Last updated August 2026

There is no single, centralized “LDS scholarship” that every Latter-day Saint student can apply for. Instead, funding support for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes from a mix of sources: deeply subsidized tuition at Church-owned universities, a global loan programme for students in developing economies, guaranteed tuition discounts at BYU-Pathway Worldwide, locally administered scholarship funds tied to LDS institutes of religion, and a smaller number of independent, privately funded scholarships open specifically to LDS applicants. This guide walks through each of these funding paths, what they require, and how to combine them into a realistic plan for paying for school.

Why There Isn’t One Central “LDS Scholarship”

Unlike some religious denominations that run a single national scholarship fund, the Church’s approach to education funding is spread across several distinct programmes with different purposes: subsidized tuition at its own universities, a loan fund aimed specifically at members in developing countries, and locally organised community scholarship funds tied to individual LDS institutes of religion near non-Church universities. Understanding which category fits your situation is the first step to finding real funding rather than searching for a single application that does not exist.

Church Educational System Universities: Subsidized Tuition

The most substantial form of financial support available to Latter-day Saint students is not technically a scholarship at all: it is the deeply subsidized tuition rate at Church Educational System institutions, including Brigham Young University, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, and Ensign College. These schools charge a significantly lower tuition rate to members of the Church than to non-member students, with the difference covered by Church funds. For many LDS families, simply gaining admission to one of these institutions and qualifying for the member tuition rate is the single largest piece of “scholarship” support available, even before applying for any named, individual award. On top of the reduced base tuition, each of these universities also offers its own separate merit and need-based scholarships, which students should research directly through each school’s financial aid office.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide: Guaranteed Tuition Discounts

BYU-Pathway Worldwide, the Church’s global online education programme, offers some of the most accessible and best-documented funding support available to Latter-day Saint students today, particularly for students starting through its foundational PathwayConnect programme.

• The Heber J. Grant Tuition Discount: A guaranteed, needs-based scholarship named after a former Church president, offering a 10%, 25%, or 50% discount on a student’s tuition balance. There is no academic performance requirement to qualify; students simply enroll, complete a short interactive lesson on self-reliance principles in their student portal, and answer questions about their financial circumstances, such as access to stable housing, food security, and reliable internet, which determine the discount percentage.
• Reduced PathwayConnect tuition: Tuition through the PathwayConnect entry pathway is already set well below typical college costs and varies by country to reflect local economic conditions; in the United States tuition runs about $77 per credit, while in lower-income countries it can be a fraction of that. Once a student starts through PathwayConnect, this lower rate carries through their entire degree programme.
• Returned Missionary Tuition Discount: A separate discount available to students who have recently completed full-time missionary service for the Church.
• Needs-based scholarship through a mentor: Students can work with an assigned BYU-Pathway mentor to determine eligibility for an additional needs-based scholarship, generally limited to one term during a student’s first year of enrollment.
• BYU-Pathway to WGU Scholarship: For students who complete PathwayConnect and transfer to Western Governors University to finish a bachelor’s or master’s degree, this scholarship is worth up to $4,000, credited at $1,000 per six-month term for up to four terms, awarded competitively based on academic record, financial need, and readiness for online study.

The Perpetual Education Fund (PEF)

For members living in developing countries, the Perpetual Education Fund offers low-interest educational loans rather than outright scholarships, intended to help young adults gain vocational or professional training that leads directly to stronger employment. PEF is not available worldwide; guidelines and eligibility vary by country, and interested students should consult with their local priesthood leaders, typically a bishop or branch president, to find out whether PEF is currently offered where they live and what the application process involves. Because PEF is structured as a loan rather than a grant, recipients are expected to repay it once they begin working, which in turn helps fund loans for future students.

Local LDS Institute and Community Scholarship Funds

Away from Church-owned universities, many communities near colleges and universities with an active LDS institute of religion have built their own locally administered scholarship funds. These are typically organised by local Church members, area representatives, or regional LDS foundations, often in partnership with the college or university itself, and are funded through donations from individual families and community members rather than by the Church’s central budget.

A defining feature of these local funds is the ecclesiastical endorsement requirement: applicants are generally required to have their bishop, branch president, or mission president confirm that they are a member in good standing who attends church meetings and lives according to the Church’s standards. Many of these funds also require applicants to be enrolled in, or committed to attending, the local LDS institute of religion alongside their regular college coursework. Award amounts, deadlines, and specific criteria vary considerably from one region to another, so students should search for the name of their college or university alongside terms like “LDS institute scholarship” or “LDS foundation scholarship” to find funds specific to their area, and should reach out to their local institute director for the most current information.

Independent and Privately Funded LDS Scholarships

A smaller number of scholarships are run by private individuals, businesses, or organisations rather than the Church or any of its affiliated institutions, but are specifically open to LDS applicants. These typically require an essay reflecting on the applicant’s faith, values, or experiences as a member of the Church, alongside standard requirements like a minimum GPA and enrollment at an accredited college or university. Because these scholarships are run independently, their availability, funding amounts, and deadlines change frequently, and some may not run every year, so students should verify that a given scholarship is still currently active before investing time in the application rather than relying on older listings.

How to Build a Realistic Funding Plan

1. Start with Church Educational System tuition rates if you are open to attending BYU, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, or Ensign College, since the subsidized member tuition rate alone represents the largest funding advantage available to most LDS students.
2. If a Church-owned university is not the right fit, seriously consider BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s PathwayConnect programme, since the guaranteed Heber J. Grant Tuition Discount requires no separate application beyond enrolling and completing a short lesson.
3. If you live in a developing country, ask your bishop or branch president directly whether the Perpetual Education Fund currently operates where you live, since PEF availability is not centrally advertised and varies significantly by country.
4. If you plan to attend a non-Church university, search specifically for local LDS institute or LDS foundation scholarships tied to that school or region, and speak with your local institute director early, since many of these funds require an ecclesiastical endorsement that takes time to arrange.
5. Treat independent, privately funded LDS scholarships as a supplement rather than a primary funding source, applying to several at once since individual award amounts tend to be modest.
6. Continue to apply for general, non-religious scholarships and complete the FAFSA if you are a US student, since LDS-specific funding is rarely enough on its own to cover a full cost of attendance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offer one central scholarship application?

No. Funding support is spread across several distinct programmes, including subsidized tuition at Church-owned universities, BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s tuition discounts, the Perpetual Education Fund for members in developing countries, and locally administered scholarship funds tied to individual LDS institutes, rather than a single unified scholarship application.

Do I need to be an active, temple-recommend-holding member to qualify for LDS scholarships?

It depends on the specific fund. Local institute and community scholarship funds frequently require an ecclesiastical endorsement from a bishop or branch president confirming good standing, while broader programmes like the Heber J. Grant Tuition Discount at BYU-Pathway are based on enrollment and demonstrated financial need rather than a worthiness interview. Always check the specific requirements of the fund you are applying to.

Is the Perpetual Education Fund a scholarship or a loan?

It is a loan, not a grant. PEF is designed to be repaid once a recipient completes their training and begins working, which allows the fund to support future students. It is also not available in every country, so eligibility should be confirmed with local priesthood leaders.

Can non-BYU students still access Church-related scholarship support?

Yes, primarily through locally organised LDS institute or foundation scholarship funds near their college or university, and through independent, privately funded scholarships open to LDS applicants. These are generally smaller and more locally variable than the funding available through Church-owned universities or BYU-Pathway.

Where is the best place to start looking for LDS scholarships in my area?

Your local LDS institute of religion director is usually the best first point of contact, since they typically know which locally administered scholarship funds exist for students at your specific college or university and can walk you through the ecclesiastical endorsement process if one is required.

Final Thoughts

LDS-affiliated funding for education is real and, for many students, genuinely significant, but it is scattered across several different programmes rather than centralised in one place. The most substantial support usually comes not from a named scholarship at all, but from the subsidized tuition rate at Church-owned universities or the guaranteed tuition discounts available through BYU-Pathway Worldwide. From there, students in developing countries should look into the Perpetual Education Fund through their local leaders, students headed to other universities should investigate local LDS institute scholarship funds tied to their specific school, and everyone should treat independent, privately funded LDS scholarships as a smaller supplement rather than a primary strategy. Combined thoughtfully, and paired with general scholarships and standard financial aid, these pieces can add up to a meaningfully more affordable path through college.