Financial Aid
Private Scholarship Funds
For most students who attend Patrick Henry College, financial aid from other sources is a necessity, not a luxury. While the College will do all it can to provide financial aid, students and their families must research other opportunities for funding their college education. Unfortunately, there is no "quick, easy, and painless" way to locate private scholarships or grants. It takes time, energy, and persistence. It's not unlike panning for gold, searching for that scholarship "nugget" that fits your situation. Your local Chamber of Commerce, guidance counselors in your local public high school or Christian high school may be willing to help and allow you to search through their sources.
You may have read or heard that many scholarships go unclaimed each year. Although true, the reason is usually that they have such narrow restrictions on the requirements is that only a handful of applicants will qualify. Some scholarships have broad general qualifications which many applicants will meet, but that also means that there will be many applicants lowering your chances of being selected. Searching is your local community often turns out to be more successful.
Success comes with prayer and diligently searching every possible source with attention to details, requirements, and deadlines. Some scholarships are based solely on merit or special achievement. Some are based on financial need. Don't automatically assume your family will not qualify financially. With the cost of attending college increasing each year, students from higher income families are finding that they can demonstrate financial need. When doing your research, take notes and/or make copies of scholarship data or announcements. Keeping a financial aid journal can help you manage your research. Obtain all the pertinent information and requirements.
Neatly print or type applications and complete them thoroughly. Meet the deadlines. Pay careful attention to your content, grammar, and spelling. Incomplete applications are generally discarded in favor of well-done and complete applications. Take the time to represent yourself well.
The United States Department of Education has granted Patrick Henry College approval to participate in DOE programs. Its listing in the DOE's Directory of Postsecondary Institutions (OPE ID # 039513-00) qualifies interested students to participate in a number of private opportunities for financing their education at Patrick Henry College. This includes state 529 college savings plans, scholarships, grants, and private student loans. For further information, please refer to the IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education. But remember, governmental funds of any type, may not be used by PHC students. This included federaly funded Title IV funds, state funds, ROTC Scholarships, and the G.I. Bill.
If you know of a reliable financial aid resource that is not listed, we would like to hear from you. Please contact us at FinancialAid@phc.edu.
Intercollegiate Studies Institute national essay contest for high-schoolers: "George Washington and the Formation of the American Character"
Grades 9-12
Awards: $1,000, $500, $250; free books
Registration deadline: November 28, 2008
The following resources are provided to assist you in your search for financial aid outside of Patrick Henry College. Please note: It is important that students use discernment when searching for scholarship funds. Patrick Henry College is not able to guarantee that all sources are reputable. Some scholarship programs appear to be eligible but are backed by funds that conflict with the College’s mission. The College is governed by its Board of Trustees according to its Fundamental Statements and will not accept any funding, private or governmental, which includes terms which supersede the Board’s authority or conflict with these Fundamental Statements.
These days, the Internet is one of the best places to find scholarship sources. Keep in mind that a number of the websites are businesses. You should not pay anyone to do financial aid searches for you. There are many free ways to find scholarships and grants on your own. If you do choose to use a scholarship search service offered at a cost, you should exercise caution, because some are scams. Most of the search services allow students to enter profile information on their interests or talents, and the site will search for scholarships that might be possible for the student. When you use search engines, use such terms as "scholarships," "education," "financial aid," etc.
Don't forget about other sources, such as parent's employers, clubs, associations or organizations where you have affiliation, utility companies, national organizations which sponsor oratorical, speech, and debate competitions (i.e., American Legion), churches and denominations, religious organizations, home school support groups, and local community service organizations (i.e., the Kiwanis Club or Lions Club). Also check directories of charitable foundations which may provide scholarships in your region.
Your local Chamber of Commerce library is one of the best place to find reference books that list private scholarships and will give you tips on helping you with your search.Your local church is another excellent place research. Many church denominations also offer financial aid resources for students from affiliated churches.
Here are some resources from the Internet to look into. There are many, many more you can add to this list.
Please note: It is important that students use discernment when searching for scholarship funds. Patrick Henry College is not able to guarantee that all sources are reputable. Some scholarship programs appear to be privately funded but are backed by government funds. Please watch for this as PHC students may not accept government funds or loans of any kind.
Christian Resources
HSLDA
Home School Legal Defense Association Member Grant
Are you an active member of HSLDA? If so, your student may be eligible receive an annual $1,300 grant from HSLDA to attend PHC. The grant is renewable for four years. See the Award Schedule for details and membership deadline.
Home School Foundation Patrick Henry Scholarship Fund
Incoming freshmen who meet certain academic and civic requirements, and whose families are HSLDA members, can apply for a need-based grant from the Home School Foundation. This is a one-time grant of $1000–$2000.
Generation Joshua’s Benjamin Rush Awards Program
Teens completing the civic and academic requirements of this program can earn PHC scholarships of $500–$3000.
PHC TEEN CAMPS
Patrick Henry College Teen Leadership Camp Discount
HSLDA members receive a $20 discount per camp/per student. Just enter your HSLDA membership number when you register online.
Crown Financial Ministries
Vision
To see the followers of Christ in every nation faithfully living by God’s financial principles in every area of their lives.
Mission
Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God’s financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Core Values
Crown Financial Ministries is a Christ-centered, Bible-based ministry whose core values include recognition of God's ownership of all things, the need to pray about everything, and the desire to equip and serve others with excellence while teaching in ways understood by all cultures and generations.
Christian Community Credit Union
CCCU was established in 1957 as American Baptist Ministers Credit Union in Southern California. Since then, membership has grown nationwide and internationally to serve churches, ministries and their members as well as Christian schools, colleges, seminaries, retirement homes and other ministries.
Today, Christian Community Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions serving the Christian community. From church loans to savings accounts, the Credit Union puts your money to good works by providing affordable financing to churches, ministries and their members. Celebrate the major milestones as we look back at the last 50 years!
