Students

undergraduate scholarships seminary scholarships dinwiddie scholarship

Undergraduate Scholarships

Faith in Your Future

The Missouri United Methodist Foundation awards various college scholarships to qualified students each year. The new MUMF application is available each January and may be submitted any time prior to April 1 each year.

additional required application materials must be postmarked no later than April 1.

  • Typically, no more than one scholarship is awarded to any single applicant for the academic year. Depending on available funds, number of applicants, and applicant qualifications, however, the Foundation reserves the discretion to award more than one scholarship or no scholarship to any single applicant.
  • Many of our awards may be used to attend any post-secondary university, college, or vocational school. A few scholarships are restricted to students attending a particular school (e.g., Central Methodist University) or type of school (e.g., a United Methodist-related institution).
  • If you apply and receive an award — congratulations! Most of our scholarships, however, are only available once, so award recipients are ineligible to re-apply in future years. (An exception to this is the Dollars for Scholars program administered by UMHEF. See more information about that program below.)
  • (CMU-Fayette campus residential students only) Recipients of named awards are not eligible to receive the Foundation match under the Dollars for Scholars program in the same academic year. (If a student qualifies for both, we will opt for the award that provides the larger amount.)
  • Many of our scholarships require applicants to be active members of a UM church in Missouri for at least one year. A few scholarships are available for student members of UM-related churches which includes those churches with a historical tie to the UMC (including recently disaffiliated congregations).

Scholarship Descriptions & Application

  • The Judge Leah B. McCartney Scholarship Fund (up to two awards of $2,000 each)
  • The Reinhardt Scholarship Fund (up to three awards of $1,000 each)
  • Merrydelle May Memorial Fund (up to 10 awards of $1,000 each)
  • Clint and Marge Hawkins Memorial Christian Education Fund for Youth (up to three awards of $1,000 each)
  • Warren J. Meyer Scholarship Fund (up to two awards of $1,000 each)
  • Lawrence & Gracia Herbert Scholarship Fund (up to three awards of up to $3,000 each) Only students attending Central Methodist University are eligible
  • David L. Hewitt, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund (one award of $1,000)
  • The Ronald L. and M. Joyce Crossen Scholarship Fund (one award of $1,000) Student members of the United Methodist Church of Wentzville are given first priority for award
  • The Zion United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund (one award of $500) Student living in the Truxton, Missouri area are given first priority for award
  • The Watson-Court Street UMC Scholarship Fund (several awards up to up to $3,500 each)
  • Additional named awards may become available. All eligible candidates will be considered for all available awards.
online application process

Scholarships Administered
By Other Organizations

These awards will require separate applications. Eligibility requirements and deadlines will vary. Click on the title below to learn more about these scholarship opportunities:

contact us

College and seminary students from United Methodist churches in Missouri have the opportunity for up to $4,000 in scholarships through the Dollars for Scholars program administered by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF).

How it works:

The local UM church sponsors the student by submitting a verification form along with $1,000 (on a church check). Note: If any of the funds are provided to the church for the sponsorship of a particular student from any individual, this is NOT a tax-deductible charitable gift and should NOT appear on any church giving statement.

UMHEF will match that with $1,000 (so long as funds are available).

Participating Institutions will provide another $1,000 match

Missouri United Methodist Foundation will match $1,000 for Saint Paul School of Theology students or Central Methodist University students enrolled full-time at CMU’s residential campus in Fayette, MO who are either freshmen, or who are upperclassmen (sophomore, junior, senior) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher as of the end of the immediately preceding full academic year. (Note: GPA is verified with CMU in June to determine eligibility for funding in the next academic year.)

Therefore, your potential scholarship total is up to $4,000 (Missouri students attending other UM schools outside Missouri can still receive up to $3,000.)

Qualifications for Missouri United Methodist Foundation (MUMF) match:

  • You must be a member of a local United Methodist church in Missouri for at least one year.
  • You must be attending Central Methodist University or Saint Paul School of Theology to be eligible for the MUMF match.
  • Central Methodist University Students must be enrolled full-time at CMU’s residential campus in Fayette, MO to receive MUMF match.
  • All Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors at CMU must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (calculated at the end of the most recently completed full academic year) or higher to receive the MUMF match.

Note: The Foundation match is processed through the UMHEF and credited to each qualifying student at the respective institutions. The Foundation does not provide matching funds to students that are receiving any other Foundation scholarship in the same academic year. The Foundation’s match is awarded only to Central Methodist University students or Saint Paul School of Theology students meeting the qualifications outlined above.

  • UM Higher Education Foundation application may be submitted from January 1 to March 20.

After submitting the online application, applicants will receive a confirmation email that includes a form, which the student and the pastor of the sponsoring church must sign. This signed form must be mailed to the UMHEF along with a check from the sponsoring church for exactly $1,000 payable to UMHEF (no personal checks) and postmarked no later than March 20. More information and application instructions are available by visiting the UMHEF website.

On the GBHEM website you will also find information regarding additional scholarships for United Methodist students. Please note: The 2026 deadline is March 6!

Central Methodist University offers a 50% Tuition Scholarship for qualified United Methodist students.

To qualify, a student must:

  • Be a member in good standing of a United Methodist church for at least one year prior to full-time enrollment at CMU’s residential campus in Fayette.
  • Member must have a certification of UMC membership form submitted by the student’s pastor no later than the first day of classes. (To view the form CLICK HERE.)
  • Member must meet or exceed all academic admission standards, including a 2.5 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale).

Note: The 50% tuition scholarships cannot be combined with any other CMU institutional aid. If you have any questions about admission to CMU at the Fayette campus, please contact the CMU Office of Admissions:

660-248-6251 877-CMU-1854 central methodist admissions@centralmethodist.edu

Seminary Scholarships & Internships

Funding Your Call

Seminary education requires a serious commitment of time, talent, and treasure from each student. Likewise, the Church is committed to providing significant financial support to ensure that qualified students have adequate resources to answer the call to ministry.

For United Methodists in Missouri, there are a number of grants and scholarships available from several different sources. The following information offers some descriptions and links to more information. Please make note of the different eligibility requirements, deadlines, and separate applications that are necessary. If you have questions, please call us at 800-332-8238.

scholarship & internship opportunities

Click below to learn more.

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To apply for MUMF and MOAC financial assistance, submit the Unified Application by June 1.

The following awards use the Unified Application:

Missouri UM Foundation Seminary Scholars Grants

  • Must be a Missouri candidate for ministry and plan to seek ordination in Missouri
  • Full-time study = $4,000 per year/ half-time study = $2,000 per year

Missouri Conference Board of Ordained Ministry and Student Aid Grants (Ministerial Education Fund)

  • Full-time study = $2,500 per semester / part-time study = $1,250 per semester
mumf and moac unified application

Administered through GBHEM:

Online applications should be submitted through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) website. Deadlines may change from year to year, but generally applications are accepted starting in January and running through March.

gbhem scholarships

UM Higher Education Foundation applications accepted from January 1 to March 20.

  • You must be a member of a local UM church for at least one year

How it works:

The local UM church supports the student with $1,000 (on a church check)

UMHEF will match that with $1,000

Participating Institutions will match with $1,000

Missouri United Methodist Foundation will match $1,000 for Saint Paul School of Theology students

Therefore, the potential scholarship total is up to $4,000

umhef scholarship application

Applicants who apply for seminary scholarships through the MOAC Unified Application will be considered for the following additional scholarships:

Stella Kahrs Memorial Scholarship

  • First consideration will be given to students from Smithton, MO
  • Second consideration will be given all other applicants

Lawrence & Gracia Herbert Scholarship Fund

  • Saint Paul School of Theology students only

Boone and Nadine T. Ingels Memorial Scholarship

  • First consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from Cass County
  • Second consideration will be given to Saint Paul School of Theology students from the Northwest District
  • Third consideration will be given to all Saint Paul School of Theology students from Missouri

Both undergraduates and seminary students may be eligible for paid summer internships at Missouri churches funded jointly by the Missouri Conference and the Foundation

Dinwiddie Scholarship

The Jo Ann and William J. Dinwiddie Education Scholarship Application

Application Deadline:

Online application form and photo must be submitted by April 1st.
All additional required application materials must be postmarked no later than April 1st.

*Additional Required Materials to Mail (PO Box 1076, Columbia, MO 65205)

Official Transcript

  • High School Seniors: You must submit an official high school transcript. (A copy bearing the official stamp of the school may be sent from the school office.)
  • College Freshmen or First-year Vocational Students (at time of application): You must submit an official high school transcript. (You may also submit an official college/vocational school transcript in addition to the high school transcript.)
  • College Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors or Second-year Vocational Students (at time of application): You must submit an official college/vocational school transcript only.

Standardized Test Score (ACT or SAT)

  • High School Seniors: Test score may appear on an official high school transcript or be sent to the Foundation directly from the ACT or SAT services.
  • College Freshmen or First-year Vocational Students (at time of application): Test score may appear on an official high school transcript or be sent to the Foundation directly from the ACT or SAT services.
  • College Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors or Second-year Vocational Students (at time of application): A test score is not required.

Tipton Confirmation Form

The applicant must take the Tipton Confirmation Form to either the Tipton UMC pastor or their counselor at Tipton High School to complete and mail to the Foundation (PO Box 1076, Columbia, MO 65205) indicating the applicant is either a member of the Tipton UMC or a graduating student of Tipton High School.

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