Southern Nazarene University · Oklahoma
DRAFT: SNU's headline merit is the competitive Kairos Scholars program (one full ride + three full-tuition awards at 3.5 GPA / 30 ACT / 1390 SAT), backed by an unpublished ACT/SAT+GPA academic grid and a hard 'actual charges' cap that trims institutional aid when other scholarships exceed billed costs.
SNU's awarding policy reduces its own institutional scholarships whenever all scholarships and grants (other than Pell) exceed actual charges (tuition, covered fees, room & board, books) — extra outside money above that line displaces SNU aid rather than adding value.
'No institutional funds will be refunded to off campus students,' and outside funds (including Pell) are allowed only up to the equivalent of a double-occupancy dorm room and 15-meal plan; the policy also warns that 'if... living arrangements change, an adjustment will be made to your award package.'
It is a gap-filler: 'After completing the FAFSA, all government/state aid will be applied to the student's account. The Kairos Scholars award will fill any remaining gap to meet the full amount promised' — other aid reduces the Kairos disbursement, not your bottom line.
'The Kairos Scholars award is limited to 17 hours per semester for eight semesters. This scholarship does not apply to December or summer terms,' and even the full-ride excludes books, course fees, and private-room fees.
For Fall 2026 entry: application opened October 15, 2025; all documents due 11:59 p.m. February 9, 2026; FAFSA due January 30, 2026; invitation-only interview March 6, 2026. The Kairos GPA renewal threshold is unpublished ('A minimum GPA requirement will remain in effect') — get it in writing.
SNU prices general academic merit from ACT/SAT and final HS GPA but publishes no amounts — the page even retains a '2019-20' update note — so families must phone for current figures and confirm them in the official award letter.
DRAFT: High scorers (30+ ACT / 1390+ SAT, 3.5+ GPA) willing to interview should target Kairos; everyone else gets an academic award priced by phone (no public grid); service-minded students can add the $1,500 PLS ambassadorship.
Every tier below is sourced to the school’s own published financial aid pages. Renewal terms apply only if the student maintains the stated GPA.
Based on a student's ACT/SAT score and final high school GPA; SNU directs families to call Admissions (405) 491-6324 or Financial Assistance (405) 491-6310 for specifics. Full-time traditional students only.
No public grid. The page still carries a note that 'Academic scholarships for 2019-20 have been updated' — stale text; current amounts must be confirmed by phone/email.
Admission to SNU; Kairos application with résumé, recommendation letter, and two 500-1,000-word essays; invitation-only interview (March 6, 2026); FAFSA by January 30, 2026 (SNU code 003149)
Limited to 17 hours per semester for eight semesters; does not apply to December or summer terms; 'A minimum GPA requirement will remain in effect to avoid interruption of the award' (GPA threshold not published).
One Top Award. Student's only expenses: books, applicable course fees, private room fees. Government/state aid is applied first and Kairos 'will fill any remaining gap to meet the full amount promised.'
Same application/interview process; documents due 11:59 p.m. February 9, 2026 (application opens October 15, 2025)
Same terms as Top Award: 17 hours/semester for eight semesters; unspecified minimum GPA to avoid interruption.
'All finalists invited to the Kairos Event will receive a generous scholarship' (amount unstated for non-winners).
Incoming freshmen/transfers for 2026-2027; FAFSA submitted to SNU (code 003149); service commitments — ~2 hours/week as SNU Ambassador, four mandatory leadership trainings per semester; application closes Friday, February 20
Can be renewed for up to four years for incoming freshmen; 'All are contingent upon review'; specifics live in the scholarship contract.
Scholarship applies 'toward tuition, fees, and/or housing.' This is a work/service-linked leadership award, not pure merit.
SNU caps total scholarships and grants (other than Pell) at ACTUAL CHARGES (tuition, covered fees, room & board, books): if combined awards exceed actual charges, SNU's institutional scholarships are reduced first. Off-campus students get no institutional refund and may use outside funds (including Pell) only up to the equivalent of a double dorm room + 15-meal plan. For Kairos, government/state aid is applied first and the award gap-fills to the promised amount.
Verbatim policy below. Note the cap is 'actual charges,' not full cost of attendance, and Pell is excluded from the cap calculation. Outside awards above the cap therefore displace SNU institutional scholarships dollar-for-dollar. Covered fees include general, health, and course fees but NOT health insurance, class trip fees, or travel fees.
Named awards that don’t always surface on the main financial aid page. Each one has its own eligibility rules.
Endowed/restricted fund on the scholarships page.
Graduate award (listed for completeness).
Kairos Scholars (Fall 2026): all documents by 11:59 p.m. February 9, 2026 (application opened October 15, 2025), FAFSA by January 30, 2026, interview March 6, 2026. Presidential Leadership Scholars: application closes Friday, February 20 (notification week of March 16, 2026). General academic scholarships have no published application deadline.
'Full tuition, general fees, room & board. Student's only expenses are books, applicable course fees, and private room fees.' Three additional winners receive full tuition only.
Only up to actual charges: if all scholarships and grants (other than Pell) exceed tuition, covered fees, room & board, and books, SNU reduces its institutional scholarships to stay within actual charges.
Minimum 3.5 high school GPA plus a 30+ ACT or 1390+ SAT, an admitted application to SNU, a résumé, a recommendation letter, and two essays.
Southern Nazarene (SNU) is in a recognizable cluster (160 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.
Southern Nazarene (SNU) is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.
Every claim is checked against Southern Nazarene (SNU)’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.
