Scholarships

First-Year Academic Scholarships

Academic awards are based on a combination of cumulative high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Awards are renewable provided the student is enrolled full-time and remains in good academic standing.

Index Score Award Name Annual Award 4-Year Total Award
80-100 Presidential $8,000 $32,000
80-100 CU Merit* $2,000 $8,000
70-79 Trustee $6,000 $24,000
60-69 Gateway $4,000 $16,000

 

Calculate Your Scholarship

You can use your cumulative GPA and either your ACT Composite Score or your SAT Math and Critical Reading combined score to calculate your index score.

Your cumulative GPA x 12.5  
Your SAT Critical Reading and Math combined x .03 or
your ACT Composite x 1.4		 +
Your scholarship =

*Students are eligible for the CU Merit Award if they graduate from a Seventh-day Adventist Academy located within the Columbia Union of Seventh-day Adventists and meet the qualifications for the presidential award.

ACT/SAT Scholarships**

ACT Composite Score SAT Score (Crit. Reading + Math) Award
29-31 or 95th Percentile 1410-1510 or 95th Percentile 50% Tuition for Four Years
32-36 or 99th Percentile 1520-1600 or 99th Percentile 75% Tuition for Four Years
National Merit Finalist** Full Tuition for 4 Years
National Merit Semi-Finalist** 75% Tuition for 4 Years

**To document your eligibility, have your scores or certificate sent to Washington Adventist University Admissions Office.

Transfer Academic Scholarships


Awards are renewable provided the student is enrolled full-time and remains in good academic standing.

 

GPA Award Name Annual Award
3.20 & ABOVE Dean’s Scholarship $3,000
2.75 – 3.19 Founder’s Scholarship $1,500

 

Leadership Scholarships


WAU is pleased to offer Gateway Leadership Scholarships to first-time (including first-year students with less than 24 credits) to students. The scholarships are for the student’s first year only and are not renewable. Students are eligible based on elected or appointed offices held during their junior or senior years of high school. If a student has held more than one office, only one scholarship can be awarded and will be given for the highest office held. For any scholarship to be awarded, a verification letter must be received from the high school, church, or community organization stating the office held, and the period the office was held.

Student Association President $2,000
Senior Class President $2,000
Student Association Vice President $1,500
Senior Class Vice President $1,500
Junior Class President $1,500
Junior Class Vice President $1,250
Other SA or Class Office $1,000
School Publication Editor (Yearbook, Newspaper) $1,000
Church, Community Organization Leader $750*

*Students wishing to receive church or community organization leadership scholarships must meet the following criteria:

  1. The student must hold and elected or appointed office with duties that include, but are not limited to, planning, leading or creating events and activities, coordinating the use of resources including people and funds;
  2. Participation in such activities a minimum of once a week.

The same verification process for school leadership scholarships must be followed for church and community organization leadership scholarships.

Athletic Scholarship: NAIA

Recipients must try out, be selected, and participate in one of the following NAIA sports:

  • Basketball 
  • Cross country 
  • Soccer 
  • Volleyball 
  • Acro-Airs

Acro-Airs: WAU’s Gymnastics Team Scholarship

The amount of scholarship varies. The scholarship is renewable based on eligibility. Acro-air scholarship recipients must maintain their academic eligibility, including GPA and academic progress requirements. Contact the Athletic Department at 301-891-4195 for more information or email acroair@wau.edu.

Music Scholarship

Recipients must audition, be selected, and participate in one or more of the following groups:

  • Pro Musica (chamber/honors choir)
  • New England Youth Ensemble at WAU (orchestra)
  • Washington Concert Winds (concert band)

Selected keyboard performers earn scholarships by performing with the orchestra and as an accompanist in the department. The amount of scholarship varies. The scholarship is renewable based on eligibility. Contact the Department Of Music at 301-891-4025 for more information or e-mail music@wau.edu.

Washington Adventist University Need Grant

Grants are based on your expected family contribution (EFC) number, generated by the completion of your FAFSA. Recipients must complete the FAFSA form for the Student Financial Services office to determine eligibility. The grant is available only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Youth Camp/Summer Ministries Scholarship

Recipients must work as a youth camp or summer ministries employee at one of the Adventist Youth Camps or organizations. WAU matches 100% of the net cash the college receives from the Conference up to $1,500 per academic year, disbursed one-half each semester.

Three-Way Scholarship

The Three-Way Scholarship can be applied for by contacting your local Seventh-day Adventist church to see if they participate in the program. If the church approves up to $500 from church funds, they then send the funds to the Conference for matching funds. The Conference sends all the funds to Washington Adventist University, and then WAU matched the Conference portion up to $500. If the Conference does not participate, your church can send $500 directly to WAU & then WAU will contribute up to $250 to your student account.

Other Scholarship Sources

The Fine Print

  • Institutional scholarships will not be awarded more than tuition.
  • Scholarships and discounts are divided and distributed equally over the fall and spring semesters. Institutional scholarships do not apply to summer sessions.
  • Scholarships are available to full-time students taking 12 or more hours each semester.
  • WAU reserves the right to change or amend any of the scholarship policies at any time.

Questions?

For more information about financial aid at WAU, email finaid@wau.edu, or call 301.891.4005 or 1-800-835-4212 to speak to a financial aid advisor.

Student Financial Services
Washington Adventist University
7600 Flower Avenue, Suite 351
Takoma Park, MD 20912
email: finaid@wau.edu
phone: 301-891-4005
toll-free: 800-835-4212
general fax: 301.560.5364