Many students seek a faith-based education and attend a college or university that is aligned with their faith of choice. There are Jewish, Christian, Catholic, Islamic, and dozens of other types of schools available for students of a specific faith.
There are also college funds available from religious groups that wish to support the educational ambitions of students who practice their faith. For example, there are dozens of Jewish based scholarship opportunities with some requiring attendance at a specific school, others requiring a specialization or focus on a particular degree program or field of study, and others that simply make funds available to active members of the faith.
The best way to perform a scholarship search for a religion-based scholarship is to start at the place of regular worship. Visit the office and ask about scholarship opportunities for members, or for any suggestions. After that the next stop is a high school or college guidance office. The student will have access to their guidance officer and a whole host of search materials.
Many national organizations have a religious basis and this is a good way for a student to find faith-based funding or support. For example, the Catholic Library Association provides both scholarships and grants to students studying the library sciences or who are conducting ongoing work in the field of education.
There are also religious scholarships available for students who regularly serve their community through their church’s activities and programs. Many of these are available only on a local or city wide basis, but it pays to investigate such opportunities. For example, in Indianapolis the Faith or Community Service award is given to an attendee of the University of Indianapolis, and is regularly a sum of around two thousand five hundred dollars!
Currently there are even scholarships for those who have no specific faith at all, or who are acknowledged atheists. For example, the Mark Twain Scholarship provided by the Atheists of Florida will award scholarship funds to students who are of a “freethinking persuasion” and who submit an essay explaining their own personal philosophy.
Clearly there are many opportunities for students to put their personal philosophies, faith and belief systems to work for their educational ambitions. Generally, a scholarship search will turn up plenty of opportunities for a student looking for a faith based or religious scholarship. They will usually have to demonstrate their beliefs and understanding of their chosen faith as it pertains to their experiences in the world, and to their education. Many of the groups granting funds use the word “commitment” in their essay requirements and it will be important for a student to illustrate their commitment to their religious faith, community and academic pursuits.