM-related fields.
Applying for financial aid and scholarships to fund a college education can be a time-consuming and often stressful process, but beginning in the fall 2024 semester, qualifying freshmen and transfer students pursuing degrees in designated STEM-related programs at Houston Christian University will be eligible to receive a scholarship to fill any gaps in tuition thanks to the generosity of a private donor.
Funding will be provided through the Grace Hopper Scholarship, named in honor of Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer programming. The scholarship will provide invaluable financial support to students pursuing degrees in high-demand STEM fields. HCU President Robert Sloan expressed deep gratitude for the donor’s generosity in supporting the Grace Hopper Scholarships at HCU and the impact it will have.
“These generous awards for qualified engineering students will open up new career opportunities for young people who would otherwise be unable to enter these exciting fields. This financial support will dramatically increase the number of students we are able to enroll in engineering at HCU and will benefit greatly not only the students and their families for years to come, but also the city of Houston and the workforce needs we have in this great city,” said Dr. Sloan.
New freshmen with a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale, unweighted) GPA or higher who pursue degrees in computer science, cyber engineering, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, information systems or mathematics will automatically qualify for the scholarship that pays up to full tuition* at Houston Christian University.
Transfer students with a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale, unweighted) or higher will also qualify to have any gaps in tuition filled through this scholarship. Transfer students with fewer than 15 college credit hours (taken after graduation from high school) are evaluated as freshmen based on their high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Dr. Katie Evans, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, considers the funding a blessing for students who will be future beneficiaries of this scholarship. “The Grace Hopper Scholarship presents a tremendous opportunity for our new engineering, computing, and mathematics majors to receive an engaging, rigorous, distinctly Christian education. The full tuition scholarship support will significantly decrease the financial stress that can derail even the strongest of students,” said Dr. Evans.
Qualifying students must be United States citizens and mustbe eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and must submit the application. Once in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher and cannot change their major (except to one of the qualifying majors above). Postbaccalaureate students are not eligible. Applicants who have selected qualifying STEM majors will be automatically considered for the Grace Hopper Scholarship as part of the admissions process.