Application is now open for the Samford University Crosland Scholarship. Interested applicants are encouraged to send in their applications before the deadline date.
About Samford University and Scholarship
Samford University, originally established in 1841 as Howard College in Marion, Alabama, was named in honor of the eighteenth-century English philanthropist, John Howard. Reverend James H. DeVotie, a member of the Samford Board of Trustees, contributed some of the land for the university and was actively involved in its early leadership. Julia Tarrant Barron, along with her son, made the first financial gift of $4,000 and donated land for the college. Additional recognition is given to founders Reverend Milo P. Jewett and Edwin D. King, all of whom had historical ties to slavery.
The university’s roots trace back to the Alabama Baptist State Convention’s decision to establish an educational institution for men in Perry County, Alabama. Howard College commenced its first academic session in January 1842 with an initial class of nine students, following a traditional curriculum focusing on language, literature, and the sciences. Graduation addresses from this era were published and delivered by notable speakers like Thomas G. Keen of Mobile, Joseph Walters Taylor, Noah K. Davis, and Samuel Sterling Sherman.
In October 1854, a devastating fire consumed the college’s property, including its sole building. Subsequently, the outbreak of the Civil War added to the institution’s challenges. The Confederate government converted Howard College into a military hospital in 1863. During this period, the college’s faculty provided basic instruction to recovering soldiers. After the war, federal troops briefly occupied the college and provided shelter to emancipated slaves on its grounds.
As of 2020, Samford University enrolled 3,576 undergraduate and 2,153 graduate and professional students, with representation from 47 states and 30 countries. A significant portion of the undergraduate student body, accounting for 66 percent, originates from outside the state of Alabama.
The Crosland Scholarship, named after Samford University’s first Rhodes Scholar in 1910, is awarded to applicants who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement. Recipients of this scholarship belong to a distinguished group of students recognized for their outstanding scholarly accomplishments, as well as their character, commitment to others, and dedication to the greater good.
Crosland Scholars at Samford University are typically awarded an average amount of $17,500. It’s important to note that this scholarship can be combined with other scholarships offered by Samford, such as the Davis and Marvin Mann Legacy Scholarship. However, it cannot be combined with the Marion Scholarship.
For competitive freshman applicants, eligibility for the Crosland Scholarship requires an ACT score of 26 or higher (or an SAT score of 1240 or higher) and a minimum GPA of 3.5. Freshman applicants who apply without a standardized test score will still be considered for the Crosland Scholarship. In such cases, the scholarship committee will evaluate applicants using a recalculated, weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Transfer students seeking the Crosland Scholarship should have a minimum college GPA of 3.5 and should have completed at least 24 credits of undergraduate coursework.
Importantly, there is no need for an additional application to be considered for the Crosland Scholarship. Crosland Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all their coursework at Samford University and adhere to the university’s code of values.
Details about Samford University Crosland Scholarship:
Scholarship Sponsor: Samford University, USA
Scholarship Value: $17,500
Number of awards: N/A
Study level: Undergraduate
Host Institution(s): Samford University, USA
Eligibility Criteria for Samford University Crosland Scholarship
Applicants are advised to meet the following requirements to be qualified for Samford University Crosland Scholarship:
- Applicants must have an offer letter from Samford University for any bachelor’s program to avail of this scholarship.
- Students applying for the Crosland Scholarship can be both domestic and international students.
- Applicants must surpass the admission requirements set by the University and are expected to exhibit great academic excellence.
Application Process for Samford University Crosland Scholarship
You must sign up for a Samford account online to apply for scholarships. You can apply for scholarships using the same login information you used to start your Samford/Common App entrance application. Please log in as a new user if you haven’t begun an admissions application yet.
The Submission Deadline is: December 1, 2023
Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other USA scholarships here.
