ABHMS scholarships for students
The application period for ABHMS scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year opens January 15, 2026, and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 15, 2026. Questions about ABHMS scholarships? Please contact our Scholarship Office.
- Scholarship amounts vary and are paid directly to the recipient’s school for credit toward tuition.
- In addition to awarding scholarships to full-time students, ABHMS is also pleased to award scholarships for part-time students and students attending community college. These awards are provided in the range of $750-$1,500, as resources are available for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Provided they maintain eligibility requirements, recipients may receive scholarship funds for up to 6 years (consecutive or non-consecutive), regardless of enrollment status (part-time or full-time), for any one course of study.
- Scholarships may not be combined with other funding provided by ABHMS; however, Ph.D. and D.Min students awarded via LABS or IBS remain eligible for Continuing Education (CE) grants.
Note: Specialized scholarships may have more criteria.
ABHMS Student Scholarship
For American Baptist undergraduate, graduate, and seminarian students enrolled at accredited colleges, universities, and seminaries.
To be considered for any ABHMS scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:
- Hold active membership in an American Baptist church;
- Be enrolled at an accredited college/university or graduate program in the United States or Puerto Rico;
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 on your most recent transcript;
- Reside in the United States or Puerto Rico; and
- Provide a reference completed by the leader of the church where the student is a member.
Latin-American Baptist Seminary Scholarships (LABS)
Grants of $750-$3,000 for American Baptist students of Latinx and Hispanic origin and presently serving or will be serving in a church with American Baptist Churches USA or with its recognized institutions.
Requirement: The course of study must be pursued at an accredited institution listed in the Higher Education Directory or the Membership List of the Association of Theological Schools unless otherwise approved by the Board.
Note: This scholarship was formerly known as the Spanish-American Baptist Seminary Scholarship (SABS).
International Baptist Seminary Scholarships (IBS)
Grants of $750-$3,000 are available for American Baptist students whose first language is not English and who are preparing for ministry in the United States or Puerto Rico.
Requirement: The course of study must be pursued at an accredited institution listed in the Higher Education Directory or the Membership List of the Association of Theological Schools unless otherwise approved by the Board.
Ellen Cushing Scholarship (non-seminarian, Master's degree)
The alumni of Cushing College provide scholarships to female graduate students preparing for a human services career inside or outside of a ministry context. This scholarship grants students up to $1,500 for the 2026-27 academic school year.
This is a non-seminarian scholarship.
Note: M.Div. and D.Min. students are ineligible.
Emerging Leaders Cohort + Summer Passionary Institute
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026-27 ELC+SPI COHORT
ABHMS’ Scholarship Department annually searches for the organization’s next cohort for the Emerging Leaders Cohort + Summer Passionary Institute (ELC+SPI) program, a collaboration of ABHMS’ Leadership Empowerment and Healing & Transforming Communities ministries.
This cohort is composed of currently enrolled students ages 18-24 desiring to develop themselves as leaders through advocacy, networking, organizing, and storytelling skills.
Through virtual skills training and reflection throughout the academic year, cohort members learn how to discern their vocation and apply the skills they gain to positively impact the communities they belong to and care for. At the end of the academic year, they gather for a retreat and then prepare for their summer internships.
Applicants selected for the cohort receive a summer stipend from the SPI and an additional scholarship from the ABHMS Scholarship Department upon completion of the yearlong program.
The application period for the ELC+SPI program is from January 30 through March 30, 2026. The required online form is available here.
Eligibility Requirements
- Able to meet ABHMS Scholarship requirements
- Enrolled in an accredited college/university or seminary
- Reside within the United States or Puerto Rico
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher on your latest transcript
- An active member of an American Baptist Church
- Between the ages of 18 – 24
- Can provide a signed recommendation from a teacher/professor, mentor, or church leader
Program Requirements
- Attend four scheduled meetings per academic semester
- Available to travel to orientation in August 2026
- Available to travel to retreat in June 2027
- Available to commit to a summer internship June-August 2027
- Committed to learning, listening, and participating in ABHMS programming
- A continuous record of leadership and service to the communities you belong to
Continuing Education Grant
American Baptist Ministerial Leaders registered in the Professional Registry may apply for a Continuing Education Grant to be used for conferences, events, courses, and D.Min. and Ph.D. studies.
Click on any of the images above to download its associated flyer as a printable PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for an ABHMS scholarship?
American Baptist students who reside in the United States or Puerto Rico and are enrolled at an accredited college/university or graduate program in the U.S. or Puerto Rico with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 on your most recent transcript.
Note: We do not offer scholarships for international students residing outside of the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
When will I be notified if I received a scholarship?
Scholarship recipients will be notified of their award via email by June 1, 2025. Please check your inbox, junk, spam, and trash folders before contacting us about the status of your application.
Three times per year, our Continuing Education Grant Recipients will be notified of their award. More information can be found here.
How is the money disbursed?
Scholarship funds are sent directly to your school for disbursement to your account. If you transfer schools or graduate early, you must notify the ABHMS Scholarships Program. Failure to notify the Scholarships Program of such changes may result in loss of scholarship. Funds are typically disbursed in mid-August for the fall semester and mid-February for the spring semester.
How often can I receive an ABHMS scholarship?
Recipients may receive scholarship funds for up to 6 years (consecutive or non-consecutive), regardless of enrollment status (part-time or full-time) for any one course of study.
Who can I contact for assistance?
For general scholarship-related inquiries, please contact our scholarship office at Scholarships@abhms.org or at 610-768-2067. Emails will receive a faster response as our dedicated team is readily available online to assist you!
How can I extend this scholarship ministry?
ABHMS invites individuals, churches and organizations to contribute to the principal of the American Baptist Scholarship Fund, which provides the major source of income for the ABHMS Scholarship Program. Gifts, made payable to the American Baptist Scholarship Fund, can be made online or mailed to:
Scholarships Program
American Baptist Home Mission Societies
1075 First Ave.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
For information about bequests and charitable annuities, please contact the American Baptist Foundation at 800-ABC-3USA, x2393. A region foundation representative will be pleased to discuss options with you.
