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Cook School of Intercultural Studies: Scholarships & Aid

See the information below to learn more about scholarships, grants and loans available for incoming graduate students in the Cook School of Intercultural Studies. For current Biola students, explore Scholarships for Current Students.

The Office of Financial Aid is processing how the closure of Cook School of Intercultural Studies will impact financial aid for ICS programs. Updated information will be provided when it becomes available.

Scholarships

Discounts

Grants

Loans

Scholarships

Ahmanson Veterans Scholarship

The Ahmanson Veterans Scholarship was generously donated by The Ahmanson Foundation in an effort to support veterans who are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Funds are applicable to tuition, Collegium membership, and the Biola Counseling Center.

Note: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Amount

Up to $1,500 per year

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  1. Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  2. Provide a current Certificate of Eligibility to military.benefits@biola.edu
  3. Log into the Scholarship Portal
    • Complete the General Application
    • Search for and complete the “Ahmanson Veterans Scholarship” form
Deadline

Funds will be awarded first-come, first-serve throughout summer.

Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Student veterans with current Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits are eligible to apply.
  • Student is eligible if he or she has demonstrated financial need and is at least a half-time student.
Renewable Status

No, this scholarship is not renewable. Students must reapply annually based on financial need and availability of funds.

Biola Missionary Scholarship

The Biola Missionary Scholarship is a Biola-funded scholarship to assist students who demonstrate a calling on their lives for cross-cultural missions.

Amount

$4,000

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  1. Log into Scholarship Portal
    • New Applicants:
      1. Complete General Application
      2. Search and complete "Biola Missionary Scholarship - New Applicant" application
    • Renewing Applicants:
      1. Complete General Application
      2. Search for and complete “Biola Missionary Scholarship – Renewing Applicant" application
Deadline

April 15, 2022

Eligibility

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Must be a new/accepted or continuing student 
  • Must maintain full-time enrollment in a traditional program
  • Special programs not eligible:
    • All certificate and non-degree seeking students
  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents only
  • FAFSA must be filed and sent to Biola by application deadline
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable for one additional year. The renewal amount is $6,000.

Church Matching Scholarship

The Church Matching Scholarship is a Biola-funded match to church sponsorship funds.

Amount

Biola will match up to $750 of a church’s sponsorship funds

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  1. Confirm your financial aid file by the scholarship deadline, which includes a completed FAFSA (online) and all requested forms; international students are exempt.
  2. Submit Church Matching Scholarship Application for appropriate aid year, and attach a church sponsorship check made out to Biola University by the scholarship deadline.
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • October 1 — Deadline for students who attend the fall semester only, or both fall and spring semesters
  • March 1 — Deadline for students who attend only the spring semester
Eligibility

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Student must be enrolled at least half-time
  • Student must be enrolled in a traditional degree program.
  • Student must demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA information.
  • Student must receive financial sponsorship from a church.
  • Special programs are not eligible. 
  • Please see the included instructions on the first page of the application for a list of all ineligible programs.

Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable. Students must reapply each year.

Cook Missionary Scholarship

The Cook Missionary Scholarship offers a 1/3 discount in tuition for students who are full-time missionaries. Students eligible for this scholarship are not eligible for the Cook School of Intercultural Studies Graduate Grant.

Amount

One-third tuition reduction

Application

Students must apply through the Cook School of Intercultural Studies

Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Available to M.A. and Ph.D. students; not D.I.S.
  • No minimum number of credits
  • No FAFSA required
  • Recipients are not eligible for any other SICS scholarships or grants, but may receive federal funds and scholarships awarded by other departments and the Financial Aid Office
  • Note that this one-third reduction is offered regardless of whether the student is raising support or receiving a salary
  • A letter from mission organization verifying full-time missionary status
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Kwast Scholarship

The Kwast Scholarship is named for Dr. Lloyd E. Kwast to honor the significant lifelong contributions he has made to the field of missiology. Kwast played an instrumental role in the development, evolution and ongoing achievements for the Cook School of Intercultural Studies, and this scholarship recognizes his dedication to the Lord and his students throughout his 21 year tenure at Biola University.

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Only available for D.I.S. students
  • No minimum number of credits
  • Based on merit and leadership abilities
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Spouse Tuition Scholarship

The Spouse Tuition Scholarship offers a 2/3 discount to one member of a married couple. Both spouses must be taking classes at any of Biola's graduate schools. Students eligible for this scholarship are not eligible for the Cook School of Intercultural Studies Graduate Grant.

Amount

Two-third tuition reduction

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • No minimum number of units required
  • No FAFSA required
  • Recipients are not eligible for any other institutionally awarded aid, but may be eligible for federal loans
  • The "spouse" recipient is the one who has the fewest units; the other member of the couple must be enrolled as a full-time status as defined by any of the degree programs at Biola's schools
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • No minimum number of credits
  • No FAFSA required
  • Recipients are not eligible for any other institutionally award aid, but may be eligible for federal loans
  • The "spouse" recipient is the one who has the fewer number of credits; the other member of the couple must be enrolled as full-time as defined by any of the degree programs at Biola
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Daniel B. Pennings Memorial Scholarship

The Daniel B. Pennings Scholarship is awarded to graduate students preparing to share the gospel with less-reached (with priority for unreached) people groups in East/Southeast Asia (priority for China).

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Priority given to those preparing to work in unreached East/Southeast Asia, with priority for China
  • No minimum number of credits
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Lelia Bascom Memorial Scholarship

The Lelia Bascom Memorial Scholarship was established in honor of Lelia Bascom, who received God's calling at a young age to serve in Venezuela. In response to the calling, she took four years of Spanish in preparation and completed her studies at Biola in the late 1930s. Lelia moved to Venezuela by the summer of 1941 to serve with the Orinoco River mission.

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • No minimum number of credits
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Michelle Skelton Memorial Scholarship

The Michelle Skelton Social Science Missions Endowed Scholarship was established in memory of Michelle Skelton. She was passionate about helping students successfully prepare themselves to minister to the needs of those both domestically and abroad.

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • No minimum number of credits
  • Eligibility based on high academic standing and high Christian commitment
  • Priority will be given to those involved in missions
Renewable Status

Ross Memorial Scholarship

The Ross Memorial Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students studying intercultural studies at Biola.

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • No minimum number of credits
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Steve Mattson Memorial Scholarship

The Steve Mattson Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Steve Mattson by his family. This scholarship is to honor Steve’s passion to send individuals into the mission field, equipped and prepared, to disciple men and women in Jesus’ name.

Amount

Amount will vary

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • No minimum number of credits
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Lingenfelter Doctoral Fellowship

The Judith E. Lingenfelter Doctoral Fellowship Scholarship is awarded to Ph.D students studying at the Cook School of Intercultural Studies. It is awarded by the Faculty and Dean’s Office to assist with tuition costs.

Amount

Up to $5,000 (2019-2020 academic school year)

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  • Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed)
  • Complete the application on Academic Works
Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Priority given to those who served as a mission educator and who intend to continue after their Ph.D.
  • A minimum of 8 years in cross-cultural mission experiences
  • If qualified, must spend one year as an instructor-in-training with a Cook professor
  • Student must be enrolled in enough units so the $5,000 minimum award (per year) covers at least 35% of the tuition
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable for a second and third year (must be in good academic standing)

Discounts

Global Learning Discount

The Global Learning Discount offers a 1/3 discount on tuition for M.A. and Ph.D. Intercultural Studies students who attend one of Biola's global learning centers in Chiang Mai, Thailand or Vevey, Switzerland. Students eligible for these scholarship are not eligible for the Cook School of Intercultural Studies Graduate Grant

Amount

One-third tuition reduction

Application

No application is required

Deadline

Students must be aware of the following deadlines:

  • April 15 – For fall semester
  • November 15 – For spring semester
Eligibility

Students must review the following eligibility requirements:

  • Available to all students in M.A. in Intercultural Studies, PhD. in Intercultural Studies, or Ph.D. in Intercultural Education (including Global Learning Centers); DIS students are ineligible
    • The extension site reduction will only be applied to on-campus and online classes for students who were admitted to the graduate program as "extension students"
    • Recipients of extension site reductions are eligible for other Cook departmental scholarships and institutional aid, but with the following exceptions:
      • Reduction cannot be combined with the missionary scholarship
      • Reduction cannot be combined with the Spouse Tuition scholarship 
  • No minimum number of credits
  • No FAFSA required
Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable every semester (must be in good academic standing)

Grants

Cook School of Intercultural Studies Graduate Grant

The Cook School of Intercultural Studies Graduate Grant is a Biola grant calculated on cost of tuition, room and board against other resources available to the student.

Amount

Students may be eligible for up to $2,900 (prorated per enrollment).

Application

Students must review the following application guidelines:

  1. Complete the FAFSA (with Biola listed).
  2. Once students complete the FAFSA and submit all other paperwork requested by the Office of Financial Aid, which will determine Graduate Grant eligibility. If eligible, the Office of Financial Aid will contact the student.
Deadline

Priority is given to the earliest applicants with completed financial aid requirements.

Eligibility

Students must have sufficient financial need and be enrolled at least half-time. Students eligible for some other types of scholarships may not be eligible for this grant. Please review the details for each scholarship on this page to determine eligibility.

Renewable Status

Yes, this scholarship is renewable (according to need determined by completing the FAFSA for the new financial aid year).

International Student Aid Grant

The International Student Aid Grant is available to international students who have been accepted to Biola University and who are studying on the F1 Student Visa.

Amount

$2,000 per year for master’s and doctoral studies.

Application

Application is sent to eligible admitted students who are planning to study on the F1 student visa.

Eligibility

Eligibility is based on academic achievement, leadership experience and preference is given to financial need. Students enrolled in the following graduate schools are eligible:

  • Cook School of Intercultural Studies
  • Rosemead School of Psychology
  • School of Education
  • Talbot School of Theology
Renewable Status

Renewable when maintaining minimum grade requirements and on-campus study.

Loans

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

The Direct Loan is a loan funded by the U.S. Department of Education that must be repaid with interest. Amount determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Amount and Interest

Up to $20,500.

For current Direct Loan interest rates and origination fee amounts, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Application

Students must complete the following applications:

  1. FAFSA (online form; with Biola listed)
  2. Direct Loan Master Promissory Note & Entrance Counseling (online form)
Deadline

April 15 — This is the recommended deadline in order to be processed in time for the beginning of the school year. All loan requests must be received no later than the last day of the semester in which the funds are being requested in order to be processed.

Eligibility

Student must be enrolled at least half-time.

Repayment

Loan repayment is deferred while a student is enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. Repayment typically begins six months after a student drops below half-time enrollment.

Renewable Status

Yes, this loan is renewable yearly (with the completion of a FAFSA). MPN is valid for up to 10 years.

Graduating/Departing Information

Students must complete exit counseling online in preparation for graduating/completing their program.

Direct Grad Plus Loan

The Direct Grad Plus Loan is a loan funded by the U.S. Department of Education that must be repaid with interest.

Amount and Interest

Up to cost of attendance minus financial aid.

For current Direct Loan interest rates and origination fee amounts, please visit the Federal Student Aid website.

Application

Students must complete the following applications:

  1. FAFSA (online form; with Biola listed)
  2. Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Application, Master Promissory Note & Entrance Counseling (online form)
Deadline

April 15 — This is the recommended deadline in order to be processed in time for the beginning of the school year. All loan requests must be received no later than the last day of the semester in which the funds are being requested in order to be processed.

Eligibility

Student must be enrolled at least half-time, and must meet federal credit check standards.

Repayment

Loan repayment is deferred while a student is enrolled at least half-time in a degree program. Repayment typically begins six months after a student drops below half-time enrollment.

Renewable Status

No, this loan is not renewable. Students must apply yearly using the applications linked above

Graduating/Departing Information

Students must complete exit counseling online in preparation for graduating/completing their program.

Private Student Loan

You may choose to borrow Private Student Loan funds from a private financial institution to help fund your education after all other resources have been exhausted:

  • Federal direct loans are required by law to provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, income-based repayment and income-contingent repayment plans, and loan forgiveness benefits, which other student loans are not required to provide.
  • Federal direct loans are available to students regardless of income, whereas private student loans are dependent on student (and cosigner) credit. Private loans are not federally funded, and are dependent on student (and cosigner) credit. Private loans tend to have higher interest rates than federal direct loans, and in most cases, PLUS loans.
Amount and Interest

Minimum loan amounts begin at $1,000 and may also be large enough to cover the remaining cost of attendance (varies by lender).

Maximum loan amounts are determined by subtracting all of a student's financial aid from their cost of attendance for the school year.

Interest rates vary by lender.

Application

Students can complete a loan application with their chosen lender, or may look for a lender on our Preferred Lender List. Please note the following additional details:

  1. Part of your loan application will include completing an Applicant Self-Certification Form. This includes calculating your estimated cost of attendance. Learn more about how to do that on our FAQ page.
Deadline

June 1 — This is the recommended deadline in order to be processed in time for the beginning of the school year. All loan requests must be received no later than the last day of the semester in which the funds are being requested in order to be processed. Please allow 4–6 weeks for processing.

Eligibility

Generally, the borrower must be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen with a U.S. address, or an international student with a U.S. citizen cosigner (varies per lender).

Cosigner Requirements

Criteria varies per lender. Unless you are steadily employed, earn at least $12,000 a year, and have a stable credit history with a good FICO score (over 700), you will more than likely need a cosigner in order to be approved for a private student loan.

Renewable Status

No, these loans are not renewable. Students must apply yearly using the application resources linked above.

Additional Resources

Know Your Options

The Office of Financial Aid provides different resources that can help you plan out your finances as you pursue your Biola education.

Financial Aid Counseling

Have questions about the process? Call us or come by our office for a drop-in appointment with a knowledgeable financial aid counselor — they can help.

Connect With a Counselor

Contact Us

The Office of Financial Aid is here to answer questions you have about the financial aid process. Contact us in person, by phone or email.

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