Bethel College

Affordability

Affordable

Financial aid

All Bethel students receive scholarships

Scholarships are only part of how you Build Your Award. Learn more about how you can receive a competitive award to make Bethel affordable.

  • Academic

    First-time Freshman Academic Awards for 2025–26

    3.9 and above Thresher Scholarship: $14,000 award
    3.5–3.89 President’s Scholarship: $12,000 award
    3.0–3.49 Dean’s Scholarship: $10,000 award
    2.99 and below Merit Scholarship: $8,000 award

    This financial aid award is also based on full-time enrollment and on-campus residential living arrangements. Any changes in enrollment, activity participation and living arrangements could adjust your aid and your estimated costs. Your eligibility for these awards may change if new information is received by the Financial Aid office.

     

    Considering transferring to Bethel?

    If you have 24 or more transferable credit hours, you’re eligible for an academic scholarship. All full-time students who apply for admission to Bethel will automatically be considered for academic scholarships.

    Transfer Academic Awards for 2025–26

    3.5–4.0 $11,000
    3.00–3.49 $9,000
    2.5–2.99 $7,000
    2.49 and below $5,000

     

    Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Grant

    Phi Theta Kappa honor society members transferring to Bethel College are eligible for this renewable transfer grant. Part-time students and students with previous bachelor’s degrees are not eligible.

    • $2,000 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Grant

    Criteria:

    • Member of Phi Theta Kappa
    • 3.2 minimum GPA
    • 24 transferrable credit hours

    Hesston College Award

    Transfer directly from Hesston College and enroll as full-time student at Bethel College to earn this renewable award.

    • $2,500 Hesston College Award
  • Additional

    These scholarships can be awarded in addition to a student’s academic scholarship. Only one of these can be awarded to an individual.

    Athletic

    Athletic scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the coach. If you are not already in contact with a Bethel coach, we recommend using the program’s recruiting form to begin your recruitment process.

    Recruit Me

    Departmental

    Departmental scholarships are awarded  at $8,000 per year through the academic department that offers your intended major. Students who would like to pursue this scholarship should contact the admissions office.

    Fine Arts

    Fine arts scholarships are awarded in the categories of: band, choir, forensics, orchestra, piano, theater, and visual arts. Scholarships are typically offered after we receive an application and there has been communication between the student and faculty member. 

    Recruit Me 

    Founders

    The Founders Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship offered to 10 students of each incoming class. This extraordinary scholarship honors the founding triumvirate Goerz-Krehbiel-Warkentin, whose vision, devotion, and loyal cooperation helped create Bethel College

    Founders Scholarship

  • Employment Experience Grant

    All new students are offered an employment experiences grant of $2,500 per year.

    Students rank their preference for an employment placement on their Bethel College application.

    In order to fulfill the expectations of the program, students must work 80 per semester (an average of 5 hours per week). 

    Employment Experiences

  • Other

    Your religious and national service contributions may also make you eligible for additional scholarship funds.

    Your experiences in your church or your service through AmeriCorps or in the military could earn you additional FREE MONEY beyond the academic and performance.

    Your potential to contribute significantly to the Bethel community could be recognized through the Bethel College grant.

    • 1:1 match of first $1,000 offered by any church or denomination
    • 1:4 match of AmeriCorps education award
    • 1:4 match of dollars exceeding $1,000 offered by a Mennonite church

     

    Bethel College Grant

    Offered to students who have demonstrated qualities that will lead them to be significant contributors to the Bethel community, upon recommendation of the admissions counselor and following a campus visit; amounts vary and are determined by a committee.

    Legacy Scholarship

    Offered to students at $3,000 per year who have either a parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, or sibling who is an alumnus of Bethel College.

    Church matching grant

    Offered by a church of any denomination on behalf of a student, this grant will be matched by Bethel College dollar for dollar for the first $1,000. Grant dollars beyond $1,000 from Mennonite churches will be matched at a 1:4 ratio. Churches – read more about this matching grant and complete the agreement form for your students.

    AmeriCorps matching grant

    Bethel College will match funds earned in the AmeriCorps education award at a 1:4 ratio.

    Yellow Ribbon Program

    Bethel has chosen to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is an agreement with Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate.

    Endowed Science Scholarships

    Offered as an additional scholarship to select students who plan to major in a STEM field and show exceptional ability and dedication. An essay or interview may be required. 

    Larry D. Friesen Social Work Scholarship

    Offered as an additional student at $1,000 per year to a social work major. It has a need-based component and is awarded through collaboration between the admissions, financial aid, and social work offices.

    Outside Scholarships

    Check your local communities for more scholarship opportunities. Also, checkout the links below

    FASTWEB.COM

    FINAID.ORG

Your calendar

Important dates

The 2024-25 FAFSA is now available at studentaid.gov. Use the Bethel College code 001905. The financial aid office will continue to send financial aid award letters through August.

Feb. 2024

  • Financial aid awards will be uploaded to students’ portals once they have been accepted and sent us their FAFSA
  • Our first Founders Scholarship offers will be made.

Apr. 1, 2024

  • Priority deadline for the Kansas Comprehensive Grant.

Early Enrollment dates:

  • On-campus Early Enrollment Day April 6
  • Remote Early Enrollment Day April 20
  • Hybrid Early Enrollment Day May 20
  • Remote Early Enrollment Day May 21
  • Hybrid Early Enrollment Day May 22
  • Remote Early Enrollment Day May 23

Financial Registration for the fall semester due July 31

First day of classes August 16

Reminders

  • You must be accepted before financial aid can
    be awarded.
  • Tuition costs are the same for out-of-state
    students.
  • Federal aid is only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Code of Conduct

Our code of conduct guides our behavior at Bethel College.

Satisfactory Progress

Bethel students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards to remain eligible for financial aid.

Eligibility

Use Bethel’s Build Your Award  (recommended) or Net Price Calculator to get an estimate of your available aid.

Financial Aid Team

Clark Oswald Photo

Clark Oswald

Director of Financial Aid
Send Email
Melissa Carlson Photo

Melissa Carlson

Assistant director of Financial Aid
Send Email