Scholarships and Grants

Making sure that an excellent Mars Hill education is made accessible and affordable is a priority of our university.  After you have completed the FAFSA, we will be in touch with you to let you know the details of the financial aid package for which you have qualified. We offer several types of assistance, to help make your education affordable.

Competitive Scholarships

**The application for the Laurel, Honors, Blackwell, and Entrepreneurial Leadership scholarships are open for application for incoming students for fall 2025.

These scholarships are available by application. Students will fill out one application, indicating their interest in the competitive scholarships listed below. The admissions team and key faculty will review applications and determine which will be the appropriate fit for the incoming student.

Laurel Scholarship: Top academic students who meet the application criteria are invited to apply for our full-tuition scholarship.

Judge Robert Blackwell Scholarship: This scholarship was created to engage North Carolina students who are involved in leadership and citizenship activities in their high schools, and want to continue in these types of roles at Mars Hill University, as active members of the Mars Hill campus community, engaging in important events and projects on and off campus.

Honors Program and Scholarship: The Honors Program features a multi-disciplinary approach that complements the university’s interdisciplinary general education core. Along with a GPA requirement, applicants are interviewed by members of the Honors Council, who look for evidence of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, strong communication skills, cultural awareness, leadership potential, and creativity.

Bonner Scholars:  The Bonner Scholars Program provides students who are interested in community service with the financial support needed to attend college and continue to be involved in the community. The Bonner Scholarship is available to students who have a passion for community work and social justice. In addition to service experience, most students must demonstrate financial need as evidenced by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be selected for the program. Bonner Scholars participate in service, leadership development and meetings/trainings for approximately 10 hours a week.

Entrepreneurial Leadership Scholarship: The Entrepreneurial Leadership scholarship provides funding for students from across all majors to pair an Entrepreneurial Leadership minor with their degree.

ACADEMIC/MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

Mars Hill University offers academic merit-based financial aid to students meeting specific academic standards, based on high school performance. Students awarded an academic scholarship are required to maintain a designated minimum college grade point average (GPA) to continue receiving the scholarship each semester. Named scholarships include:

Bailey Academic Scholarship

Blue and Gold Academic Scholarship

Presidential Academic Scholarship

Presidential Music Scholarship

TRANSFER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Presidential Transfer Scholarship

Transfer Scholarship

Mountain Lion Associate Scholarship (for students who have already been awarded an associates degree)

INSTITUTIONAL AID

Each year, Mars Hill University awards more than $20 million in institutional and endowed scholarships, annually. Institutional aid is awarded based on many different factors including geographic location, academic performance, athletic performance, financial need, selected major, and other qualifications.

FEDERAL GRANTS

In order to find out what  funding may be available for you to help with your education, it is necessary to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Our Federal School Code is: 002944

Enrollment Requirements

To receive funds from any federal aid program (except the Federal Pell Grant), recipients must be enrolled in a minimum of six hours each semester. Students who are Pell eligible may receive Pell funds when enrolled in fewer than six hours. All federal aid programs require that recipients be candidates for degrees offered by the college. Awards are based on the assumption that the recipient will be enrolled as a full-time student. Students cannot receive federal aid at two separate schools during the same term. As a Mars Hill University student, you may be eligible to receive federal grants and scholarships including, but not limited to:

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 

Federal College Work-Study Program

Federal Pell Grant

OTHER AID

North Carolina Baptist Scholarships

The NC Baptist Foundation is committed to offering financial assistance for students from cooperating North Carolina Baptist churches who attend one of our affiliated Baptist universities and colleges. Scholarship information is available here. Minimum scholarship awards of $500 and Maximum of $2500 are available to a student who:

• Is a Citizen or Legal Resident of the United States

• Is a North Carolina Resident for at least one year prior to making application

• Accepted for full-time (12 credit hours) enrollment in a degree program at Mars Hill University

• A member of a church affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of NC . (You can go to ChurchPOP to verify whether or not your church is affiliated.)

Outside Scholarships

Organizations of all types—from civic groups to churches, private businesses, and even some individuals—sponsor college scholarships.

To begin a scholarship search, research organizations in your area, or utilize online scholarship searches. We recommend that you never pay for scholarship searches, as paid services are often a scam.

Though not endorsed by or associated with Mars Hill University, here are a few helpful places to start:

• Fast Web
• Pay for College
• Student Scholarship Search

Loans may also be a helpful option for your family. Check out our loans and forms information page for details.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIREMENT

All students who receive federal, state, and institutional funds at Mars Hill University are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of their programs of study in a reasonable period of time. Students not meeting these standards are not eligible for federal, state, or institutional aid. To remain in good academic standing, a student must:

1)  Have maintained, at the end of any semester, the following cumulative grade point average (GPA):

• Freshman – fewer than 28 hours earned total – 1.50 GPA
• Sophomore – between 28 and 59 hours earned total – 1.80 GPA
• Juniors and above – 60 or more hours earned total – 2.00 GPA

2) Have earned, for the semester, at least the minimum number of hours listed below:

• Full-time Students – 12 hours
• 3/4-time Students – 9 hours
• Half-time Students – 6 hours