At Azusa Pacific University, 100 percent of incoming undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid. As California’s No. 1 Christian university, according to The Wall Street Journal, APU is committed to making a top Christ-centered education accessible through a variety of scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Through ScholarshipUniverse, a tool designed to help students discover and apply for scholarships, APU makes it easier for students to find financial support that aligns with their goals and qualifications.
Scholarships are traditionally an underutilized type of financial aid. Many students aren’t aware of certain scholarships, aren’t sure what the application process looks like, or even if they qualify. Many scholarships are available specifically for first-year or transfer students, which can be found by filtering criteria on ScholarshipUniverse.
Through ScholarshipUniverse, students can view scholarships they match with, review eligibility requirements and deadlines, and apply directly to opportunities that fit their qualifications. When you go to your Dashboard on ScholarshipUniverse, it will tell you which scholarships are either partial or full matches to your academic profile. From there, you can see which organization or donor it comes from, when it opens and closes, the total amount, and more. These include internal and external scholarships.
From academic scholarships and full-tuition opportunities to awards for student leaders, students studying computer science, engineering, mathematics, applied mathematics, or physics (CEMPS), and veterans, APU offers scholarships designed to support students with a variety of goals and experiences. The main scholarships that undergraduate students receive are academic, with totals ranging from $15,000 to $24,000 per academic year. Eligible full-time freshmen are automatically considered for academic scholarships based on their GPA, and no separate scholarship application is required. Students will be notified of which level of academic scholarship they have qualified for when they are admitted to APU.
As part of their application to APU, students are asked if they’d like to apply for the Trustees’ Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship awarded to five exemplary students each year. Students must apply for the Trustees’ Scholarship by February 1, 2027. To apply, students should complete the application as part of the general APU application, submit a personal essay, and provide two letters of reference. After applying, finalists are invited to Trustees’ Weekend to interview with APU’s faculty and administration. Finalists who do not receive the Trustees’ Scholarship still receive the President’s Scholarship ($24,000 per year) and are eligible for automatic additional scholarships.
An additional scholarship available to undergraduate students is the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Scholarship (MEL) at $11,000 per year. These scholarships are available to students applying as freshmen who demonstrate strong leadership abilities in high school and who will actively pursue and advocate for diversity on campus through a leadership position. To apply, students must be committed to their Christian faith, have a GPA of 3.2 or higher, show a passion for promoting multicultural awareness and racial reconciliation, and demonstrate proven leadership skills. To apply, fill out the MEL Scholarship application online. If you’re selected for the final round, you’ll have an on-campus or Zoom interview.
For students interested in pursuing degrees in computer science, engineering, mathematics, applied mathematics, or physics, CEMPS Fellowships are available. Five CEMPS Fellowships are available to each student in their respective programs. These fellowships provide $1,000 in financial support for first-year students and $2,000 per year for eligible returning students. The criteria considered when selecting are students’ GPA, SAT or ACT scores, and the math and science classes they’ve taken. In addition, if you’re selected, you’ll need to meet the fellowship guidelines, which can be found on the CEMPS Fellowship page.
For veterans, a scholarship opportunity available is the Yellow Ribbon Award. The Yellow Ribbon Award is a matching program between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and universities like APU. The amount awarded is up to $14,000 of APU Institutional Aid, which the VA will match. To apply, students must submit an eligibility request to the VA, contact APU’s VA certifying official in the Office of Military and Veteran Education Benefits, and complete the application.
These key scholarship opportunities are just some of the ways APU students can find financial support. With so many opportunities available, students are encouraged to explore ScholarshipUniverse and see what they qualify for. Whether through academic achievement, leadership, a specific area of study, or other qualifications, scholarships can make an APU education more affordable and accessible. If you’re considering APU, explore your scholarship options, start your application, and discover how financial aid can help make your APU education a reality.