Tara Walker
Financial Aid Advisor
Tara is passionate about helping people! Her diverse background includes working with people with disabilities, to support them to live meaningful lives as full citizens. Tara is a wife, mom and grandmother and enjoys spending time with her family. She enjoys being outdoors, interacting with animals, especially horses and dogs, and learning new things. Tara believes in advocating for people by guiding them through informed choices with accountability. She is looking forward to starting a “legacy of love and acceptance” at Columbia!
let's make a plan
``I am beyond grateful for the financial support of generous, faithful donors.``
Financial help is available for your studies at Columbia. There are four main sources of financial aid available to Columbia students: scholarships & bursaries, partner grants, student loans and discounts. What’s truly amazing is that the majority of this funding comes from generous individuals and churches who are passionate about investing in you and your Bible college education!
Scroll down to learn about eligibility, timelines, and how to apply for each type of aid. Remember Financial Aid is here to answer all your questions and to help you make a plan for attending Columbia.
Need help writing scholarship applications?
We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips to help you write a successful scholarship application.
If you need a reference…
Some scholarship and bursary applications require an accompanying reference or nomination. Please send this link to your reference, with plenty of time to spare.
Scholarships & Bursaries for New Students
Timeline
| Fall 2023 Semester | Winter 2024 Semester | |||
| Applications Open | March 15, 2023 | Oct 31, 2023 | ||
| Application Deadline | May 15, 2023 | Nov 25, 2023 | ||
| Recipients Notified | May 31, 2023 | Dec 8, 2023 |
Awards based on grades and/or community & church involvement
* Reference required
Fall Semester
Columbia Service Scholarship | 4 Awards at $1,500
Awarded to students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (74%+) who plan to complete a Bachelor degree at Columbia. The recipients will have demonstrated a history of ministry involvement in their church, school, and/or community and show a commitment to ongoing ministry involvement while at Columbia.
Faith Formation Award | 3 Awards at $1,000
*Student Development Discipleship Scholarship | 2 Awards at $1,000
The LEE, Ching Ping Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Quest Academic Achievement Scholarship | 1 Award at $5,000 or 2 Awards at $2,500
Winter Semester
Columbia Service Scholarship | 3 Awards at $1,500
Faith Formation Award | 2 Awards at $1,000
Awards based on demonstrated financial need
* Reference required
Fall Semester
New Student Bursary | 10 Awards between $500 - $1,000
40s & 50s Alumni Bursary | 1 Award at $1,000
ELF Bursary in Memory of Elijah Lee Friesen | 1 Award at $2,000
ELF Bursary (Friends & Family) | 1 Award at $500
G & K Letkeman Memorial Bursary | 2 Awards at $2,000
Hildebrand Family Bursary | 2 Awards at $1,500
Hulda Nickel Memorial Bursary | 1 Award at $2,500
International Student Bursary | 1 Award at $2,000
Psalm 23 Bursary | 1 Award at $2,000
QUEST Bursary | 2 Awards at $500 each
Thiessen Foundation Bursary |1 Award at $1,500
Winter Semester
New Student Bursary | 3 Awards between $500 - $1,000
Entrance Scholarships
To qualify, be sure to be accepted by: March 15th for Fall or November 1st for Winter
When you are accepted to Columbia (before March 15 for Fall semester or November 1 for Winter), you are automatically considered for an Entrance Scholarship.
$2,000 Award for GPA of 90% and up
$1,500 Award for GPA of 85 - 89.9%
Entrance Scholarships are open to incoming students who have graduated high school in the past five years and have completed no more than 30 credits at another post-secondary institution. To keep your scholarship for the full academic year, you must maintain a full-time course load (12+credits/semester) with a minimum 1st-year GPA of 3.0.
How is my incoming grade point average calculated?
Columbia calculates a student’s incoming grade average using their grade 12 English (academic) course, 2 other grade 12 academic courses, and 2 grade 12 elective courses. Please note that all 5 of these courses must be different grade 12 courses (i.e. Psychology 1 & Psychology 2 would not count as two separate courses).
Students who have “in-process” grade 12 classes will be evaluated based on grade 11 marks. All required classes must be either completed or “in-process” during your final high school semester/term and you must be offered accepted before March 15th. The offer of an entrance scholarship to “Conditionally Admitted” students is itself conditional upon their successful completion of all required grade 12 courses, and a final grade average of at least 85%.
Scholarships & Bursaries for Continuing Students
Timeline
| Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | |||
| Applications Open | Jan 24, 2023 | Oct 3, 2023 | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 13, 2023 | Oct 19, 2023 | ||
| Recipients Notified | Mar 1, 2023 | Nov 2, 2023 |
Applications are now closed for Continuing Student awards. Please check again later. 🙂
Awards based on grades and/or community & church involvement
* Reference required
Fall Semester
40s & 50s Alumni Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Academic Endeavour Award (Mitsuru Shimbara) | 1 Award at $1,500
Henry and Selma Epp Bursary | 1 Award at $500
AJ & Betty Klassen Scholarship | 1 Award at $750
BCMB Church Ministry Scholarship | 2 Awards at $1,125
Blackwood Music Scholarship | 1 Award at $350
Columbia Senior Student Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,200
Cornelius & Katherine Funk 2nd Year ICS Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
*Cornelius & Katherine Funk ICS Internship | 4 Awards at $1,500
2nd year award: Awarded to a student entering their 2nd year in the ICS program or the BAPT – Applied Leadership Program with a concentration in Intercultural Engagement, or a student with minor in Intercultural Engagement. Student will have demonstrated strong Christian character and active engagement in evangelism/mission.
Internship Award: $2500 awarded to students going on their ICS internship or a student in any program going on a intercultural internship. Students in the ICS program or BAPT – Applied Leadership will be given priority. Recipients will have demonstrated exemplary Christian character, a clear commitment to Christian witness, and active engagement within their home church. Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0. A reference from a Columbia Bible College staff, faculty or student leader, as well as a reference from the applicant’s home church pastor will be required.
Dr. Nick & Betty Willems Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Dr. Walter Unger Leadership Award | 1 Award at $1,500
ENCOMPASS Benefits & HR Solutions Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Erin Konrad Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
GAMA - Biblical Studies Scholarship | 1 Award at $950
George & Karen Schmidt Leadership Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Grace Rempel Memorial Scholarship | 2 Awards at $1,000
Helen Dirksen Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Henry & Esther Born Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Hildi Sawatzky Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $750
Inez Lutz Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $500
J & L Scholarship for Ministry | 1 Award at $5,000
Jacob & Helena Janzen Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $5,000
JB Toews Historial Commission College Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
John & Anne Esau Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $2,100
Kim Manchip Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Marilyn Cadwell Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,500
Peter Friesen Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Ricarda and Herbert Grabowski Family Scholarship | 1 Awards at $1,000
Shayn Rempel Memorial Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,000
Spirit of Generosity Scholarship | 1 Award at $375
The student must display a personal spirit of generosity. The student must have demonstrated his or her generous spirit in identifiable practical ways (using his or her time, skills and/or money to help other students, people in their community, volunteering, etc.). Must be a full time student. $500 will be awarded to the student, and $500 to the charity of their choice. Nomination required >>
Wayne & Gwen Reese Ministry Scholarship | 1 Award at $1,300
Awards based on demonstrated financial need
* Reference required
Fall Semester
David and Stella Manuel Leadership Bursary | 1 Award at $1,000
G & K Letkeman Memorial Bursary | 2 Awards at $2,000
John Schmidt Memorial Bursary | 1 Award at $1,000
Philippians Four19 Award | 1 Award at $2,500
Schellenberg Family Bursary | 1 Award at $2,000
Victor and Helen Dick Memorial Bursary | 1 Award at $2,500
Winter Semester
Continuing Student Bursary | 25 Awards between $500 - $1,000
Graduating Student Bursaries
The following are awarded to a graduating student, with applications opening in March of every spring semester
Katie Janzen Memorial Graduation Bursary | 1 Award at $1,000
This $1,000 bursary has been designed to help students graduate with less financial debt. It is awarded to a student who qualifies for financial need and who is entering into ministry helping others. Minimum cumulative GPA: 2.0. Apply for this award >
Jake & Katy Goossen Award for Excellence | 1 Award at $5,000
The Jake & Katy Goossen Award for Excellence is a $5,000 scholarship, awarded to a graduating BA student who has displayed exceptional leadership qualities in ministry, personal faith, academics and in the Columbia community and beyond. Two references shall be provided by leaders who have observed the student. The letters should demonstrate and provide evidence of the student’s character, leadership achievements and goals. Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.5.
Grants & Discounts
Partner Grants
With partner grants, students receive funding for their Bible college education from outside organizations or donors. Your home church, your denomination, or your Christian summer camp are often on the lookout for students who want to grow in their ministry and leadership skills. They want to invest in students like you!
In some cases, Columbia will match the funding, which doubles your grant. There’s a little legwork involved, but the help you could receive is worth your while.
The Extraordinary Circumstance Financial Bursary
Amount: $1000 to 25 credits of tuition per academic year; to be awarded in two equal instalments after the Add/Drop deadline each semester.) Award amount varies depending on need & circumstance.
The intention of the award is to provide an opportunity to a student who, due to extraordinary circumstance(s), would otherwise be hindered from attending Columbia Bible College. Preference will be given to students who have no or minimal access to other forms of financial support or aid (i.e. international students outside of Canada and the USA).
To receive the Extraordinary Circumstance Bursary, the student must:
- Be a new or returning student, enrolled in a Columbia program (certificate, diploma, or degree) and be taking at least 9.0 credits per semester. Educational Assistant students are eligible so long as in addition to their program courses they take 3.0 credits of RELS courses per semester.
- Demonstrate significant financial need due to extraordinary circumstance(s).
- Preference given to those without access to financial assistance or social safety nets (i.e international students outside of America and Canada who do not have access to government assistance, student loans, etc)
- Additional examples could include those who have come from a recovery program, or who have experienced a recent tragedy.
- Submit an essay with their application (200-300 words) explaining their extraordinary circumstances.
- Provide a character reference from a spiritual director or pastor who has known them for at least one year.
- Show evidence of a financial plan, or financial support from a local partner of Columbia Bible College describing the ability to cover other related expenses such as: housing, food, travel, books, etc.
- Columbia Bible College believes that students succeed when supported by additional people and/or organizations; therefore, it is Columbia’s desire to partner with other groups in the support of students.
- Partners may include, but are not limited to: MCC, ICOMB, Multiply, local Church, a local family, etc.
Contact Tara in Financial Aid for more information.
Church Match Bursary
Amount: Up to $1000/year from Columbia plus up to $1000/year from your home church.
How to Apply
Open To:
To receive a Church Match Bursary, the student must:
- Be a full-time student (12 credits +) each semester.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 each semester.
- Submit the online application and have their church submit an agreement form.
How It Works:
- You approach your home church and ask if they’d be willing to help fund your education at Columbia. (Your youth pastor is usually a great place to start.)
- Columbia will match the church’s contribution up to $500/semester ($1000/year).
- Applications can be submitted for the whole year or each semester individually.
- Bursaries are given out to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to apply early, for the whole year.
How to Apply:
- Student must submit the Student Application Form
- The student’s church must submit the Church Agreement Form
Please note: The Church Agreement Form should be completed by a member of the church staff (pastor or secretary) or leadership/elder council and must NOT be completed by a member of the student’s family. - Once the application package is approved, the Director of Financial Aid will notify the student and contact the church with payment details.
- The student’s church must send their contribution directly to the school.
Please note: Money must come directly to the school to be applied to the student’s account. Money sent directly to the student will not be considered for the Church Match Bursary program. - Once the church’s contribution has arrived, Columbia will apply their match to the student’s account.
- Columbia will be responsible for issuing a T4A to the student for Columbia’s portion of the bursary if the amount exceeds $500. The church is responsible to issue a T4A for their portion of the bursary if their contribution exceeds $500.
Forms & Application Dates
Application Dates
| May 1 | Applications Open | |
| November 15 | Deadline for Full-Year and Fall Semester Applications | |
| March 15 | Deadline for Winter Semester Applications |
Leadership Training Matching Grant
Details
Amount: Up to $2,000/year from the Canadian MB Conference plus up to $2,000 from your home church.
Open To: Third- and fourth-year students at Columbia who meet the following requirements:
- A member of an MB church in Canada for at least six months prior to the date of the application
- Active in volunteer or paid ministry in a local church
- Achieve a passing grade in all courses funded and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Intend to pursue pastoral ministry, cross-cultural ministry, or professional Christian service with the Mennonite Brethren upon graduation
- Complete a discernment process with local church pastor
How to Apply: Application instructions and forms are available at: MB Leadership Training Matching Grant.
Camp Match Bursary
Amount: Camp Match Bursaries are available to Columbia students who serve at a Christian summer camp. Columbia will match up to $500 in funding, for a total award of $1000. Students serving at a camp owned by Columbia’s supporting denominations, Mennonite Church BC and BCMB, may be eligible to receive a three-way match ($500 from the denomination, $500 from the camp, and $500 from Columbia.) The eligible camps are Camp Squeah, Camp Likely, Camp Bob, Gardom Lake Bible Camp, Stillwood, Keats Camp, and Pines Bible Camp.
How to Apply
Open To:
To receive a Camp Match Bursary, the student must:
- Attend Columbia as a full-time student (12+ credits/semester) for the academic year following your summer at camp
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Serve for the summer at camp
If you are the student:
- Work at camp for the summer.
- Give or send the Camp Match info sheet to your camp director and ask them to consider participating in the camp match program to help fund your Columbia Bible College education. (Columbia will match up to $500 for the year.)
- Submit the student application.
- Bursaries are given out to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to apply early.
Forms & Application Dates
Application Dates
| May 1 | Applications Open | |
| November 15 | Bursaries Close. |
Discounts
Columbia offers three discounts on tuition and/or housing costs.
Things to keep in mind:
- You will need to re-apply for discounts every semester.
- See form details below for application deadline dates:
- Applications for MK Housing Discount per semester need to be submitted before Sept 15 in Fall and Dec 15 in Winter.
- Applications received after add/drop week will not be processed for MCMB/MCBC Discount, Spouse of Student Discount, and Mennonite Church Canada Discount.
BC Mennonite Brethren/Mennonite Church BC Discount
Amount: Discount of $5/credit hour. (This adds up to $630 over a four-year degree.)
Open to: Students from either of Columbia Bible College’s supporting conferences, BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and Mennonite Church BC.
To be eligible for this discount, students must be:
- an active member or adherent of one of the supporting denominational churches over the last six months.
- a dependant whose parents(s) are active members of one of the supporting denominational churches over the last six months.
How to apply: Ask your pastor to complete the Conference Discount Application Form.
Spouse of Student Discount
Amount: 100% off audit tuition, 50% off full-credit tuition
Open to: Married students who are both students at Columbia, with at least one spouse enrolled in 12 or more credit hours
The spouse taking fewer credit hours may take audit courses at no charge and credit courses at 50% of the regular cost. This discount only applies to basic tuition and excludes any class fees, external training costs, etc.
MK ('Missionary Kid') Housing Discount
Amount: 1200.00 discount on Jr Housing per semester (meal plan not included).
Open to: Students age 21 or younger whose parents are active missionaries with MB Mission or MC Canada Witness.
To be eligible, students must be enrolled full-time (12+ credits/semester) and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
How to apply: Ask a staff member from your parents’ mission agency to complete this form before the Fall semester payment due date: Apply for the MK Housing Discount.
Mennonite Church Canada
Amount: 50% of tuition fees
Open to: Supports the training of pastors for the congregation of the Mennonite Church Canada.
How to apply: Apply online here
Additional Financial Aid
Here at Columbia, we understand that no matter how much you plan, changes can and do happen to your financial situation. We are happy to work with you, and we have amazingly generous donors who want to make Columbia a possibility for students.
If you have explored other options like our scholarships & bursaries, government student loans and grants, and are still needing some financial help, please connect with Tara Walker. She will provide you with an application and will walk you through your next steps.
Please note, you will be required to demonstrate your financial preparedness and previous avenues you’ve explored before we will make a decision. The number of awards and amount of funding varies depending on need.