Scholarships
Here are the basics that you need to know about Scholarships before deciding whether this is a Financial Assistance option you would like to pursue:
- Scholarships don’t have to be repaid.
- Students must meet certain criteria and deadlines.
- Scholarships are available to undergraduate students only.
- All institutional aid, including athletic offers, will be applied after federal and state assistance and will be capped at the direct cost.
CBU Merit Scholarships
CBU offers academic scholarships ranging from $14,000 to $21,000 annually based on a student’s academic success in his or her high school and college (if applicable). There is no separate application necessary for the CBU Merit Based Scholarships. Students are considered for scholarship upon completing an application to the University — this includes submitting all transcripts and scores. Scholarships and awards vary depending on cumulative high school GPA or ACT or SAT scores. These merit scholarships apply to tuition only.
Students planning to attend on athletic scholarships may qualify for different merit aid amounts.
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen
- Application Process: These scholarships are awarded once a student is accepted for admission.
Fall 2026 Scholarships Based on GPA or ACT/SAT Submission
Including International Athletes
| Scholarship | Award | HS GPA | or | ACT | or | SAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30+ Club | $21,000.00 | N/A | 30+ | 1360+ | ||
| Presidential Scholarship | $20,000.00 | 3.75+ | 25+ | 1200+ | ||
| Lasallian Scholarship | $18,000.00 | 3.5+ | 22+ | 1100+ | ||
| Maurelian Scholarship | $16,000.00 | 3.25+ | 20+ | 1030+ | ||
| Deans' Scholarship | $15,000.00 | 3.0+ | 18+ | 960+ | ||
| University | $14,000.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Fall 2026 Scholarships Based on GPA For Transfer Students
Including International Athletes
| Scholarship | Award | College GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship | $18,000 | 3.6+ |
| Lasallian Scholarship | $16,000 | 3.4+ |
| Maurelian Scholarship | $15,000 | 3.2+ |
| Deans' Scholarship | $14,000 | 3.0+ |
| University Scholarship | $12,000 | N/A |
International Student Scholarships
International Access Scholarship Package
International students applying to CBU on academic merit are eligible for the International Access Scholarship Package. This package makes tuition, housing, and the full meal plan more accessible to international students. Contact ugintl@cbu.edu for more information.
*Not stackable with athletic scholarships.
Additional Scholarships
Catholic High School Scholarships
- Amount: $3,000, renewable annually
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen*
- Criteria: Graduation from a Catholic high school
- Application Process: No additional application is required.
Lasallian High School Scholarships
- Amount: $5,000, renewable annually
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen with a 3.0 GPA or higher*
- Criteria: Graduation from a Lasallian high school outside of Memphis, TN
- Application Process: No additional application is required
Christian Brothers High School Scholarships
- Amount: $5,000, renewable annually
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen with a 2.5 GPA or higher*
- Criteria: Graduation from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, TN
- Application Process: No additional application is required
*NOTE: Students are only eligible to receive ONE of the above scholarships (Catholic High School, Lasallian High School, or Christian Brothers High School). Although the criteria may overlap in some instances, only one will be awarded per eligible student.
Christian Brothers Promise Scholarships
- Amount: Variable, renewable annually; total award brings the annual cost of tuition to $3000 per year
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen with a demonstrated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,846 or less and a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher or a minimum 21 ACT or 1060 SAT score
- Criteria: Resident of Tennessee, graduated from an eligible TN high school, qualify for TN programs including the HOPE Scholarship, TN Student Assistance Award, and either the HOPE Aspire or HOPE General Assembly Merit Scholarship
- Application Process: No additional application is required but students must have a current FAFSA on file
- Additional Information can be found at CBU.edu/promise
Out-of-State Scholarships
- Amount: $3,500, renewable annually
- Eligibility: Full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen with US residence in states other than Tennessee
- Criteria: May not be combined with athletic scholarships; must be a US citizen
- Application Process: No additional application is required
Legacy Alumni Referral Scholarships
- Amount: $1,000, renewable annually
- Eligibility: All full-time, traditional, undergraduate freshmen
- Criteria: Parent Alumni or Grandparent Alumni referral
- Application Process: No additional application is required.
CBU Visit Grant
- Amount: $1,000, renewable annually for four academic years, for a total of $4000
- Eligibility: Full-time, traditional undergraduate freshmen are eligible for one CBU Visit Grant.
- Criteria: Attend a qualifying event (Discover CBU Day, Social Justice @CBU, STEM Day, etc.) or complete an in-person or virtual campus visit.
- Application Process: No additional application is required.
- Limitations: It must be earned prior to committing and cannot be stacked beyond a full tuition.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
- Amount: $2,000, renewable annually
- Eligibility: Incoming traditional day transfer applicants who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society
- Criteria: Acceptance to the University. Students must show proof of membership and maintain good standing while a student at CBU.
First-Year Engineering Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $8,000, awarded during the first year of attendance
- Eligibility: Full-time, undergraduate student majoring in an ABET-accredited engineering program (Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)
- Criteria: Acceptance to the University and admission to an ABET-accredited Engineering major. Required test scores: 22 or higher ACT math subscore, or SAT or ALEKS test equivalent.
- Availability: Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Dean of the Gadomski School of Engineering to eligible students who meet award criteria while funds are available.
- Application: No additional application is necessary.
TheDream.US and ECE Scholarships
We are proud to be a Partner College of TheDream.US and Equal Chance for Education. TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers. CBU welcomes DREAMers, who are able to attend our University using the scholarship funds provided by TheDream.US and Equal Chance for Education. We are committed to DREAMers’ success. CBU participates in the Opportunity Scholarship. The Opportunity Scholarship is for students who live in targeted, locked-out states where they cannot get in-state tuition. Students who will or have graduated from a TN high school with a TN address can apply for The Equal Chance for Education scholarship.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EQUAL CHANCE FOR EDUCATION LEARN MORE ABOUT THEDREAM.US SCHOLARSHIPCompetitive Scholarships
Leadership Scholarship Program
The Leadership Program offers a prestigious, full-tuition scholarship in order to recognize and reward first year students for their leadership and service in their community. Competitions will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 and will include team building, engaging with current students and faculty, and learning more about what it means to be a Buccaneer.
- Amount: Two award winners will receive a full tuition scholarship.
- Application Process: Students must be accepted to CBU to be eligible to attend.
- Winners: Scholarship recipients must be residential freshmen in the Fall of 2025 and continue to live on campus to receive this scholarship.
Registration coming soon.
NSF – STEM Grant
The NSF-STEM Grant is an academic, need-based grant available to Engineering and Computer Science majors. An application and and interview are required. Learn more HERE.
- Amount: Varies
- Application Process: Apply HERE.
- Interviews: Students who qualify will be contacted in March to set up an appointment with the selection committee.
Gadomski Triangle Scholarship
Annually, CBU and Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity provide a number of Triangle Scholarship Awards for high school seniors who have applied and been accepted to CBU. The awards are designed to encourage academic excellence, foster leadership skills, and enhance the personal development of deserving students in pursuit of their college degrees. Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity invites your application for consideration. Established by his father, Richard T. Gadomski, this award remembers Gregory Raymond Gadomski, who was initiated as the 70th member of the Pi-Epsilon chapter of TKE on November 20, 1982. As an undergraduate, Greg was an active member of his chapter, serving as a Big Brother to another member, serving on Chapter committees, and planning the Chapter’s annual formal. Greg is remembered by those who knew him as “a kind soul and a good friend” and as being the type of person who was “never ever boring.” Greg was recognized by CBU as the recipient of the Distinguished Young Alumnus Award in 1995. This scholarship is given in memory of Greg’s love for TKE and CBU. It will recognize one or more incoming students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in all areas of involvement.
- Amount: Awards vary from year to year depending on the applicant pool and availability of funds. Awards can range from $500 to $1,000. All awards are made possible through contributions to the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity-Gregory Raymond Gadomski Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund.
- Application Process: Students must be accepted to CBU to be eligible to apply.
State Scholarships
Tennessee Hope Scholarship (TELS)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TENNESSEE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (TELS)
TELS recipients may transfer without a break in enrollment from an eligible postsecondary institution to CBU and remain eligible. Students must transfer the TELS award through the Student Financial Aid Portal prior to the transfer dates indicated below by institution type. A transfer request will not be accepted by a phone call from the student. For complete transfer information please visit the TELS Transfer Student page.
Transfer dates for two-year and four-year institutions are as follows:
- Fall Semester: September 1
- Spring/Summer Semester: February 1
Please complete and submit the Verification Opt-Out Form if you wish to only receive the Hope Scholarship. Submitting this form waives the verification requirement for financial aid. By signing and submitting this form, students will not receive any Federal or State Financial Aid except for the Hope Scholarship and/or Hope Merit Supplement.
Change of Enrollment Status: If a student drops from full-time to part-time within a semester without prior approval, they may lose TELS eligibility. A student should submit a TELS Request for Change of Enrollment Status to the Financial Assistance Office for approval before dropping to part-time. If a student fails to obtain prior approval, or if request for prior approval is denied and the student drops to part-time anyway, the TELS award for that semester will be prorated and the student will not be eligible for TELS in any subsequent semester.
INFORMATION ON APPEALING OR REGAINING YOUR TENNESSEE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
DOWNLOAD THE TELS REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF ENROLLMENT STATUS FORM
Request for Leave of Absence: Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment, defined as enrollment in both fall and spring semesters of an academic year, may lose TELS eligibility. Exceptions may be made if a student is granted a Leave of Absence for certain documented medical or personal reasons. A student must submit the TELS Leave of Absence Request to the Financial Aid Office to obtain approval.
Tennessee HOPE Scholarship: Non-traditional Component
The non-traditional student must be a Tennessee resident, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and be enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution. In addition, the student must:
- Apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at www.studentaid.gov. Applications must be received by September 1st for fall semester, February 1st for spring and summer semesters. Early application is recommended.
- Have been a Tennessee resident for one year by September 1 of the application date. For students beginning spring and summer terms, residency determined by February 1 as of application date
- Be age 25 or older and:
- Be an entering freshman in an eligible postsecondary institution; or
- Have not been enrolled for at least two (2) years after last attending any postsecondary institution and is now enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution
- Must have student’s and spouse’s adjusted gross income of $36,000 or less on IRS tax form
- Be continuously enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution in the fall and spring semesters and maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 12 attempted semester hours or required GPA at subsequent benchmark. (Attempted hours and college grades prior to re-enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution after at least a two year break in enrollment are not considered.)
- Enroll in one of the Tennessee public colleges, universities, or private colleges. Click Here for listing.
- A non-traditional student shall not be eligible for the Aspire Award or the General Assembly Merit Scholarship.
If you believe you meet these requirements, please submit the Non-Traditional HOPE Scholarship Request Form to the CBU Financial Assistance Office.
Award Amounts:
- For entering freshmen beginning with Fall 2015 and thereafter:
- Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing: Up to $2,250 per full-time enrollment semester as a freshmen and sophomore; then up to $2,850 per full-time enrollment semester as a junior and senior
- For students who first received HOPE in Fall 2009 through Summer 2016
- Four-Year Institutions and two-year institutions with on-campus housing: Up to $2,000 per full-time enrollment semester; including summer
Are you a Hope Scholarship recipient and thinking about taking Summer classes at another institution? Students may choose to take classes at another institution and still receive their HOPE Scholarship from CBU, if otherwise eligible. Visit the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation website for information on HOPE scholarship programs, application procedures, and deadlines.
