Publication 970 by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service explains tax benefits, such as credits, deductions, and other tax benefits to families with individuals enrolled in, saving for, or paying off college. 

You can get a maximum annual credit of $2,500 per eligible student. If the credit brings the amount of tax you owe to zero, you can have 40 percent of any remaining amount of the credit (up to $1,000) refunded to you. 

The lifetime learning credit is for qualified tuition and related expenses paid for eligible students enrolled in an eligible educational institution. This credit can help pay for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree courses—including courses to acquire or improve job skills. There is no limit on the number of years you can claim the credit. It is worth up to $2,000 per tax return.

You can take a tax deduction for the interest paid on student loans that you took out for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent. This benefit applies to all loans (not just federal student loans) used to pay for higher education expenses. The maximum deduction is $2,500 a year.

Some loan forgiveness programs have tax-free status, so the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will not count the loan forgiveness award as taxable income. Find more information in the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Publication 970.

A Coverdell Education Savings Account (Coverdell ESA) is a trust or custodial account set up in the United States solely for paying qualified education expenses for the designated beneficiary of the account. For more information about how to set up a Coverdell ESA, click the link below.

A 529 college savings plan is a state-sponsored investment plan that enables you to save money for a beneficiary and pay for education expenses. You can withdraw funds tax-free to cover nearly any type of college expense. A 529 plan may offer additional state or federal tax benefits.

You can take a distribution from your IRA before age 59-and-a-half without having to pay a 10 percent penalty if the money is used for qualified education expenses. 

Qualified U.S. savings bonds can be cashed without including the interest from the bonds as taxable income if the bond is used to pay for qualified education expenses.

Employers can exclude up to $5,250 of the educational assistance each year from the employee's taxable income. For more information about these tax benefits, review the U.S. Internal Revenue Service's most recent Publication 970 about tax benefits for education.

Freshmen will be awarded the highest merit scholarship for whichever one they qualify for. Awards are renewable for three years if students maintain the GPA requirements. 

+Includes $1,000 credited to tuition costs if the student lives in the residence hall. Please see the Online Catalog for more details.

++ The Admission Award is not renewable. You must reach the GPA requirements for the Achievement Award in order to qualify.

Award 

Leadership scholarships are awarded only to incoming freshmen and are renewable for up to four years. These scholarships are awarded in addition to any SWAU academic scholarship for which the student qualifies. If a student has held more than one office, only one scholarship will be given. 

Students who achieve a 34 composite on the (American College Test) qualify for a full-tuition scholarship. Students who achieve a combined score of 1,500 on the SAT also qualify for a full-tuition scholarship. These scholarships are renewable if the student maintains a 3.5 cumulative GPA and enrolls for 12 or more hours each semester. These scholarships, along with all other SWAU scholarships, cannot exceed tuition. Students who qualify for both the Freshman Award and the Southwestern Scholars Award receive the highest of the two. 

A transfer student with at least 24 cumulative college credits from other colleges may qualify for one of the following scholarships: 

• $4,000 if cumulative GPA from prior colleges is 3.75+ 

• $3,500 if cumulative GPA from prior colleges is 3.50-3.74 

• $3,000 if cumulative GPA from prior colleges is 3.00-3.49 

• $2,000 if cumulative GPA from prior colleges is 2.75-2.99 

Before this scholarship is awarded, all official transcripts from previously-attended colleges must be on file with Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU). To receive this scholarship, a student must be enrolled for 12 or more credit hours each semester. This scholarship is renewable for two years for students transferring 24-55 credits and one year for students transferring 56-89 credits. The scholarship is not renewable for students transferring 90+ credits. This scholarship is renewable only for students in good scholastic standing and who maintain a commendable citizenship record. 

Honors Scholarships are given to students who are enrolled in the honors program and whose grade classification is above the freshman level: 

The final $1,000 of the senior award is given only after the student has completed his or her senior thesis. 

Learn more about the Honors Program

National Merit Finalists qualify for a full-tuition scholarship, and National Merit Semifinalists qualify for a half-tuition scholarship. These scholarships are renewable if the student maintains a 3.5 cumulative GPA and enrolls for 12 or more hours each semester. Transfer students who were recognized by the National Merit organization as a Finalist or Semifinalist and who have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA are also eligible for these awards. These scholarships, along with all other SWAU scholarships, cannot exceed tuition. Likewise, credit balances from SWAU scholarships and resources other than loans will result in a reduction of this scholarship. 

Finalists are awarded a full-tuition scholarship following the same terms and conditions as the National Merit Full-tuition Scholarship.

Finalists are awarded a full-tuition scholarship following the same terms and conditions as the National Merit Full-tuition Scholarship. The National Achievement Scholarship Program (NASP) scholarships are determined by Preliminary SAT scores.

Talented students may audition for music scholarships at Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU). Awards are given to top performers who represent SWAU in ensembles, continue to educate themselves through private study, give back to the community in performance, and maintain good academic standards. 

Canadian citizens residing within Canada are eligible for a $2,000 scholarship per year. 

Three or more students from the same family, each taking at least 12 hours of coursework, will receive a 10 percent discount on tuition. Two students from the same family, each taking at least 12 hours, will receive a five percent discount on tuition.  When students marry, they are no longer eligible for this discount. However, married couples, taking at least 12 hours of coursework each, may receive a five percent discount on tuition. 

Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) awards a $1,200 scholarship to students who successfully complete a full term of service no shorter than eight months in an approved student missionary or task force program. This award is divided over the two semesters of the school year immediately following the return of the student missionary or task force worker. 

Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) students who work in a summer ministries program, for example at a Seventh-day Adventist summer camp or as a literature evangelist, will receive a scholarship worth 75 percent of whatever portion of their net earnings they apply to their account, up to a maximum award of $2,000. The student’s earnings are applied to the fall semester, and the SWAU match is applied to the spring semester.

Students who teach for one of Southwestern Adventist University’s lab schools, meaning schools in districts that have a contract with the Education Department for student teaching, will receive a 50 percent tuition discount for graduate classes taken on campus. Distance learning classes will be assessed at an additional fee. 

Post-baccalaureate students (PBS) receive a 50 percent tuition discount for undergraduate courses. This does not include classes in nursing, student teaching, independent study, distance learning, private lesson fees, or laboratory charges. Students receiving the PBS discount do not qualify for other Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) scholarships. 

The Three-way Match Scholarship allows a student’s family, church, or a concerned person, and Southwestern Adventist University scholarship funds to assist with the payment of a Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) student account.  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain a commitment from two different sources. For example, contributions of $500 each from two different sources may be matched by $500 from the University. While $500 is the maximum award, smaller three-way donations can also be matched. Funds will be matched only after the fall deadline of December 1 and the spring deadline of April 1. All funds must be received prior to the deadlines. 

The Southwestern Union Educational Endowment Scholarship is given only to Seventh-day Adventist students who are actively involved in ministry within the Southwestern Union Conference territory. Applications may be obtained through the Student Finance Office. A limited number of these scholarships are available, and applicants will be individually evaluated for eligibility. Yearly awards range from $300 to $1,000. 

Eligibility for the SU Grant is determined by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is for non-Texas residents whose Expected Family Contribution is between zero and $18,775. SU Grants range from $1,500 to $3,200.