Scholarships

Concordia scholarships, awards and grants

Various types of institutional financial aid are awarded by Concordia. They can be divided into three major categories: merit, talent and need-based. To qualify for institutional financial aid (and for subsequent renewal), the student must be a full-time undergraduate and maintain satisfactory academic progress. The total amount of institutional aid cannot exceed the cost of tuition.

  • Merit aid is awarded on the basis of a student's achievements and potential to contribute to the university's community. The amount of the scholarship is based upon the academic profile of the student. Students will automatically be considered for a merit scholarship upon acceptance to Concordia.
  • Talent aid is awarded in the areas of music, theatre, forensics, art and athletics.
    The scholarships are awarded by recommendation of the department chair, director or coach. Please contact the office of admission at 800-535-5494, ext. 7233, for details on special applications and requirements. 
  • Need-based aid is awarded to students based on financial need and varies in amount. In order to be eligible for need-based aid, the student must show demonstrated financial need by filing the FAFSA annually. Certain federal, state and instituional awards are taken into consideration when determining need-based grant levels.


The scholarships, awards and grants listed are available to full-time undergraduate students entering Concordia in the fall 2011 and spring 2012 terms.

Freshman merit scholarships

Available exclusively to students who are first-time college attendees. Students will automatically be considered upon acceptance. Financial need is not required.

Use the calculator (right) to see what freshman merit scholarship you may be eligible for. Please note that merit scholarships are only awarded upon acceptance to Concordia which requires an official high school transcript and test score.

President's scholarship Based on academic performance using a combination of high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.
Award amount = $15,000/yr.

Regent's scholarship
Based on academic performance using a combination of high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Award amount = $12,000 or $9,000/yr.

Achievement award
Based on academic performance using a combination of high school GPA and ACT/SAT scores.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Award amount = $8,000 or $4,000/yr.

Transfer merit scholarships

Available exclusively to students who transfer from another college. Students will automatically be considered upon acceptance. Financial need is not required.

Regent's scholarship level I
Based on a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA and a minimum of 24 hours of college credit.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Award amount = $8,000/yr.

Regent's scholarship level II
Based on a 3.0 - 3.49 cumulative GPA and a minimum of 24 hours of college credit.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Award amount = $6,000/yr.

Achievement award
Based on a 2.5 - 2.99 cumulative GPA and a minimum of 24 hours of college credit.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Award amount = $4,000/yr.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Awarded to students that are a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at their most recent college. (PTK scholarship winners not eligible for Regent's scholarships.)
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. The PTK application form is available online.
Award amount = $10,000/yr.

Transfers with less than 24 hours of college credit may still qualify for merit scholarships. If you are a transfer and want to know what merit scholarship you qualify for please send an email to admiss@cune.edu or call us at 800-535-5494.

Talent scholarships

Available to all incoming students. Contact the admission office for details on special applications and requirements. Financial need is not required. If a student is awarded an athletic and performance scholarship, then he/she will be allowed to accept only one of the scholarships.

Athletic scholarships
Awarded by recommendation of the coach for each sport.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and at the discretion of the awarding coach.
Award amount = Varies.

Performance scholarships
Awarded by recommendation of the department chair.
The student must demonstrate excellence in art, forensics, music or theatre. Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and at the discretion of the awarding department chair.
Award amount = Varies.

Need-based grants

Institutional, federal and state need-based grants are available to all incoming students based on demonstrated financial need and vary in amount. In order to be eligible for need-based aid, the student must show demonstrated financial need by filing The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Concordia recommends completing the FAFSA as soon as possible after Jan. 1. Concordia’s federal school code is 002541 and must be included in the application in order for Concordia to receive a student’s FAFSA results. Awarded federal, state and institutional aid are taken into consideration when determining need-based grant levels.

Additional aid

Available to all incoming students who meet the specific requirements.

Alumni grant
Automatically awarded to students with at least one parent who is an alumnus of Concordia University, Nebraska.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Financial need is not required.
Award amount = $500/yr.

Church careers grant
Awarded to students enrolled in one of Concordia's professional church work programs. 
The award is based on financial need and is determined after taking into account other awarded federal, state and institutional aid. The FAFSA is required to be filed to determine financial need. LCMS students are required to complete a district financial aid application form. Non-LCMS students are required to complete a Church Careers Grant form.
Award amount = $500-$1,000/yr.

LCMS church work grant
Awarded to Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod students enrolled in one of Concordia's professional church work programs.
This award is designed to assist those seeking professional church work positions within the LCMS. Requires junior standing and official admittance into one of Concordia's church work programs.  Student needs to be on campus a minimum of one semester before being eligible.  Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.  Financial need is not required.
Award amount = $1,500/yr.

Lutheran grant
Automatically awarded to members of a Lutheran congregation.
Renewed annually with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Financial need is not required.
Award amount = $1000/yr.

NACC Grant
Awarded by the Nebraska Association of Congregations for Concordia.
Student must be a member of a NACC congregation. Renewable for three consecutive years. A NACC application form is available online.
Award amount = $800/yr.

LCMS district aid
Awarded by the districts of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.
Student must be a member of a LCMS congregation and enrolled in a professional church work program at Concordia. The FAFSA is required to be filed to determine need. All districts have deadlines and funds are limited. Contact your LCMS district office for application details.

LCMS congregational aid
Awarded by congregations to assist Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod students with educational expenses.
We encourage you to inquire about the availability of this aid, especially if you will be pursuing a professional church work program at Concordia. For non-LCMS students, see the church match grant (below).

Church match grant (non-Lutheran)
Awarded by congregations to assist their students with educational expenses.
We encourage you to inquire about the availability of this aid from your church.  For non-Lutheran students, Concordia will match $250 when a congregation gives $250 or more towards their student's education. Use the church match grant form available online.

Vogt scholarship
Awarded by the Gil and Blondie Vogt Scholarship Fund.
Students must be a Nebraska resident, a member of the LCMS, enrolled in a professional church work program at Concordia and be able to demonstrate substantial financial need. If interested in applying for the scholarship, please send a letter expressing your interest and qualifications to Pat Hofer, 2012 South 164th Avenue, Omaha NE 68130.

ROTC
Aid is available to students that declare intent to seek an Active or Reserved forces commission.
Learn more through the Lincoln, Neb., ROTC office.

Private scholarships

There are many sources for private scholarships including employers, professional organizations, and community groups. Concordia encourages students to directly contact these sources to inquire about the availability of scholarships.

Private scholarship search websites abound on the Internet. Below are links to various legitimate scholarship search websites. If a scholarship opportunity sounds too good to be true, especially if it requires a fee or purchase of goods or services, it is probably not a legitimate scholarship resource.

  • New outside scholarships

    A list of scholarships from outside sources, updated by Concordia's student financial services office.

  • Sallie Mae Scholarship Search

    Provides access to an award database that contains more than 2.9 million scholarships.

  • CollegeBoard

    Offers a wide range of information, from interactive tools to expert advice.

  • EducationQuest Foundation

    Provides a scholarship search that matches Nebraska students with Nebraska scholarships.

  • Scholarships.com

    The largest free and independent college scholarship and financial aid resource online.