The starting point
Every new residential freshman at Cedarville is automatically considered for a renewable academic scholarship of $15,000 to $25,000 per year based on high-school credentials — no separate application, just submit qualifying GPA or (optional) test scores by July 31 — and music, worship, pharmacy, and ministry awards stack on top up to the cost of attendance.
More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.
Awards to discuss
First 3 of 5 recorded awards, in chapter display order. This is a selection, not a ranking. Read the full chapter for all awards. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
President's Scholar Award (academic scholarship for new residential freshmen)
$15,000 to $25,000 per year · Published range
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: Based on high-school credentials; specific qualifying GPA per tier is NOT published on current pages · SAT: Optional; specific qualifying scores per tier are NOT published on current pages · ACT: Optional; specific qualifying test scores per tier are NOT published on current pages
Eligibility: New residential freshman; qualifying GPA or standardized test scores (test scores not required) must be submitted by July 31; no separate application required
Renewal: Renewable for up to four years (eight semesters) as long as the student maintains the required Cedarville cumulative GPA. Cedarville publishes per-named-tier renewal GPAs: President's Society Fellows 3.2, President's Excellence 3.2, Chancellor's Excellence 3.0, Deans' Excellence 3.0, Faculty Excellence 2.8, President's Scholar Award 2.7, Cedarville Achievement 2.5. Renewal reviewed once a year at the end of Spring Semester; full-time enrollment (12+ credits) required each term.
Other terms: Awarded automatically on high-school credentials — no essay or separate scholarship application. The single published amount on current 2026-27 pages is the range '$15,000 to $25,000 per year.' Internally the award is split into seven named tiers (President's Society Fellows, President's Excellence, Chancellor's Excellence, Deans' Excellence, Faculty Excellence, President's Scholar Award, Cedarville Achievement) — those tier names and their RENEWAL GPAs are published, but the per-tier ENTRY dollar amounts and qualifying GPA/test cutoffs are NOT published on the current public site (older 2020-21-catalog figures circulate but are stale and lower; do not use). Online (non-residential) students are not eligible.
https://www.cedarville.edu/offices/financial-aid/undergraduate/student-aid-2026-27
"Soli Deo Gloria" Music Program Scholarship
Up to $6,000 per year · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Declared music major (not music minors or non-majors); completed audition with music faculty after admission to the University
Renewal: Based on performance and discretion of the music faculty. Full-time enrollment as a music major (12+ credits); limited to eight semesters, fall and spring only.
Other terms: Determined as part of the music audition. May be combined with Cedarville's academic and need-based awards (stacks).
https://www.cedarville.edu/offices/financial-aid/undergraduate/student-aid-2026-27/info/2026/music-program-soli-deo-gloria-scholarships
Worship Program Scholarship
Up to $4,000 per year · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Declared worship major (not worship minors or non-majors); completed worship audition (essay, musical audition, interview, recommendations) after admission
Renewal: Renewable terms not stated explicitly on the page. Full-time enrollment as a worship major (12+ credits); limited to eight semesters, fall and spring only.
Other terms: Awarded on the strength of the worship audition. May be combined with Cedarville's academic and need-based awards (stacks).
https://www.cedarville.edu/offices/financial-aid/undergraduate/student-aid-2026-27/info/2026/worship-program-scholarships
Ask before you decide
- Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
- What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
- How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?
Recorded stacking policy: Cedarville's academic, talent (music/worship), pharmacy, and ministry awards are explicitly combinable with other scholarships and grants. However, total gift aid (institutional + outside) is capped at the student's direct University charges: if combined scholarships/grants exceed direct charges, Cedarville reduces its own institutional gift aid down to the charges. Outside awards of $1,500+ are automatically split between fall and spring.
Our unanswered questions / Family notes
