Baptist Ministry Scholarship

Baylor University, in cooperation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, provides tuition assistance to Baptist students who are preparing for careers in church-related vocational ministry. The amount of the Ministry Scholarship is 20% of tuition for Baylor undergraduate hours. 

Additional scholarship assistance may be available for ministry students who demonstrate financial need. In order to determine eligibility for the additional assistance, the applicant must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please note that Ministry Scholarship recipients are ineligible for the state-funded Tuition Equalization Grant, per State of Texas regulation.

To be eligible a student must:

1.    Show evidence of a divine call to church-related vocational ministry.

2.    Demonstrate a lifestyle of commitment to the principles of the Christian life.

3.    Be an active member of a Baptist church.

4.    Provide certification from his/her church in one of the following forms:

       • a certificate of ordination to the gospel ministry, or

       • a certificate of license to the gospel ministry, or

       • certification by the church of a call to church-related vocational ministry.

The student must complete a Baptist Ministry Scholarship Initial Application including testimony of personal call to vocational ministry. (Testimony to be uploaded with scholarship application.)  In addition to your personal information, you will be asked to provide an accurate email address for the pastor or church staff member who can provide evidence of your church certification.  This scholarship application is to be completed prior to the beginning of the semester for which the scholarship application is being made.

Qualifying students who accept this Ministry Scholarship assistance commit themselves to take Religion 2480 "Introduction to Ministry" at some point in their studies at Baylor. A ministry-vocations assessment, intended to assist in self-awareness and call clarification, is also a requirement of this scholarship program and is a part of the Religion 2480 course. Failure to complete the Religion 2480 course will prevent the student from graduating from Baylor University unless the Ministry Scholarship is repaid.

Eligibility for the Baptist Ministry Scholarship must be reviewed and reaffirmed annually and submitted by May 15.  The following renewal requirements must be met by the student:

• Demonstrate a life-style of commitment to the principles of the Christian life, as perceived by Texas Baptists.
• The student will complete a Baptist Ministry Scholarship Renewal Application prior to May 15 each year and upload a written reaffirmation of a sense of call to ministry and a desire to continue to receive the Ministry Scholarship.
• Provide an accurate email address for the certifying pastor of your school-year church so a completed Church Certification Renewal Form may be obtained, thereby furnishing evidence of the student’s involvement with, support of, and commitment to a local cooperating BGCT church. 
• Meet the Baylor University standards for measurable satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the Statement of Satisfactory Academic Progress (copies available from the Baylor University Office of Academic Scholarships and Financial Aid).
• Be in compliance with any additional requirements or policies of Baylor University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas, for which official notification has been previously given.

For further information or to apply for the scholarship, please contact Louine Adams in the Ministry Guidance Office or call (254) 710-3739. The Ministry Guidance Office is located on the Baylor campus in the Tidwell Bible Building, Room 106.