The Cumberland Promise Scholarships are awarded to students who hold a University parallel associate degree from a regionally accredited institution and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Cumberland Promise recipients may be eligible for a scholarship up to $16,000. Restrictions: Full-time student status, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA based on award level. Students who are enrolled in the Nursing Program are not eligible for this award.

Ernest L. Stockton Jr. Grants are awarded to students who hold a university parallel degree from an accredited two year or four year university with a minimum 2.50 cumulative G.P.A. Amount: Up to $3,400. Restrictions: Full-time student status plus maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA on courses taken at Cumberland University. Ernest L. Stockton, Jr., received the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939 and the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) in 1958 from Cumberland University. He served as the institution’s 18th President from 1958-1982.

The Phoenix Promise is only available to eligible students beginning at the sophomore level. However, we encourage high school students and freshmen students to consider this as an option when planning out degree paths and financial aid.

To be eligible to receive the Phoenix Promise scholarship, you must:

Have a valid FAFSA with an estimated family contribution (EFC) of 3500 or below. This information is available on your Student Aid Report (SAR) after you fill out your FAFSA.
Have a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA on all college level work at the 24 attempted credit hour benchmark and the 48 attempted credit hour benchmark (typically at the end of your freshman and sophomore years)
Be a current CU student or a transfer student at the rising sophomore or junior level
Be a Tennessee resident
Not be a student athlete, nursing major or fine arts performing student

Presidential Award Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and between a 27-29 composite on the ACT or 1280-1380 on the SAT critical reading and mathematics combined score. Presidential Award recipients may be eligible for a scholarship up to $16,000. Restrictions: Full-time student status, maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA.

Cumberland University also awards various private and endowed scholarships which have specific requirements for eligibility. These awards have been donated by families, businesses, and civic organizations. A listing of these scholarships can be found in the catalog and on the website. Deadline for applications to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office is May 1st.

Trustee Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen in the top five percent (5%) of their graduating class and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and a minimum 30 composite on the ACT or a 1390 on the SAT critical reading and mathematics combined score. Trustee Scholarship recipients are eligible for a scholarship up to full-tuition. Trustee applicants must submit a 500-750 word essay to the Director of Financial Aid explaining why they should be considered for the Trustee Scholarship. Restrictions: Full-time student status, maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year.

Recipient shall be a full-time Cumberland student in need of financial assistance with a minimum 3.0 GPA who has displayed a balanced and well-rounded academic and extracurricular educational experience. Mr. Floyd was a successful entrepreneur in the outdoor amusement business. The scholarship was established in his memory in 1991 by his children, Ann and J. D. Floyd, and Billy and Jane Floyd Baxter.

This scholarship is to be awarded to a Cumberland junior or senior with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher who is majoring in a Liberal Arts discipline or in Education. Recipient must not be involved in varsity athletics. The McCandless scholarship was established in 1989 by Mrs. Frances McCandless Roby in memory of her father, an 1894 graduate of Cumberland University. Mr. McCandless was a highly respected attorney and in the late 1920s was Chief Justice of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The award is made to a Wilson or Trousdale County high school graduate who must be a full-time student in the Cumberland University Nursing Program. The recipient must plan to become an employee in the health care sector and must have attained the rank of junior.

This scholarship is awarded to a student in any music discipline and who has a high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and with a minimum ACT of 20 or an equivalent SAT score. The student must show outstanding performance ability and have displayed exemplary citizenship. The award may remain with the student as long as a 2.80 GPA is maintained and the recipient remains a music major in good standing with the University. The award is available for a maximum of eight semesters. Dr. Coble is a Professor Emeritus at Cumberland University.

A Wilson County native, Dr. Thomas Richard Puryear grew up on a farm under depressed economic conditions. With a dream of becoming a physician, he joined the Army to help pay for college expenses and graduated from Cumberland University in 1941 and from Vanderbilt University in 1944 with his medical degree. Married to Louis Graves for fifty years, Dr. Puryear never had children of his own. He did, however, believe in young people and the promise of the future that they helped. Many students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to attend a University were given money by Dr. Puryear to pay for their education. The only condition on the gift was not that it be paid back to him, but rather that the receiver afford the same opportunity for other struggling students. Keeping the circle of giving and aid to those in need was a strong value of his.

Mrs. Allie Coe Baker established this scholarship through her estate to assist students from Watertown High School (Tennessee) to further their education. The scholarship shall be awarded based upon the applicant’s scholastic and academic abilities as well as financial need. Selection will be made in conjunction with Watertown High School faculty who will recommend recipients each year. The late Mrs. Baker was a beloved teacher in Wilson County schools for 46 years.

Recipient must be the highest academically ranked football player at the University from either Wilson or Putnam County, Tennessee with a GPA of at least 2.80. Recipient must be a returning member of the football squad and must be recommended by the head football coach and athletic director. Mr. Barbour, a football player and 1948 graduate of Cumberland University, was a successful furniture manufacturer. This scholarship was established in his memory by his wife, Mrs. Peggy Barbour.

This award is given to an undergraduate student at Cumberland University who is worthy of assistance and is unable to obtain financial assistance otherwise. The recipient must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

This award is given to a resident of Wilson County, Tennessee who is a junior or senior at Cumberland University majoring in education and who plans to teach at the elementary or secondary level. Education faculty members may make recommendations. This scholarship was established in 1986 by the late Eugene Holloway Sloan, a 1928 graduate of Cumberland University, in memory of his mother.