Leland (Full-Tuition) –
Leland Scholars receive a full-tuition scholarship. This scholarship is limited to five members of the fall Julius Olsen Honors Program in consultation with the Faculty Honors Council once the Honors class is chosen for that year. Application and admission into the Julius Olsen Honors Program is required. The Leland scholarship will take the place of any previously awarded academic scholarship.
- You must maintain a 3.5 GPA and be a member in good standing of the JOHP to continue to receive the scholarship. The Honors Council may allow for a semester of probation if your GPA falls below a 3.5. You must maintain a full-time schedule except in the case of your final semester if 12 hours is not required for graduation, in which case the amount will be prorated to the amount of hours taken for that final semester.
Honors Scholarship ($25,000) – Application and admission into the Julius Olsen Honors Program required. The Honors scholarship will take the place of any previously awarded academic scholarship.
- You must maintain a 3.5 GPA and be a member in good standing of the JOHP to continue to receive the scholarship. The Honors Council may allow for a semester of probation if your GPA falls below a 3.5. You must maintain a full-time schedule except in the case of your final semester if 12 hours is not required for graduation, in which case the amount will be prorated to the amount of hours taken for that final semester.
Valedictorian/Salutatorian ($1,500) One year scholarship – Awarded to incoming high school graduates who rank #1 or #2 in their class. You must submit an official transcript indicating class rank.
Not an applicable scholarship if you are in the Leland or Honors Program.
Heritage Scholarship ($1,500) – The Heritage Scholarship is awarded in two different ways:
- Undergraduate students whose parent/sibling graduated from Hardin-Simmons University or who currently have a brother/sister attending HSU.
- Undergraduate students whose parent is currently serving in full-time Christian church ministry, or as a full-time Christian missionary. The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to request additional documentation from the churches participating to verify eligibility. The Hardin-Simmons Financial Aid office will have final say related to questions of eligibility for a specific church.
The Heritage Scholarship is not applicable if you are receiving an academic scholarship from the Leland or Honors Program. International students are not eligible.
Heritage Scholarship is a four-year/eight-long-terms award and based on full-time enrollment. You must meet eligibility requirements each semester to continue receiving your scholarship in future terms.
Phi Theta Kappa ($2,000) Transfer Students ONLY– Awarded to incoming transfer students whose transcript or PTK certificate indicates their membership to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Student must present transcript or PTK certificate to the financial aid office. * First Time Freshmen students receiving an academic scholarship are not eligible for PTK. *
- Award may be renewed each year until student graduates with their bachelor’s degree as long as eligibility is maintained.
- Undergraduate transfer students only
- Must maintain 12+ hours and a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Passing Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each semester
The Cynthia Ann Parker Endowed Presidential Scholars Program ($4000) was established to ensure scholarship funds for the recruitment and retention of students who demonstrate a high desire and ability to succeed in any of the disciplines of the College of Liberal Arts. Individuals who apply and are selected for the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts scholarships are to be identified as the Cynthia Ann Parker Scholars.
- Only new incoming freshman and transfer students may apply. Application window is Dec 1st through March 1st.
- Only 4 students are chosen each year to join the program.
- The Scholarship award is $4000 for 4 years if eligibility is maintained.
Academic Scholarships for First Time Freshmen
The Academic Scholarships listed below are based upon test scores and high school academic criteria. After admittance, you are evaluated for scholarships based on your academic performance. Please see the HSU Net Price Calculator to help you estimate the type of scholarship you may be eligible to receive.
- Trustee ($22,000) – SAT, ACT, or CLT Score
- SAT = 1200
- ACT = 25
- CLT = 78
- Presidents ($20,000) = 3.6 – 3.99 GPA required, CLT = 76
- Deans ($18,000) = 3.3 – 3.59 GPA required, CLT = 74
- University ($16,000) = 3.1 – 3.29 GPA required, CLT = 72
- Opportunity Grant ($14,000) = 2.0 – 3.09 GPA required, CLT = 66
- Opportunity Grant requires the student to live on campus
Academic Scholarships for Transfer Students
- Presidents ($16,000) = 3.5 – 4.0 transfer GPA required.
- Deans ($14,000) = 3.0 – 3.49 transfer GPA required.
- University ($12,000) = 2.5 – 2.99 transfer GPA required.
- Transfer ($10,000) = 2.0 – 2.49 transfer GPA required.
Academic Scholarship Information
- The above scholarships apply to first-time freshmen or transfer students who begin attendance in the 2024-2025 academic year.
- For students who began attendance in previous cohort years, please view your academic catalog for renewal amounts.
- HSU academic scholarships are only available for programs for which regular, full-time, undergraduate block tuition is assessed. Grad students and online programs are not eligible.
- Hardin-Simmons University does not stack Academic Scholarships. If you qualify for more than one Academic Scholarship, HSU will offer you the highest dollar-value scholarship only.
- All HSU scholarships are renewable for a maximum of four years/8 long terms of undergraduate study and capped at tuition.
- A student may not receive an academic scholarship of higher value than the original award.
- Academic scholarships are evenly split between the Fall and Spring semesters and cannot be combined into one term.
- If you receive several HSU scholarships that would put you over tuition, your academic scholarship would be lowered to max tuition to comply with Institutional Policy.
Simmons Exchange Grant ($ amounts vary) – Utilize the Net Price Calculator to see how you may qualify. The Simmons Exchange Grant is funded by various sources. HSU is blessed with donations from many alumni, parents, friends, and foundations who generously give to the university each year. These gifts plus grant programs make up what we call the Simmons Exchange Grant, which is used to lower the tuition cost of an HSU education. Students who are awarded additional scholarships, endowments, and/or other grants will see their Simmons Exchange Grant decreased as it is replaced with specific grants or the names of generous donors who gave sacrificially to help lower your tuition cost.
- Simmons is determined with your FAFSA data.
- 4-year (8-term), Undergrad students only.
Match Scholarships (amounts vary and only apply to the following):
- Church Match ($1000 max per Semester)– HSU will match designated Christian church gifts $1-for-$1 up to $2,000 per year, per student. Students must ask the Church to submit the Church Match Scholarship Form annually to receive the match.
- Max amount matched is $1000 per semester for fall and spring only.
- No deadline to turn in church funds and form, but it must be within the school year that the funds will be applied to the student’s account.
- Funds cannot be applied retroactively for semesters that came before May 1.
- Abilene Education Foundation (AEF) – HSU will match scholarship funds received for students recognized by AEF.
- Stone Owl ($3,000 – $6,000) – HSU will match scholarship funds received for students participating in the Stone Owl Scholars program.
*All match scholarships capped at $4,000/semester.