Scholarships at Southwestern University

Incoming first-year students applying to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, who rank in the top 5% of their high school class, or hold at least a 3.8 unweighted GPA if the school does not rank, may compete for this award through the admission application. The Brown Scholarship is Southwestern's most prestigious competitive award, providing $45,000 per year to one recipient. Candidates must interview by the first Tuesday in February, and finalists attend a March scholarship event. The competitive scholarship application is due the first Tuesday in December annually.

The Turner M. Caldwell III Scholarship at Southwestern University recognizes senior pre-medical students with exceptional academic achievement who plan to enroll in medical school after graduation. Candidates must hold at least a three point seven cumulative GPA in Southwestern coursework and must be entering their senior year. Awards are merit-based rather than need-based and may reach up to ten thousand dollars. Applications are submitted to Dr. Kimberly McArthur with a May first deadline. Dental school candidates are ineligible. This competitive award honors academic excellence among Southwestern undergraduates committed to careers in medicine.

United Methodist Dollars for Scholars awards administered through the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation provide three thousand to four thousand dollars for one year to full-time degree-seeking Southwestern University students. Applicants must be active, full members of the United Methodist Church for at least one year prior to application and hold at least a two point five GPA. Applications must be submitted directly to UMHEF by March first rather than through Southwestern alone. Southwestern’s financial aid office lists this program alongside other Methodist scholarship opportunities available to enrolled undergraduates who meet denominational membership requirements.

The Kahler Scholarship at Southwestern University supports semester and year-long study abroad experiences for continuing undergraduates. Awards are made primarily on the basis of financial need and typically range from one thousand to three thousand five hundred dollars depending on program cost and available funding. Students should contact the Office of Intercultural Learning for application instructions and deadlines associated with their approved study abroad program. The Kahler fund complements Southwestern’s broader study abroad advising and helps make longer international academic experiences accessible to students with demonstrated need.

The J. Charles Merrill Peace and Justice Scholarship at Southwestern University awards three thousand dollars for one year to continuing students with preference for those who have completed at least two years of full-time enrollment, pre-ministerial students, and students who have demonstrated interest in activities or occupations promoting peace and justice locally, nationally, or globally. Preference may also be given to members of the United Methodist Church. Applications are due May first through the continuing-student scholarship process. This award supports students whose academic and co-curricular work reflects a commitment to social justice, reconciliation, and service-oriented leadership on and beyond campus.

The Nancy Spivey Scholarship at Southwestern University supports sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have a diagnosed learning disability and demonstrate financial need as determined by the financial aid office. This endowed fund was established by Nancy and Rex Spivey to help students with documented learning differences succeed in Southwestern’s rigorous academic environment. Award amounts vary depending on endowment income and applicant need. Applications are submitted through the continuing-student scholarship process with a May first deadline. Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to demonstrate need in subsequent years to be considered for renewal.