Scholarships & Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to Covenant students in four basic categories: Scholarships, Grants, ScotsWork, and Loans
Scholarships
Merit Scholarships (based on your application for admission)
The average academic profile of a Founders' Scholarship recipient is a 3.95 GPA and a 30 ACT or 1410 SAT or 95 CLT
The average academic profile of a Tower Scholarship recipient is a 3.82 GPA and a 28 ACT or 1320 SAT or 88 CLT
The average academic profile of a Thistle Scholarship recipient is a 3.67 GPA and a 26 ACT or 1250 SAT or 83 CLT
The average academic profile of a Shield Scholarship recipient is a 3.5 GPA and a 23 ACT or 1130 SAT or 75 CLT
The average academic profile of a Tartan Scholarship recipient is a 3.4 GPA and a 20 ACT or 1040 SAT or 67 CLT
Competitive Scholarships
First-time, degree-seeking students* who qualify are encouraged to apply for any or all of the following competitive scholarships listed below.
The deadline for all scholarships (except Music Scholarships, see details on the Music Audition Form) is November 15.
In order to access the scholarship application forms, a prospective student must submit
their application for admission first.
Click here to access your scholarship application(s).
* First-time, degree-seeking student: The Federal Department of Education defines this as a student who has never attended any college or other post-secondary institution since graduation from high school. These students may have earned college credit through dual-enrollment classes prior to high school graduation or attended college for the first time in the summer term just after high school graduation and just prior to enrolling at Covenant. Students who have attended any college prior to attending Covenant are considered transfer students.
The Maclellan Scholars Program offers courses designed to stimulate the thinking and develop the skills of potential Christian leaders. This full-tuition scholarship is based on Christian commitment, scholastic achievement, demonstration of leadership ability, and extracurricular activities. Maclellan Scholar recipients may apply a maximum of 30 hours of advanced standing credit toward their Covenant degree program. These credits can be AP, IB, CLEP and/or dual enrolled credits. The Maclellan Scholarship is mutually exclusive with other institutional aid and in certain circumstances state and federal aid eligibility can be applied to other costs of attendance.
Requirements
- Completed application for admission by November 15
- Completed scholarship application (In order to access the scholarship application forms, a prospective student must submit their application for admission first.)
- Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.85
- Have a SAT minimum of 1320 (reading/writing + math), or ACT minimum score of 28, or CLT minimum score of 90
- Attend one of our Scholarship Weekends if chosen as a finalist
The Wilberforce Scholarship is a $15,000 scholarship awarded to first-time, degree-seeking students* from multiple regions who want to make a difference in their communities and demonstrate a commitment to Christ and exhibit leadership, academic diligence, and an interest in extracurricular activities.
If the student has completed a FAFSA, this award will include any federal need-based aid. Should a student win the Wilberforce Scholarship, the student will receive $15,000 in Wilberforce funds not to exceed the cost of tuition, which could result in the replacement of some named scholarships. The Wilberforce Scholarship is stackable with other aid up to the cost of tuition.
Requirements
- Completed application for admission by November 15
- Completed scholarship application (In order to access the scholarship application forms, a prospective student must submit their application for admission first.)
- No academic minimums in order to compete
- Live or attend school or church in one of these areas: the Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Dalton, GA; Gainesville, GA; Charlotte, NC; Chattanooga, TN; Nashville, TN; Columbia, MO; or Michigan.
The Presidential Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship based on a student’s scholastic achievement, work ethic, a demonstrated commitment to Christ, and overall institutional fit at Covenant College.
Requirements
- Completed application for admission by November 15
- Completed scholarship application (In order to access the scholarship application forms, a prospective student must submit their application for admission first.)
- Have the following minimum test scores: SAT minimum of 1240 (reading/writing + math); minimum ACT of 26; or minimum CLT of 81
- Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.5
- Attend one of our Scholarship Weekends if chosen as a finalist
The Visual Arts Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship based on a student’s scholastic achievement, artistic achievement, work ethic, a demonstrated commitment to Christ, and overall institutional fit at Covenant College. (You do not have to declare art a major in order to compete for these scholarships.)
Prospective Visual Arts students will be prompted to fill out a Visual Arts Application after they apply through the institutional application.
Requirements
- Completed application for admission by November 15
- Completed scholarship application (In order to access the scholarship application forms, a prospective student must submit their application for admission first.)
- No academic minimums in order to compete
- Attend one of our Scholarship Weekends if chosen as a finalist
Covenant offers music scholarships, which are awarded based on a student's contribution to the music program. (You do not have to declare music as a major in order to compete for this scholarship.) Students with a major or minor in music receive higher awards.
Prospective students should complete the Music Audition Application as soon as possible, but no less than ten days before the scheduled audition.
Early auditions are encouraged because of the competitive nature of awards. To be considered for a music scholarship, you must audition by the final visit day in the spring.
Covenant offers a competitive pipe & drum scholarship that is awarded to students who demonstrate the ability to contribute to Covenant’s Pipe & Drum Corps. For students who have experience playing the bagpipes or a Scottish snare drum, this scholarship provides an opportunity to contribute to the Covenant community through music.
An audition must be completed before April 1 of any academic year for priority consideration.
If you are interested in scheduling a pipe & drum audition, please contact the campus visit coordinator. The Campus Visit Coordinator will communicate and coordinate with the academic affairs office to schedule the campus visit appointments and pipe and drum audition times. You may submit an application here.
State Scholarships
Upon completion of the application process, Georgia state residents may be eligible for the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant as well as the HOPE Scholarship or the Zell Miller Scholarship based on residency and grade point average.
GA Hope Estimate
You have been awarded a Georgia HOPE estimate; please note that this is only an estimate!
The final determination of eligibility for Georgia funds, including HOPE and Zell
Miller scholarships, will be made by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC)
at a later date. The estimate will be converted to the actual eligible funds once
your eligibility is confirmed. If you have any questions about the process or what
to expect, feel free to reach out to Ashey.Lesondak@ovenant.edu
Grants
Covenant College provides a variety of scholarships and grants that automatically consider applicants based on their admissions materials, so no separate application is needed. Your eligibility will be determined using the information from your initial scholarship and grant application during the admissions process. To enhance your chances of receiving financial assistance, make sure to include all relevant details!
Additionally, congratulations! The grants at Covenant College are renewable for the entirety of your enrollment, allowing you to count on this financial support as long as you maintain eligibility. Stay informed about the requirements to retain your grants each year. If you have any questions about the types of financial aid available or about maintaining your eligibility, don’t hesitate to ask!
Covenant College Grants
Some scholarships and grants at Covenant College are initially categorized under general headings, such as “Covenant College Scholarship” or “Director’s Grant.” These funds can later be designated for specific restricted or endowed scholarships from our generous donors. Each award is based on financial need, merit, and the recipient's ability to further the mission of the College. While there is no separate application process—eligibility is determined through a comprehensive review of the student’s file—recipients may be required to write a thank you note, and if so, they will be notified.
The funds serve a dual purpose: they act as scholarships in their own right and also function as an “umbrella” to allocate specific endowed and annual scholarships/grants. Because some restricted and endowed funds have specific criteria, they may be challenging to award early in the process. The initial awards from CCG funds may later be exchanged for those specific funds as needed.
PCA Grant- Presbyterian Church in America- eligibility for this grant:
- This $1,000 grant is for students who are members of a PCA church but, whose church is not giving at the minimum level to be eligible for the Church Scholarship Promise program.
- The student must be a member of his/her home church by December 31 of the year preceding
the student’s matriculation in order to obtain the award. Student’s eligibility will
always be based on church membership at that time.
- Membership must be indicated at the time of admission.
- Later acknowledgements are not normally considered.
- Previously matriculated students are not eligible
This $5,000 grant is available to dependents of full-time ordained PCA ministers who are members in good standing with their Presbytery. Students must inform Covenant College of their eligibility before their acceptance for admission.
Covenant College is offering a $1,000 annual scholarship to any new student who attends the Summit Student Conference and subsequently enrolls at Covenant. This scholarship provides $1,000 per year for up to four years, provided that the student maintains the required academic standards.
YXL Scholarship Program (Youth eXcelling in Christian Leadership) offers a series of Summer conferences designed for Christians aged 15-18. These events are dedicated to enhancing their leadership skills and nurturing their spiritual growth as they follow Christ.
Attending the YXL summer conferences can earn students scholarships as follows:
- $500 per year for students who have attended the conference for one year.
- $1,000 per year for students who have attended the conference for two years.
- $2,000 per year for students who have attended the conference for three or more years.
This scholarship is available to graduates of Chattanooga Christian School who enroll as freshmen. The scholarship awards $1,000 annually, contingent upon the student maintaining a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5 after each fall semester.
Additionally, if you are a dependent of a full-time faculty or staff member at Chattanooga Christian, we will provide a comprehensive scholarship package of $10,000, which includes all merit and non-merit aid.We look forward to meeting you! Schedule your visit to Covenant through the admissions office, and you'll be eligible for a $300 grant per year for up to four years, awarded once you enroll.
Federal Grants
Based on your FAFSA, you could be eligible for need-based federal grants.
Students who apply for work-study positions through ScotsWork can receive either federal or institutional aid to work on campus and receive a paycheck while they are a college student. You may work for our facilities services department, admissions office, or grounds department, for example.
View the ScotsWork page for more information and open work-study positions
Loans
Optional Federal Direct Loans
According to the federal student aid website, federal student loans are available to any student who completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The types of federal student loans available are the Federal Subsidized Federal Direct Loan and Federal Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan.
Once the FAFSA is received, the loan type/s will be determined. If the student chooses to accept any or all of the loans offered, they will need to complete the necessary requirements through the FSA website, such as, the entrance counseling and the master promissory note. After completing these steps, students should forward their completion status to Covenant at financialaid@covenant.edu.
Please note: The student FAFSA ID will be required to complete the Federal Direct Loan master promissory note. Parents should NOT complete these steps for their student. It is the student’s legal requirement to complete these steps in order to receive the loan.
Students are eligible for additional loan funds after advancing from freshman to sophomore class level, and then from sophomore to junior/senior class level. To receive more information regarding this eligibility, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@covenant.edu to determine your eligibility.
The FSA website must also be visited for the required exit counseling upon falling below ½ time enrollment. Enrollment data is submitted to the National Student Clearinghouse by Covenant’s Office of Records on a regular basis.
The Federal Parent PLUS Loan is available for eligible parents to assist with filling the financial gap after all other aid is applied. The amount of the PLUS Loan and all other aid awarded to the student combined cannot exceed the cost of attendance budget. If the parent chooses to take out a Parent PLUS Loan, they will need to complete the necessary requirements, such as, the master promissory note.
Please note: The parents FAFSA ID will be required to complete the PLUS Loan application.
Optional Non-Federal Private Loans
It is recommended that students exhaust all federal grant and loans before considering private (alternative) loans. Students may qualify for loans or other assistance such as Federal Student Title IV Aid. The terms and conditions for these loans may be more favorable than the provisions of private education loans.
Covenant College does not have any special arrangements with any outside lender nor do we make recommendations for private education loans to our students. However, a list of lenders our students’ families have used in the past for non-federal loans is available here. Students may receive private education loans from any lender by choosing and applying directly with a lender.
Special or Unusual Circumstances
If you think your FAFSA does not reflect your current situation, or you have special or unusual circumstances, such as excessive medical expenses, a change in salary, or private school costs for siblings, please email financialaid@covenant.edu for special consideration.
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