Traditional Financial Aid

Academic Scholarship (GPA-based)

Amount: $3,000-$6,000 annually

Criteria:

Academic scholarships range from $3,000 to $6,000 annually and are renewable if the appropriate cumulative GPA is maintained and the student remains in good standing with Student Life. Academic awards ranging from $3,000-$4,000 must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3.  Academic awards ranging from $4,500-$6,000 must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.6.  They will be reviewed at the end of the academic year.  (Open to both Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Students.)

ACT Test Score Scholarship

Amount: $1,000-$3,000 annually

Criteria:

OKWU is now an ACT/SAT-optional university.  For students who took the either the ACT or SAT, the follow scholarship levels are available.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian Scholarship

Amount: 100% tuition for Valedictorian, 45% tuition for Salutatorian

Criteria:

• OKWU offers 100% tuition to the valedictorian and 45% tuition to the salutatorian of accredited high schools; some restrictions may apply.
• Must be ranked #1 in his or her class as verified at time of awarding and on final, official transcript.
• This is a competitive scholarship. Qualifying for the scholarship does not guarantee awarding.
• Must be accepted (with 5 semester transcript) to OKWU by February 1
• Must complete FAFSA by February 1
• Enrollment Commitment and accepted aid offer must be received by date noted in award announcement (changes slightly each year based on calendar).
• Transcripts will be evaluated on a weighted GPA, 4.0 scale.
• Must be entering as a first-time, full-time freshman student directly out of high school.
• Renewable annually with a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
• OKWU limits the total number of Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarships it packages annually.
• The Valedictorian Scholarship is awarded for a maximum time period of 10 continuously enrolled semesters.
• Students must live on-campus.
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

National Merit Scholarship

Amount: 100% tuition for Finalist, 50% for Semi-Finalist

Criteria:

• This award is for finalists, semi-finalists, or those receiving a commendation in the National Merit Program who is enrolled full-time and living on campus at the institution.
• The scholarship is awarded for a maximum time period of 10 continuously enrolled semesters.
• Renewable annually with a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
• Students can be packaged up to a maximum of 100% tuition. An academic scholarship or other 50% will not be added to this award for finalists or semi-finalists.
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

Amount: Varies based on coach’s submission

Criteria:

• Athletic Agreements are for students participating in intercollegiate sports. The coach determines the aid offer for the student athlete and submits an offer to the Office of Financial Aid each year.
• The activities that award scholarships are: Baseball (M), Basketball (M,W), Beach Volleyball (W), Cross Country (M, W), E-sports, Golf (M,W), Soccer (M,W), Softball (W), Tennis (M,W), Track (M,W), Volleyball (W),  and Wrestling (M).
• Athletic agreements are not stackable with other institutional aid.

 Presidential Leadership Scholarship

Amount: $11,000 annually

The Presidential Leadership Scholarship (PLS) offered at Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s residential campus is an opportunity to highlight the best of the best in our incoming students. The recently revised scholarship is built to attract prospective students who possess strong academic and leadership skills as well as a passion for both campus and community involvement. This is an opportunity for you, the student, to become intimately involved in the leadership community at OKWU, to help mentor other students, and to get involved on campus and in the city!

More Info

Dean’s Scholarship

Amount: $10,000 annually

The Dean’s Scholarships are awarded to extraordinary students committed to excellence in their studies and poised for success in the future. Each Dean chooses students who represent the best of their chosen discipline.

More Info

Christian Education Legacy Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 annually

Criteria:

• The student must be a graduate from a Christian high school or home school
• The student must be enrolled as full-time student
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

OKWU Prep

Amount: $2,000 max annually

Students who complete an OKWU Prep Course(s) as a concurrent student automatically qualify as a full-time undergraduate student.

Criteria:

• OKWU Prep students will receive a semester scholarship equal to 1/8 of paid tuition dollars, not to exceed $2,000 annually
• Eligibility is based on paid completion of OKWU Prep courses before high school graduation. Once a student has graduated from high school, he/she is no longer eligible for concurrent enrollment.
• Scholarship will not be awarded for repeated coursework
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

Alumni Dependent

Amount: $400 annually

Criteria:

• Must be a dependent student whose parent attended OKWU or one of its antecedent schools. The parent must have successfully completed 12 hours at OKWU or one of its antecedent schools.
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements
• The form for the Alumni Dependent Scholarship can be found here.

Music Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Criteria:

• Non-majors are eligible for a scholarship up to $2,000 per year (requires audition with Music Professor and to be a Chorale member)
• Majors only are eligible for a scholarship up to $5,000 per year (requires student to be a Chorale member, 8 semesters of private instruction, and be a member of at least one additional performing ensemble)
• Chapel worship leaders are eligible for a scholarship up to $3,000 per year (requires student to be a Chorale member, have an interview/audition with University Pastor, and be a member of either the worship leader or production team in Chapel)
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

Opportunity Knocks

Amount: Varies

Criteria:

• If qualified, student will receive a tuition and standard fees scholarship
• Must be admitted to OKWU by November 1 (transcripts and test scores)
• Must have FAFSA completed by February 1, 2024 (usually November 1, but pushed back due to FAFSA opening late)
• Must qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise
• Must qualify for full Pell Grant (0 EFC)
• Must participate in the federal work-study program at OKWU
• Must be a first-time or transfer student enrolled full-time at OKWU
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid

Multiple Student

Amount: $600 annually

Criteria:

• This is awarded to dependent siblings who are attending OKWU at the same time
• This award is renewable annually as long as at least two dependent students remain in attendance
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

Church Partnership Grant

Amount: $1,500 annually

Criteria:

• OKWU will match each gift from a church, district or church organization up to $750 per semester for qualified students.
• To receive matching portion, the annual amount of funds must be received by OKWU by September 1. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please contact the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible
• No personal checks are accepted. The check must come from the church, district, or church organization
• For percentage of tuition or athletic agreement recipients, the church gift will be applied, but OKWU will not apply the matching portion

Second-Degree Scholarship

Amount: $5,000 annually

Criteria:

• This is awarded to students who are seeking a second bachelor’s degree
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU aid

If you’re serious about making a difference as a nurse, come experience the convenient, flexible, supportive, and affordable pathway to your LPN to BSN degree in nursing at OKWU. 

LPN Nursing scholarship eases the cost of school. At OKWU there are many kinds of financial assistance available to help you on your path to a nursing career. The LPN to BSN Scholarship seeks to alleviate financial burden and stress from your life to enable you to concentrate on your studies. 

Based on your aid offering you could be eligible for $10K or more from the LPN to BSN Scholarship. To qualify you must be admitted as a full-time LPN student in the LPN-BSN Pathway. Second bachelor degree-seekers will be reviewed for scholarship eligibility. Learn more about OKWU scholarships and take the next steps to an aid offer. This scholarship cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements.

Still have questions? Talk with our nursing department by emailing Melissa Little.

Ready to apply? Contact Admissions at admissions@okwu.edu. 

School of Ministry & Christian Thought Scholarship

Amount: 75% tuition

Criteria:

• The student must live on campus
• The student must be full-time
• Student must be enrolled in a ministry major — no double majors
• The student must be approved for the scholarship by the Dean of the School of Ministry & Christian Thought
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid
• Includes service requirements as determined by the Dean

Wesleyan, Ordained Minister or Missionary Dependent

Amount: 75% tuition

Criteria:

• The parent must be a currently appointed, full–time minister or missionary in a Wesleyan Church (TWC) or The Evangelical Church (TEC)
• Excluded from the scholarship are volunteers or laity working in a pastoral position in addition to a primary job and ordained ministers not currently serving in the Church
• The student must be full-time
• The student must live on campus
• Vocational ministry service and ordination must be verified in writing each year by supervising ministry leader
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid
• Includes service requirements determined by the Dean

Wesleyan, Non-Ordained Minister or Missionary Dependent

Amount: 50% tuition

Criteria:

• The parent who meets the above qualifications for a Wesleyan Minister or Missionary Dependent Scholarship but are not ordained by The Wesleyan Church or The Evangelical Church
• The student must be full-time
• The student must live on campus
• Vocational ministry service and ordination must be verified in writing each year by supervising ministry leader
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid
• Includes service requirements determined by the Dean

Non-Wesleyan Minister Dependent

Amount: 50% tuition

Criteria:

• The parent must be a currently appointed, full–time minister or missionary at a non-Wesleyan church
• The student must be full-time
• Student must live on campus
• Vocational ministry service must be verified in writing each year by supervising ministry leader
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid
• Includes service requirements as determined by the Dean

Wesleyan Student Scholarship

Amount: 50% tuition

Criteria:

• The student must be full-time
• Student must live on campus
• The student must be active in a Wesleyan Church or The Evangelical Church
• The student must submit the Wesleyan Student Scholarship Form at the beginning of the semester and it must be signed by the pastor or youth pastor
• Cannot be combined with other OKWU institutional aid
• Includes service requirements as determined by the Dean

Bible Bowl or Campus Challenge

Amount: Varies

Criteria:

• This is awarded to top honor earning students in the Wesleyan Bible Bowl or Campus Challenge according to the guidelines established by The Wesleyan Church
• The amount will vary based on the amount of scholarship dollars earned.
• The total scholarship will be evenly divided and applied over eight semesters
• Total awards, regardless of source, cannot exceed tuition
• Original scholarship certificates must be submitted to OKWU
• Cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements

Wesleyan Ministerial Loan/Grant

Amount: Varies

Criteria:

• Available to upper-division ministry majors on track for ordination
• Needs a 2.0 cGPA, available for up to 64 undergraduate hours
• Funds and awarding policies are provided by The Wesleyan Church with a matching portion from OKWU
• OKWU matching portion cannot be combined with percentage of tuition or athletic agreements and cannot exceed tuition
• For more information or to apply, please visit The Wesleyan Church’s Loan/Grant page

The Federal Pell Grant is a grant for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA information and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. The amounts change yearly; for the most up-to-date information, visit the Federal Pell Grant link above.

Unlike a loan, the Federal Pell Grant does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances, which can be found here.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. SEOG amounts at Oklahoma Wesleyan University range from $400 to $2,000 annually. OKWU funds are limited by U.S. Department of Education allocation; priority is given to those students who apply early.  The FAFSA processing date is used to determine aid eligibility as well as federal need and unmet charges. If verification paperwork is not completed by the priority deadline, funds may be removed.

Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants for up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low income families. In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received the TEACH Grant.

IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of the TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed.

Oklahoma’s Promise is a scholarship for Oklahoma residents attending Oklahoma colleges or universities. It is a program that a family must sign up for while the student is in the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade, and there are specific income, academic, and conduct requirements to receive the scholarship. For information on this scholarship, contact the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education at (800) 858-1840 or visit the Oklahoma’s Promise link above.

The Oklahoma Tuition Grant Program is a need-based program for Oklahoma residents attending Oklahoma colleges or universities. Application is made through the FAFSA and packaged to eligible applicants. It is important to file your FAFSA early. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education sets a cutoff date that varies each year, but OKWU recommends filing early. Grant eligibility and policy are determined by OK Regents and is based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

The Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant (OTEG) is a need-based grant program that awards grants to Oklahoma residents enrolled as full-time undergraduates at certain qualified Oklahoma not-for-profit, private/independent institutions of higher education. Students must complete FAFSA to apply. For information on this grant, contact the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education at 800.858.1840.

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program includes Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. These funds are packaged based on the budgeted annual cost of attending OKWU. If you are an undergraduate student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year varies from $5,500 to $12,500 depending on your year in school and dependency level. If you are a graduate student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year is $20,500. The interest rate is fixed; for the most up-to-date information, please visit the Direct Loan link above. Students who use Direct Loans are not required to make payments until six months after they leave school or drop below half-time enrollment.

The Direct Subsidized Loan is a need-based loan for undergraduate students who have financial need based on the information submitted on the FAFSA. The interest on the Direct Subsidized Loan is paid by the U.S. Department of Education while the student is in school at least half-time.

The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a loan not based on financial need for undergraduate and graduate students. This loan accrues interest while the student is still in school, but the borrower has the option to pay the interest while in school. If he/she chooses not to pay the interest, the interest is added to the principal of the loan.

The Direct Parent PLUS Loan is a loan that the parent of a dependent undergraduate student can apply for to help his or her dependent student pay for the student’s education. The interest rate is fixed; for the most up-to-date information, please visit the Direct Parent Plus Loan link above.

The loan process does require a credit check and an application to be completed by the parent. The application can be found at StudentAid.gov. There are two types of applications; it is important that your parent choose: “Direct PLUS Loan Application for Parents”. If the application is denied, the parent can submit an Appeal or find an Endorser.

Private Student Loans help bridge the gap between the cost of an education and the other aid available. There are multiple lending companies that provide Private Student Loans. They have different interest rates and products offered, so be sure to inquire at your local financial institutions as well as search online for a lending company. We do not provide a preferred lender list, but we recommend you go with a company with a recognizable name.

Work-study eligibility is based on a student’s financial need and FAFSA processing date. Eligible students are employed through the university in on-campus and off-campus positions. Work-study positions pay $8.00 per hour, and students are scheduled to work 8-10 per week. Work-study will be treated like a regular job with Human Resources requirements as well as general work-related requirements.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a program of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, provides quality individualized services to enhance and support people with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment. Through active participation in their rehabilitation, people with disabilities achieve a greater level of independence in their workplace and living environments. For more information, visit the VRS link above.

Military/Veterans Benefits may be utilized by those who have served or who are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses and dependents, and/or their surviving family members. There are several different military/veteran benefits available to many of our students. OKWU students may contact the Registrar’s Office for more information at 918.335.6261 (Traditional students) or 918.335.6819 (GPS students).

Many tribes fund scholarships for college-bound members. Contact your tribe’s Education Office for more information and how to apply.

These are many online scholarship databases. Apply often!

• Fastweb
• Scholarships.com
• Unigo
• UCanGo2.org

Tuition reimbursement or employer assistance is offered by many companies as an incentive to their employees to obtain or complete their degree. Check with your employer or your parent(s)’ employer, if you are a dependent student.

Set an appointment with your school counselor to discuss scholarship options.