Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants -- money that does not have to be repaid -- are naturally the most sought-after type of assistance. Listed below are the various sources of such aid available to Elon students which are not based on need.

ELON UNIVERSITY MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

North Carolina Teaching Fellows
Minimum $13,000 Annually
Elon is one of only two private colleges in North Carolina selected to offer the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. Limited to residents of North Carolina, Fellows attending Elon receive a minimum annual award of $13,000 per year for four years plus air fare to London for one semester and program-related expenses for two Winter Term courses -- the American Heritage study/tour and the Washington Center Leadership Seminar. The $13,000 annual award includes $6,500 from the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission and $6,500 from Elon scholarship funds and the N.C. Legislative Tuition Grant. Fellows are selected by the Teaching Fellows Commission, which provides its $6,500 per year contribution on the condition that Fellows teach for four years in N.C. public schools following graduation. Elon admits 25 Fellows per year. Applications for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program must be obtained from your high school guidance counselor office.

Presidential Scholarships
$1,000 to $4,500 Annually
Presidential Scholarships of $1,000 - $3,750 annually are awarded to approximately the top one-fourth of the entering freshmen each year. The awards are based on high school course selection, SAT/ACT scores, and class rank and/or grades. No separate application is needed. Scholarships are automatically awarded to students who meet the necessary criteria when the completed admissions application is reviewed. All Presidential Scholarships are renewable for an additional 3 years pending acceptable academic performance.

Engineering Program Scholarships
$3,000 Annually
Four scholarships of $3,000 annually are awarded to outstanding students admitted into Elon's Dual-Degree Engineering Program. These scholarships are renewable during the years the student is in attendance at Elon and are awarded in addition to any Presidential Scholarship that has been received.

Fellows Scholarships
$2,500 - $8,000 Annually
Elon's Fellows programs offer exciting academic and personal growth opportunities beyond the scope of the usual college experience -- opportunities like $1000 travel grants, special courses, internships or paid research assistantships. In addition, each of the Fellows programs offers scholarships to selected incoming Fellows. To be considered for one of these scholarships, students must apply and be admitted to the Fellows program. The scholarships are renewable for an additional 3 years, provided that all program requirements are met. These Fellows scholarships are awarded in addition to any Presidential Scholarship that has been received.

Applications are available from Elon's Office of Admissions or online. All applications are reviewed and finalists for each program are invited to attend the Fellows & Scholarship Weekend in March. From these finalists, Fellows and Fellows scholarship winners are selected on the basis of the application, qualifications and an interview. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions, (800) 334-8448.

Performing Arts Scholarships
$500 to $6,000 Annually
Students majoring in theatre arts or music theatre may apply for talent-based scholarships which are renewable for an additional 3 years. The scholarships range from $1,000 to $6,000 (music theatre) or $500 to $2,000 (theatre arts) annually and are based on application and audition/interview. For more information, contact the Department of Performing Arts, (336) 278-5600.

Music Scholarships
$500 to $5,000 Annually
Students majoring in music, music education or music performance may compete for talent and need-based scholarships on the basis of letters of recommendation and audition/interview. Band and choral scholarships are available to both music and non-music majors. The music major scholarships range from $500 to $7,000 annually. For more information, contact the Department of Music, (336) 278-5600.

Athletic Scholarships
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics grants performance-based scholarships in all sports in compliance with NCAA Division I regulations and guidelines. Amounts vary. For more information, contact the Athletics Department, (336) 278-6800.

ROTC
The U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force award three or four-year ROTC scholarships which cover the cost of tuition and books, plus $100 per month for personal expenses. Elon provides free on-campus housing and board during the time the ROTC scholarship pays tuition. The room and board scholarship is equal to the amount of a regular double room and up to the cost of the 17 meal plan. Please contact your high school guidance office for application information.

NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATIVE
TUITION GRANT - $1,950 ANNUALLY
Every North Carolina resident who attends Elon as a full-time undergraduate student automatically receives a Legislative Tuition Grant of approximately $1,950 annually from the N.C. General Assembly. The exact amount of the grant is set annually by the General Assembly. A brief application must be completed at registration to show legal residency.

UCC MINISTERIAL DISCOUNT - $2,000 ANNUALLY For full-time students who are legal dependents of full-time ministers in the United Church of Christ. Documentation of eligibility is required.

PRIVATE OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIPS - AMOUNTS VARY
Foundations, service clubs, churches, and corporations give away millions of dollars of scholarships each year to worthy students. Many Elon students receive this type of scholarship help in addition to other types of help they may be receiving.

Students generally seek these scholarships on their own. A good place to start is by asking your high school guidance office about community and other scholarships with which they may be familiar. Then ask about the availability of scholarships at places where family members are employed, through your church, and through any organizations to which family members belong. Finally, go to the public library for guidebooks to scholarships from foundations, corporations and government agencies, or search the Internet for similar information.

Need-Based Scholarships and Grants
To receive the following types of grant assistance, students must apply for need-based aid and demonstrate a financial "need." For information on how need is determined and the process for applying for need based aid, click on Need-Based Aid and Steps in Applying.

FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
Students must file the FAFSA to be considered for these funds.

Federal Pell Grant:
For students with a high need, Pell Grants provide from $400 to $4,310 annually.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG):
Federal funds given to and awarded by the university to students demonstrating high need. Amounts vary.

STATE PROGRAMS
Students must file the FAFSA to be considered for these funds.

N.C. Contractual Scholarship Fund:
Funds provided by the North Carolina General Assembly and given to the college to award to N.C. residents with need. Amounts vary.

Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island & Vermont State Grants:
For students who are residents of these states. Amounts vary. For more information, check with your high school guidance counselor.

ELON PROGRAMS
Students must file both the FAFSA and the PROFILE to be considered for these funds. Funds for these programs are provided directly by Elon, as well as through donations and gifts to Elon by many individuals, businesses and foundations.

Elon University Grants:
Grants based solely on demonstrated need. Amounts vary.

Need-Based Endowed Scholarships:
Awarded to students who demonstrate need and who meet certain other criteria as established by the scholarship donors. The university identifies eligible students on the basis of the information provided on both their admissions and financial aid applications.