Young Scholars
Nazareth University aims to close the college completion gap by providing high-achieving students with financial need access to an unparalleled private education.
Young Scholars is a comprehensive, guided learning and growth experience that promotes academic excellence, collaboration, and leadership and helps students establish and pursue a career path.
Benefits of participating in Young Scholars:
- Receive full-tuition funding over the course of your undergraduate study (maximum of 4 years), supported through Nazareth scholarships, state/federal grants, and philanthropy.
- Receive support and guidance from Nazareth’s dedicated Access and Achievement staff.
- Enhance in-classroom learning through service opportunities on campus and in the Rochester area.
- Through Nazareth’s Center for Life’s Work, you will work with a career coach from your very first semester.
Aziza Simpkins '24
Combining tech with ethics
Aziza Simpkins combines the study of technology, artificial intelligence, and society, with sociology and social research.
Watch video (above)
Nam Dinh ’25
Clinical Laboratory Sciences, plus chemistry and religious studies minors
“The Young Scholars program is excellent, especially for first-year students. Thanks to the program, I made friends prior to coming to college and received guidance from staff on how to navigate college life. The program also has several events that allow everyone to meet new people and reconnect with others in the program, regardless of class year.
“Nazareth benefits me in many ways. It allows me to meet outstanding professors who uplift me and encourage me to go beyond the scope of my major. Second, it creates a close-knit environment due to being a smaller school, which helps me connect with classmates better. Third, it allowed me to study abroad, which broadened my horizons and continues to be a core memory. Last, it holds many events that entertain me, such as pancake art and massage day, as well as ones that educate me on real-life issues.”
Curtis Clemont '25
“Nazareth is giving me opportunities in and out of the classroom. With the many different sports (at club and varsity level) and possibilities for double majors, I always feel like there is an abundance of things to do on campus. I would tell a student considering the Young Scholars program to absolutely apply for it. The financial aid and advisement that the program provides are fantastic. The people in charge of the program are always available to talk and guide me through any issues I may have.”
Emma Theriot '26
Musical theatre
"The things that (the university) stood for, like accessibility and like equity, those are things that really stood out to me about Naz."
Watch video (above)
Isiah McMurray ’24
Benefits of Nazareth? “Small class sizes, so I can develop beneficial relationships with my professors and learn material better. The Young Scholars program has offered me support throughout each step in my academic journey.”
My advice? “Apply for Young Scholars. Seriously, having people who want what’s best for you and want to help you makes all the difference.”
Studying abroad
Two Young Scholars and two HEOP students reflect on why they went, what they experienced, how they adjusted, what classes they most enjoyed, favorite places they visited, what they thought of the food, how safe they felt, what it was like to be there as an American person of color, how the pace of daily life was different, how they interacted despite not knowing the language before, how the experience changed them, and their advice.
Watch video: The real deal on a semester studying in Florence, Italy