The Royal Bridge Program
In the Royal Bridge program, you have an opportunity to gain college preparation skills, earn college credits before beginning fall semester, and start building a community on campus—all things that set you up for college success.
Goals and Outcomes
The Royal Bridge program aims to equip students with the tools and skills to be successful throughout their college journeys. We know that students thrive when they experience engaged learning, campus involvement, student-faculty interaction, spirituality, and a sense of belonging. And that’s exactly what the Royal Bridge program fosters. Incoming Bethel freshmen with zero or few previous college credits are eligible to participate, with a particular emphasis on Pell-eligible students. Tuition scholarships are available based on need. This increases success rates and graduation rates for students, especially for historically underrepresented students.
What it Includes
Royal Bridge kicks off the summer before you start at Bethel and continues for your first three semesters. During the first summer, you’ll enroll in Introduction to the Bible (BIB101), a 4-credit general education course typically taken during students’ first semester at Bethel. It will be taught in a hybrid format with two weeks of asynchronous learning and one week of in-person learning on campus. You’ll learn in community with other incoming students, learn about other students’ experiences, and get support from teacher’s assistants and tutors.
Along with coursework, you’ll be able to:
- begin to build a sense of community on campus
- develop successful academic practices
- explore ways to be involved on campus
- meet faculty
- grow spiritually and learn of resources for continued growth
During the school year, you’ll engage in learning opportunities during your first three semesters at Bethel. Topics include:
- campus resources
- academic and vocational planning
- financial aid
- time management
- personal finances
- leadership
There will also be intentional attention to community building and spiritual growth, as well as mentoring opportunities with faculty, staff, and leaders beyond Bethel.
What it Costs
- Room, food, and activities during the summer residential component of the program are provided for all students. There is no cost to any student.
- Summer school tuition for BIB101 Introduction to the Bible is $2,440. Students who are Pell-eligible and accepted into the program will receive a tuition scholarship, resulting in no cost for tuition.
Schedule
- On campus: July 27-August 1, 2025
- Online: 2.5 weeks following on-campus experience (asynchronous)
Apply to the program
When you apply, you will receive an automated message letting you know that your application has been received. We will begin reviewing applications in April 2025 for summer 2025. At that time applicants will be notified if they are accepted or not. Additional applications received after the application deadline will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as space in the program allows.
Royal Bridge gave me community before entering college, and provided me with friends and people I knew I could count on. It also prepared me for the rigor of college classes and gave me the confidence to keep going!
Chloe Harvick '28It's a wonderful experience! You're ahead of everyone else. You meet great people, and everyone's friendly and supportive.
Gianni Escoto '28I want to thank you for the amazing experience that my daughter has had with this program and the course. She connected with peers, faculty, and staff in a way that will make her transition into college so much easier. The program is a blessing.
Heather Harvick