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Loans & Scholarships

gbhem.org > Loans & Scholarships

One of the major obstacles to students who are preparing for their calling at a college or university is a lack of financial resources. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) is here to connect you with the resources you need to claim and flourish in your calling through higher education. 

We administer numerous low-interest loans and scholarships for United Methodist students in the United States. We also provide financial aid for non-U.S. citizen students enrolled outside the U.S. Would you like to help us in our mission? Learn how to donate in support of United Methodist students today!

Loans and Scholarships

Who We Serve

The GBHEM Office of Loans and Scholarships offers financial aid to United Methodist students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. Every year, we award an average of $5.5 million to help students in the United States and abroad pursue their dreams through higher education. With this financial aid, GBHEM is opening pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn their degrees and serve as the next generation of leaders for the church and the world.

In addition to the many loans and scholarships we award directly to students, GBHEM also facilitates the application and distribution processes for other United Methodist financial aid packages. Annual conferences, churches and other UM-related institutions may turn to GBHEM to administer their scholarships and loans.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Funding for our loans and scholarships is made possible through the generosity of our fellow United Methodists and through decades of sound financial stewardship by our agency. Financial support for all GBHEM loans and scholarships comes from five primary sources:

  • 63 percent from endowments.
  • 22 percent from wills and annuities.
  • 13 percent from United Methodist Special Sundays
  • 1 percent from online gifts. Donate to a student today!
  • 1 percent from fiduciary income.

Connect with Our Staff

We are always happy to take questions about our loans and scholarships, and encourage you send us any inquiries through our Connect page.

Discover More

The Black College Fund

One of the most significant ways The United Methodist Church helps make quality education accessible to all is through the Black College Fund (BCF). Learn more about how it supports the 11 historically black colleges and universities related to the church.

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Would you like to help more young people listen for, discern and respond well to God’s call to ordained ministry? Find out more about the Young Clergy Initiative (YCI), a grant program that seeks to increase the number of young clergy within jurisdictional conferences of The United Methodist Church.

Asia Pacific Pathway

Explore funding options through the Central Conference Theological Education Fund (CCTEF). CCTEF was designed to strengthen theological education and pastoral formation in all the Central Conferences in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.