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Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are two similar pieces of financial aid that assist in paying for college. Learn more about available grants and scholarships at North Central University below.

A scholarship is a financial aid award that celebrates academic achievements, special talents, career aspirations, or unique circumstances. Scholarships can reduce your tuition by thousands of dollars. The best part—they don’t need to be repaid!

Grants are financial aid gifts—meaning they don’t need to be repaid. Grants are usually determined by financial need based on the information you provide in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Check out the grants and scholarships available below.

Grants available at NCU

North Central Grant - Max Award: $6,500/year
  • Eligibility: Awarded based on academic achievement and financial need (as determined by the FAFSA).
  • Renewal: Renewable by maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA at North Central.
  • How to Apply: Students are automatically considered by being accepted to North Central, submitting a FAFSA, and submitting all requested documents. This grant is at a first come first serve basis, so file your FAFSA early to be considered!
Minnesota State Grant - Amount: $100 to $12,345/year
  • Eligibility: Available to Minnesota residents who demonstrate financial need.
  • Renewal: Maximum length of eligibility is 8 semesters, whether or not a student receives a state grant during a semester.
  • Deadline: To meet the deadline set by the state of Minnesota, a student’s FAFSA must be received by the federal processing center within 30 days of the start of the semester.
  • How to Apply: This aid is awarded to qualifying students based upon information from the FAFSA. Filing the FAFSA will determine eligibility
    • NOTE: 15 credits is considered full-time. If a student drops below 15 credits, the Minnesota State Grant will be reduced to the appropriate award amount based on the number of credits taken.
Federal Pell Grant - Max award: $7,395/year
  • Eligibility: This federal grant is available to undergraduate students with qualifying financial need who do not have a prior bachelor’s degree.
  • How to Apply: Students are automatically considered by being accepted to North Central, submitting the FAFSA, and submitting all requested documents. A student must have submitted a FAFSA no later than the 30th calendar day of the term to be eligible
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant - Max Award: $1000/year
  • Eligibility: This federal grant is available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who do not have a prior bachelor’s degree.
  • How to Apply: Students are automatically considered by being accepted to North Central, submitting the FAFSA, and submitting all requested documents. A student must have submitted a FAFSA no later than the 30th calendar day of the term to be eligible.
Minnesota Dream Act

Academic Scholarships for First-time Freshmen

MN Tuition Guarantee - Max Award: Full tuition/year. Renewable for four years.
  • The Minnesota Tuition Guarantee Scholarship will provide funds to help cover the full cost of tuition for students who may face trouble in funding their college goals.
  • Find more information here.
Regent’s Scholarship - Max Award: 100% Tuition
  • Requirements: GPA: 3.5 | Test scores will be considered, but are not required.
  • Eligibility: One full-tuition renewable scholarship is awarded to a first-time entering freshman student each year, based on superior academic performance, references, a written essay, and active membership and regular attendance at an Assemblies of God church.
  • Renewal: Renewable for up to 8 semesters by maintaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA at North Central.
  • How to Apply: The Admissions Office will send information on applying for the Regent’s Scholarship to students who have applied for admission to North Central and who meet the GPA and test score requirements for the scholarship.
  • You can also apply online here.
Presidential Scholarship - Max Award: $13,000/year
  • Requirements: Scholarships awarded based upon GPA and test scores.
  • Eligibility: Awarded to first-time entering freshmen based on academic performance.
  • Renewal: Renewable each year by maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA at North Central.
  • How to Apply: Automatically awarded to qualifying students based on information provided during the Admissions application process.
NCU Academic Scholarship - Max Award: $11,000/year
  • Requirements: Scholarships are awarded based on merit, in accordance to students’ GPA and test scores.
  • Eligibility: Awarded to first-time entering freshmen based on academic performance.
  • Renewal: Renewable each year by maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA at North Central.
  • How to Apply: Automatically awarded to qualifying students based on information provided during the Admissions application process.

Transfer Student Scholarships

NCU Academic Scholarship - Max Award: $11,000/year
  • Requirements: Scholarship award amounts are dependent on students’ GPA.
  • Eligibility: Awarded to transfer students based on collegiate academic performance.
  • Renewal: Renewable each year by maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  • How to Apply: Automatically awarded to qualifying students based on information provided during the Admissions application process.

Re-applicant Scholarships

NCU Academic Scholarship - Max Award: variable
  • Requirements: GPA-dependent
  • Eligibility: Awarded to re-applicant students based on collegiate academic performance.
Contact your admissions counselor to learn more about the NCU Academic Scholarship for re-applicant students!

Talent and Interest Scholarships

Music Scholarship - Max Award: $5,000/year (based on audition)
  • Eligibility: Awarded to first-time freshman or transfer students who, by audition, show outstanding musicianship.
  • Requirements: You must intend to be a Music major for eligibility of this scholarship. Requirements to obtain the scholarship will include:

–  Be enrolled as a fulltime student
–  Enroll in an ensemble & private music lesson on the auditioned instrument every semester
–  Audition and participate in Chorale and Worship Live (if chosen).

Awards are given after a student has been accepted for admission to North Central.
Deadline: Audition deadlines are April 30th to receive a scholarship for the following school year.

How to Apply

  1.  Sign up for an audition.  Auditions are held in Mensing Hall at North Central University during all Campus Visit Days and Fine Arts Auditions Days.  Fine Audition Days also give perspective students the opportunity to meet faculty and students from the College of Fine Arts.
    If you are unable to audition on the designated visit days, other audition times can be arranged by appointment with the College of Fine Arts.
  2. Audition. You’ll be notified of your assigned audition time by email, and you must confirm this with the administrative assistant by email (finearts@northcentral.edu). Check the Audition Guidelines below for details about your audition. You can expect a letter from the College of Fine Arts about your audition letting you know if you have been awarded a music scholarship. All audition requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the desired audition date.

Audition Guidelines

All incoming NCU students who are music majors or minors, and/or are interested in a music scholarship, are required to perform an audition on their primary performing instrument. Audition appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis and are approximately 30 minutes. Auditions include the student’s performance and an interview with faculty. A Music Theory placement exam can be done if requested. This exam determines entrance into Theory I and will be taken immediately following the audition (if desired).

Audition requirements in the various performing instruments:

Voice Requirements

Worship Leading: Prepare and lead 2 worship songs by memorization. Choose songs that show your style and range. Self-accompaniment is suggested.
Classical Voice: Prepare 2 memorized pieces in contrasting styles (baroque, classical, jazz, gospel, contemporary, etc.). You may use a track on your phone or accompany yourself on piano or guitar. We don’t have an accompanist available.

All voice auditions will be expected to sight-read a piece of music. A faculty member will give an interview asking about your career goals, performance experience, and other related questions.

Piano/Keyboard Requirements

A minimum of two pieces of contrasting styles should be prepared. One should be memorized. You’ll be expected to sight-read, perform major and/or minor scales, and chords.

An interview will ask about your career goals, performance experience and other related questions.

Guitar/Bass Requirements

You should have a prepared solo that demonstrates your best ability and play a sacred solo. One of these should be memorized. You should also demonstrate the ability to sight-read and play major and minor guitar chords in rhythm guitar/chord chart form and play scales.

Be prepared to tell us about yourself and your professional goals. Please bring your own instrument.

Percussion Requirements

Demonstration of various styles (i.e. rock, waltz, swing, funk, samba, bossa nova) on a drum set, trading “fours” in 3/4 and 4/4. On the snare drum, an etude demonstrating your present level of technical ability, rudiment, and orchestral style rolls at all dynamic levels will be required. Marimba and vibraphone are available if you wish to have these as part of your audition (must submit request to finearts@northcentral.edu).

String/Woodwind/Brass Instruments Requirements

Two pieces of contrasting styles (contrasting in style, tempo and/or historical period) should be prepared. Audition material may be taken from the State Solo & Ensemble repertoire and/or an arrangement recently performed at church. Students will be required to sight-read and to play at least 3 major and/or minor scales (two octaves). Also, please bring your own instrument.

Music Participation Scholarship - Max award: $2,000/year (based on audition)

The College of Fine Arts would like to invite auditions for a Music Participation Scholarship.

  • The requirements, if offered, would include participation in an ensemble while being registered as a full-time student (minimum of 12 credits).
  • These scholarships could give students a maximum of 8,000 over 4 years. Music participation would be in the following ensembles: Worship Live, Choirs (Chorale or Women’s Chorus), Jazz Workshop, Rhythm Section Ensemble, and Chamber Music Ensemble. Participation in these ensembles will be dependent on the instrument you receive a scholarship for.

Criteria: Auditions done either by video or in person will include for vocalists, performance of a song and demonstration of range. For instrumentalists, (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, viola and violin) performance of a piece showcasing your talents.

If performing with a track, please bring the appropriate adaptor for your device that is compatible with an AUX cord.

How to Apply:

  1. Sign up for an audition. * Note that “Voice” is an instrument *
    Auditions are held in Mensing Hall at North Central University. Auditions can be scheduled with the academic admin or arranged with admissions during a college visit.
  2. Either send a video to finearts@northcentral.edu or look for your assigned in-person audition time given by the academic admin.

Other Scholarships

Church Match Scholarship - Amount: Donations up to $1,000/year will be matched

Amount: North Central will match a church donation to your education. Donations up to $1,000 per year will be matched at 100% if all criteria are met.

Requirements:

  • Student must enroll for and maintain full-time status in the resident degree program during the semester(s) the scholarship is received or North Central’s match will be forfeited.
  • Funds cannot come from the student, parents, relatives or from the monthly pledge a church has designated for North Central.
  • Checks must be received by North Central by the deadline date in order to qualify for the NCU matching portion. The check sent by September 1 must be for both semesters.
  • The NCU match portion cannot exceed $500 in one semester.
  • The NCU match portion is applied to tuition costs only.
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be maintained by the student to be eligible for the NCU matching portion.
    The church check and NCU’s matching scholarship are divided equally between the fall and spring semesters.

Deadline: August 1 for new students (Fall) (available depending on review and availability after August 1)

How to apply for 2024-2025:

Church Match Scholarship Application

George Floyd Memorial Scholarship

The George Floyd Memorial Scholarship provides a way to invest in a new generation of young Black Americans, poised and ready to be leaders in our community and our nation. We believe that the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship will enable North Central University to increase our number of Black students who will impact the learning environment in a positive manner. Diversifying our learning environment is key to being a University that looks and acts like Heaven.

The George Floyd Memorial Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship awarded to one student each year based on two community recommendations and a written essay.

Learn more and apply for the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship.

AGWM Pennington Scholarship

North Central University deeply values its relationship with the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM). This scholarship will provide a near full-tuition discount to dependent children of AGWM missionaries. Below are key elements of the AGWM Pennington Scholarship.

  • Fully appointed active AGWM missionary dependent children (based on the FAFSA definition of dependent) will receive a near full tuition discount to attend North Central University.
  • Students will be responsible for $2,000 of tuition each year ($1,000 per semester) and the remainder will be covered by the AGWM tuition discount program. NCU recommends that students use on-campus employment to cover the $2,000 gap between the AGWM scholarship and the tuition charge.
  • To be eligible, all students must be admitted to NCU. Students must file a FAFSA each year and submit all required documents. Any federal or state grants will be subtracted from the cost of tuition. The remaining tuition balance (minus $2,000) will be covered by the AGWM tuition discount.
  • Students are not eligible to receive any additional NCU institutional aid towards room, board, and all various fees. All room, board, and fees will be covered by federal student loans, outside funding, or personal finances. Students must live in NCU housing and participate in a meal plan.
  • Students must maintain full-time status of 12 credits or more to be eligible. However, NCU will not cover tuition for any special programs outside NCU including study abroad options or Graduate Programs. Should students participate in the Bible Lands Seminar, no expenses beyond tuition will be covered by the AGWM tuition discount.
  • This award is renewable up to eight semesters, not including summer school, by meeting satisfactory academic progress as specified by the Financial Aid Office. Students must remain in good standing at the university.
  • Advanced standing and directed research tuition can be covered provided it is applicable to the student’s degree.
  • Students in Applied Studies Programs are not eligible to receive the AGWM tuition discount.
Pastor's Kid scholarship commitment

New, incoming students of NCU who are dependents of ordained and licensed AG pastors serving in full-time church ministry will be guaranteed $11,000 of institutional aid to help cover the cost of tuition. This can be a combination of NCU grant, academic scholarship, and PK scholarship. To be eligible, a student must be admitted and attending full-time at NCU in a residential program. Please reach out to your admissions counselor. 

Unity in Diversity Scholarship

Here at North Central University, we believe unity and diversity are essential values, not just concepts. Our scholarship isn’t just about financial aid; it’s a chance to celebrate the unique stories each student brings to our community. At NCU, unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We love embracing individuality, and creating an environment where diverse backgrounds, walks of faith, and histories come together harmoniously.

Inspired by Revelation 7:9, our goal is to be a diverse and unified community, much like the vision of a Church where people from every tribe, nation, and tongue worship together.

If you’re excited about being part of a diverse institution that values unity, this scholarship is your chance to contribute and thrive in a community that holds these values dear.

Learn more about the Unity in Diversity Scholarship.

Minnesota Student Teacher Grant

The Minnesota Student Teacher Grants provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in Minnesota teacher preparation programs during one term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience. There are two grants available based on eligibility:

  • Minnesota Student Teachers in Shortage Area grant
    • The Minnesota Student Teachers in Shortage Areas Grant provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students who intend to teach in a license shortage area or rural school district after graduating and receiving their teaching license.
  • Minnesota Underrepresented Student Teacher grant
    • The Minnesota Underrepresented Student Teacher Grant provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible students who belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce.

Applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in an eligible Minnesota college or university in an eligible teacher preparation program that requires at least 12 weeks of student teaching;
  • Be meeting satisfactory academic progress;
  • Demonstrate financial need; and
  • Meet one or more of the following requirements:
    • Intend to teach in a designated rural school district in Minnesota.
    • Intend to teach in an identified license shortage area.
    • Belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the Minnesota teacher workforce

A student must submit a complete application to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education for the term in which the student is completing a required 12-week or more student teaching experience.

Complete applications must include the following:

  • Student Section including all the required information that is signed and dated;
  • College or University Section completed by an authorized representative at the college or university you attend that includes all of the required information; and
  • Completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act application

More information can be found on the State’s Website.

Aspiring Teachers of Color Grant

Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship Pilot Program provides postsecondary financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing to become teachers, have demonstrated financial need, and belong to racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in the state’s teacher workforce.

 

To be eligible, students must:

More information can be found on the State’s Website.