Asbury University recently received over $500,000 in funding from multiple donor sources to pilot the Student No Debt Fund program in Asbury’s Dayton School of Business (DSB). In the spring of 2026 selected students will have their total debt paid off at graduation. This program is being piloted in the DSB with a goal of being available to undergraduate students in all schools and majors at AU in the future.
“Through the extraordinary generosity of donors, Asbury University can offer new forms of student value and aggressive affordability through the Student No Debt Fund Initiative,” said Asbury University President Dr. Kevin Brown. “This initiative is one of the most unique in the country, which is very exciting as a university that seeks to be ‘set apart.’ I am eager for the days ahead!”
This grant offers a pathway for selected students who have borrowed funds to have a financial headstart after college by graduating debt free. To be eligible to apply, students must first meet specific requirements (academic, co-curricular, mentorship/internships, and philanthropic) focused on developing their biblical worldview and their financial literacy with an emphasis on handling personal finances God’s way.
“A quality college education is a great investment, but it is one of the biggest expenses that most families face,” said Director of the Student No Debt Fund Initiative and Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. George Allen. “By removing the burden of college debt, graduates should be better able to live out the concepts of serving others, stewarding their finances through a biblical approach to giving, saving, and spending, and living out their calling in their selected vocation.”
Students must apply by fall or spring of their senior year at Asbury University. Applications will open in February 2026; a review committee will make award decisions in April 2026. Interested students may talk with Dr. George Allen about how to begin working toward eligibility and may learn more here.
“We are so encouraged that friends who are in agreement and support of Asbury’s mission are willing to partner with us to make a difference in our students’ experience while they’re here on campus and also after they leave,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Strategic Partnerships Dr. Mark Troyer.
With students at the center of University initiatives, Asbury University’s Annual Giving Day will be on March 26, 2026. Total endowment for Asbury University has doubled in the last decade, from $41.6M in 2015 to $84.31M in 2025 with two thirds of the funds designated to student scholarships. Donors and partners can contact the Asbury University Office of Advancement to learn about investing in this life-changing program: advancement@asbury.edu. Learn more about Giving to Asbury University.