How to Qualify for Bible School Scholarships

Many students find it impossible to attend college unless they can qualify for scholarships, and Bible school is no exception. The expenses are typically higher than community colleges or colleges funded by state or government programs, and that makes it even more necessary to find every possible funding resource.

Instructions

1. Start planning while you are in high school to attend Bible school on a scholarship. While other criteria are considered, many scholarships are based initially on grade point average achieved during high school, and on your SAT score. For schools that offer scholarships based on SATs, a higher score gives you access to more scholarship money.

2. Contact the Bible school of interest to determine what you have to do to qualify for scholarships offered by the school. Many church-related schools give an automatic discount to students with parents or spouses credentialed with affiliated religious organizations.

3. Look over the list of schools at online scholarship resources to see what colleges of various denominations have to offer (see Resources below). Each religious affiliation has specific criteria that is in place for student financial assistance.

4. Fill out the application for scholarships completely. While it may not have been done for school credit, include any volunteer work or ministry service. Some Bible schools will take that into consideration when evaluating whether you qualify for financial assistance, especially if it relates to your major or course of study.

5. Discuss the scholarship with a school counselor to learn how to remain qualified for the scholarship. Many scholarships are granted and maintained only if specific criteria are met, such as keeping a certain grade point average and avoiding the need for disciplinary action.

6. Apply for many different scholarships with your college application. Most colleges have more than one type of scholarship available to incoming students, so don't limit yourself to what you think you might be most qualified to receive. Force the officials make that decision.

Tips & Warnings

• It usually takes several weeks to get scholarship approval, so submit your application early to allow plenty of time for processing before enrollment.

• Don't forget to ask online Bible schools about the possibility of scholarship funding, especially if it is an accredited school with on-campus study.

• Don't count on scholarships to meet all your expenses. Look into other sources of funding, such as student loans, if you anticipate there may be a shortfall in the amount of money you can come up with.

Resources

• Browse Guaranteed Scholarships for a list of schools' scholarships and grants.
• Find participating schools at Scholarships.com.