College of Arts & Sciences

Scholarships

A scholarship is a gift given in recognition of academic achievement; special talents; or contribution to church, school, or community. There are several types of scholarships available at Bethel.

Bethel Scholarships

Academic Scholarships

Bethel awards academic scholarships based on a combination of unweighted high school rank, unweighted grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, and advanced classes.

Amount categories:

President's Scholarship	$6,000 to $11,000/year
Dean's Scholarship	$3,500 to $5,999/year
Faculty Scholarship	$500 to $3,499/year

Eligibility: Academic scholarships will be renewed at the initial dollar amount, provided the student maintains a cumulative GPA at Bethel of 3.20 or higher. If a student drops below the minimum 3.20 GPA, the award may be restored in the term following restoration of a 3.20 or higher GPA. Scholarships may be received for up to four consecutive years by maintaining full-time status and the minimum GPA.

Comments: Determination of the scholarship amount will be made by the Admissions Committee with information available at the time the student is accepted for admission to Bethel. If, after being admitted, a student's eligibility increases (because of a higher test score or an improved rank or GPA), the scholarship amount will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee based on a written request from the student. This request is the only appeal that will be considered for these awards. Requests for review must be received by the Office of Admissions before July 1.

Note: Students who were enrolled at Bethel before fall 2008 (continuing and readmitted students) will continue to receive scholarships under the policy in place when they first entered Bethel.

Bethel University National Merit Scholarship

Amount: $1,000 to $2,000
Eligibility: National Merit Scholarship Finalists who list Bethel as their first-choice school and are not awarded another form of the National Merit Scholarship.
Comments: Renewable. At least three awarded each year. Apply through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Not need-based.

Edgren Scholarship

Amount: $1,000 to $3,000
Eligibility: Merit-based scholarship awarded by the Admissions Committee to freshmen and transfer students.
Comments: Renewable. Must be full time and in good standing. Not need-based.

Performance Scholarships

Amount: $1,000 to $4,000
Eligibility: Through audition with the appropriate department. Must be full time and maintain a 2.50 cumulative GPA.
Comments: Renewable. Contact music, theatre, art, or communication studies (forensics) departments before February for eligibility and audition information. Not need-based.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Amount: $1,500 to $3,500
Eligibility: Merit-based scholarship awarded by Admissions Committee to transfer students. Recipients must have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.00 and membership in Phi Theta Kappa for at least one term. Students with Edgren Scholarships or baccalaureate degrees are not eligible.
Comments: Renewable with 3.00 cumulative GPA. Must be full time and in good standing. Not need-based.

Royal Scholarship

(beginning in 2008-09)
Amount: Up to $1,500 per year.
Eligibility: A legacy scholarship awarded to students with family member(s) who have previously attended Bethel University.
Comments: Renewable. Must be enrolled full time. Not need-based.

Special Awards

Amount: Up to $6,000.
Eligibility: Current Bethel students upon the recommendation of Bethel faculty members.
Comments: Both need-based and merit scholarships are available. Must apply online by February 10 deadline. (Online application available November 23-February 10 only.) Awarded in spring for the coming academic year.

Minnesota Scholarships

Achieve Scholarship Program

Amount: One-time $1,200 scholarship.
Eligibility: Eligible Minnesota high school graduates. See the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Achieve Scholarship Program webpage for more detailed information regarding this grant.
Comments: To apply, complete the FAFSA and submit the Achieve Scholarship application to the Office of Higher Education along with an official high school transcript.

Outside Scholarships and Awards

Financial aid is also available from various outside sources. You may want to explore these possibilities through your local high school, employer, church, veterans or professional organizations, fraternal orders, ethnic heritage groups, and other local or state agencies. Your high school guidance officer is a good source of information about most local awards. You can also visit our Helpful Links webpage for possible sources of additional aid. Financial assistance received from outside sources must be reported to the Office of University Financial Aid.