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Church Matching Scholarship - Frequently Asked Questions

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Who is eligible for a Church Matching Scholarship?

Undergraduate students accepted and enrolled full-time at Cedarville University who receive a scholarship from their local church.

What amount will Cedarville match?

Cedarville University will match the church’s scholarship dollar for dollar up to a maximum match of $500 per academic year per student.

When should the church send the church scholarship check?

For new students (freshman and transfer), church funds should NOT be sent before May 1 for a fall term start. For students who begin in the spring term, church funds should NOT be sent before Nov. 1.

For current students please refer to the chart below. Please note the recommended arrival period for church funds and how CU matches eligible funds and the timeline.

Church Funds Arrives ByChurch Funds Applied to Student AccountCU Match Application
May 1 – July 1 (recommended) enables credit to show with student's fall invoice and subsequent spring invoiceApplied to the student's upcoming fall and spring terms equallyUp to $500 applied equally to the upcoming fall and spring terms
July 2 – Dec. 1 – (credit will not show until August or later)Applied to the student's upcoming fall and spring terms equallyUp to $500 applied equally to the upcoming fall and spring terms
Dec. 2 – April 30Full amount will be applied to student's spring termUp to $500 applied to spring term
Students graduating at the end of fall term: May 1 – Dec. 31 Amount will be applied to the student's fall financial aid.
Full amount will be applied to the student's fall termUp to $500 applied to fall term

NOTE: It may not be possible to award graduating students their church matching funds or matching grant if funds are received after the conclusion of their graduation semester.

Churches are strongly encouraged to send one church scholarship check that will be used to cover the entire academic year between May 1st - July 1st for the upcoming academic year.

 

Can a church contribute more than the amount Cedarville will match?

Yes, churches are encouraged to contribute generously in helping their students. However, the maximum Cedarville University match will be $500 per student per year. There is no minimum or maximum amount that a church can give for their church scholarship.

How do churches fund these types of scholarships?

Churches handle their students’ scholarships in a variety of ways. Some fund scholarships from their annual budget; others take a special offering in conjunction with a Cedarville or Christian education emphasis in a church service. For additional information about these options, churches may contact our church relations staff at 937-766-7607 or 937-766-7662.

Are students eligible for a Church Matching Scholarship every year?

Yes, as long as a new church scholarship check is received each academic year. Students are eligible to use the church matching grant for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate attendance.

Can church members, parents, or relatives designate their gifts for particular students?

No, only the church can select the students as recipients. All church contributions must meet IRS guidelines for charitable deductions. To find out more, refer to IRS publication 526.

Do Employer-Provided Education Assistance funds count as a church scholarship?

No, if a church is providing Employer-Provided Education Assistance benefits to their employees or employee family members, the funds should be designated as “employer education assistance.” Employer-Provided Education Assistance benefits are taxable if they exceed certain thresholds. (See IRS Publication 970 for additional information or consult a tax professional.)

How are scholarship dollars applied?

  • The scholarship will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. When the scholarship and Cedarville’s match are processed, the funds are applied directly to the student’s account.
  • Students who graduate in December or attend only in the spring semester will have the church matching scholarship applied entirely to that semester.
  • The scholarship will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. When the scholarship and Cedarville’s match are processed, the funds are applied directly to the student’s account.
  • Students who graduate in December or attend only in the spring semester will have the church matching scholarship applied entirely to that semester.

Where should a church send the church scholarship check?

Churches should make the check payable to Cedarville University with the following clearly written on the memo line: “Church Scholarship for <insert student’s full name>.” If a church is sending a single check for multiple students, please send a cover letter providing the full name of all scholarship recipients and the amount per student.

Mail the check to:

Cedarville University
Financial Aid Office
251 N. Main St.
Cedarville, OH 45314

Whom do I contact if I have questions?

The financial aid office administers the church matching scholarship program. If you have further questions you can contact financial aid by calling 937-766-7866 or sending an e-mail. You can also contact the church relations staff at 937-766-7607 as they provide information and services for churches that participate in this program.