First-Year Student Scholarships

You’re looking for scholarships. We make applying for them easy!

Note: Scholarship amounts and award guidelines are subject to change at the University’s discretion, and they may be adjusted based on the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Scholarships are based on cumulative, unweighted GPAs.

2025-26 Scholarships

NOTE: Only incoming students who enroll during the 2025-2026 academic year are eligible for the 2025-26 scholarships.

Merit Scholarships

*All students admitted for 2025-26 academic year will receive a Merit award, either a Faith for the Future Scholarship, SPU Merit Scholarship, Distinguished Scholar Award, or Falcon Bound Commitment! A student may receive no more than one merit scholarship during the same academic year.

$24,700-$29,700

Faith for the Future Merit Scholarship*

SPU scholarships for undergraduate students who have a 3.0+ GPA (unweighted) and at least one of the following:

  • Demonstrate commitment to faith and service through involvement in a Christian faith-based activity (e.g. local church or parish, Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc.)
  • Graduate from a Christian high school (Catholic or Protestant) 
  • Have a parent working full-time in ministry (Christian church employee, Christian non-profit employee, or missionary)

Student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12+ credits per quarter) at Seattle Pacific University to continue receiving scholarship.

$19,700-$29,700

SPU Merit Scholarships*

SPU provides merit scholarships based on a holistic review of students’ academic performance and application.

Full Tuition

Distinguished Scholar Award* (5 awarded)

Invitation only. Your admission application must be received by November 1 for consideration. Fall applicants only.

Note: International students are not able to be considered for the full-tuition Distinguished Scholar Award.

Full Tuition

Falcon Bound Commitment*

For eligible students in the Washington State College Bound Scholarship Program who receive 1220 or higher on the SAT, 25 composite or higher on the ACT, or cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

(Funded through federal, state, and SPU grant and scholarship aid. Does not cover the costs of Room and Board).

Other Scholarships

Additional Scholarships are awarded to students who meet the criteria of the individual scholarship(s). *Renewable scholarships are automatically renewed for up to 4 years if the student meets academic and enrollment requirements. See scholarship limitations and renewal criteria. Other Scholarships listed below are stackable.

$1,500

Christian Leader Award*

Awarded to first-year students whose SPU application demonstrated a commitment to Christian faith as well as outstanding involvements and leadership.

$2,000

Alumni Legacy Scholarship*

Awarded to first-year and transfer students who indicate that a family member graduated from SPU in their application.

Qualifying family members: Parents, legal guardians, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents.

$2,000

Welcome to Washington Scholarship*

Awarded to first-year, domestic students who at the time of application have a primary residence outside of Washington state.

Up to $500

Church Match Scholarship

SPU matches up to $500 of a scholarship awarded from an organized Christian church in the USA or Canada.

$5,000

Engineering Scholarship (Deffenbaugh or Burwell)

For incoming freshmen who plan to major in an engineering discipline. Learn more online.

Up to $3,000
Varies

NCAA Division II Athletic Scholarship

Contact coaches by calling 206-281-2085 or athleticsinfo@ejly.net.

Room and Board

SPU ROTC Academic Achievement Award (2 awarded)

For consideration, you must be a recipient of a three- or four-year scholarship from Army or Air Force ROTC.

Varies

Summit Seeker’s Scholarship (1 awarded)

For a domestic student whose parent(s) are current or former missionaries in a developing country. A four-year award, totaling $25,000, with descending amounts: $10,000 (year 1), $7,000 (year 2), $5,000 (year 3), $3,000 (year 4).

Up to $1,500

Visit Scholarship

Students who attend two qualifying virtual visit events are eligible for $500. Students who attend one in-person qualifying visit are eligible for $1,000. All visits, virtual and in-person, must take place between September 1 and May 1 of a student’s senior year to qualify for up to $1,500 in Visit Scholarships! Learn more about eligible events here


2024-25 Scholarships

Merit Scholarships

*A student may receive no more than one merit scholarship during the same academic year. Only incoming students who enroll during the 2024-25 academic year are eligible for the 2024-25 scholarships.

Varies

In-State Matching Merit Scholarship*

A private education at a public school cost: qualifying students’ SPU tuition and fees will be equal to or less than that of their state’s flagship public university.

  • Resident of Washington, Oregon, California, or Hawaii
  • A 3.7-3.89 GPA (unweighted) and test scores (SAT 1270+ or ACT 27+), or a 3.9-4.0 GPA (unweighted)
$21,000

Faith for the Future Merit Scholarship*

Guarantees SPU scholarships covering $21,000 of tuition for undergraduate students who have a 3.0+ GPA (unweighted) and at least one of the following:

  • Demonstrate commitment to faith and service through involvement in a Christian faith-based activity (e.g. local church or parish, Young Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, etc.)
  • Graduate from a Christian high school (Catholic or Protestant) 
  • Have a parent working full-time in ministry (Christian church employee, Christian non-profit employee, or missionary)

Student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12+ credits per quarter) at Seattle Pacific University to continue receiving scholarship.

$5,000-$21,000

SPU Merit Scholarships*

SPU provides merit scholarships based on a holistic review of students’ academic performance and application. These scholarships range from $5,000 to $21,000.

Full Tuition

Distinguished Scholar Award* (5 awarded)

Invitation only. Your admission application must be received by November 1 for consideration. Fall applicants only.

Note: International students are not able to be considered for the full-tuition Distinguished Scholar Award.

Other Scholarships

$3,000

Christian Leaders Award

Awarded to first-year students whose SPU application demonstrated a commitment to Christian faith as well as outstanding involvements and leadership.

$2,000

First-Generation Scholarship

Awarded to first-year students who are first in their family to attend college, or first in their family to earn a college degree.

$3,000*

Falcon Legacy Scholarship

Awarded to first-year and transfer students who indicate that a family member graduated from SPU in their application.

Qualifying family members: Parents, legal guardians, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents.

*The scholarship for winter and spring quarter 22-23 is $1,500

Full Tuition (covered by federal, state, and SPU grant and scholarship aid)

Falcon Bound Commitment

For eligible students in the Washington State College Bound Scholarship Program who receive 1220 or higher on the SAT, 25 composite or higher on the ACT, or cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

$2,000

On Campus Living Scholarship*

To support Seattle Pacific’s holistic campus experience, first-year students who live on campus are awarded a $2,000/year scholarship.

* This is dependent on full-time enrollment status and participation in Campus Housing.

Up to $500

Church Match Scholarship

SPU matches up to $500 of a scholarship awarded from an organized Christian church in the USA or Canada. Learn more.

$5,000

Engineering Scholarship (Deffenbaugh or Burwell)

For incoming freshmen who plan to major in an engineering discipline. Learn more online.

Up to $3,000
Varies

NCAA Division II Athletic Scholarship

Contact coaches by calling 206-281-2085 or athleticsinfo@ejly.net.

Room and Board

SPU ROTC Academic Achievement Award (2 awarded)

For consideration, you must be a recipient of a three- or four-year scholarship from Army or Air Force ROTC.

Varies

Summit Seeker’s Scholarship (1 awarded)

For a domestic student whose parent(s) are current or former missionaries in a developing country. A four-year award, totaling $25,000, with descending amounts: $10,000 (year 1), $7,000 (year 2), $5,000 (year 3), $3,000 (year 4).

Up to $1,500

Visit Scholarship

Students who attend two qualifying virtual visit events and one in-person visit between September 1 and May 1 of their senior year will qualify for a Visit Scholarship of up to $1,500! See eligible events below or learn more.