Scholarships for Missionary Children: A Comprehensive Guide
For missionary families, providing quality education for their children can be a significant financial challenge. Fortunately, numerous scholarship opportunities exist to support the educational aspirations of missionary kids (MKs). These scholarships recognize the sacrifices made by missionary parents and aim to help their children afford a Christian college education. This article provides a detailed overview of various scholarships available for MKs, outlining eligibility criteria, application processes, and specific requirements.
Christian Missionary Scholarship Foundation
The Christian Missionary Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to assisting missionary kids whose parents have made substantial personal and financial sacrifices to serve the Lord worldwide. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be children of missionaries currently serving on the mission field or recently returned, with a demonstrated history of financial sacrifice in their service. Applicants must also be pursuing an undergraduate degree at an eligible college or university.
Liberty University's Missionary Kid Scholarship
Liberty University demonstrates its support for missionary families by offering tuition assistance through the Missionary Kid Scholarship (MK Scholarship). Established for new students beginning enrollment in the Spring 2015 semester or later, the MK Scholarship is exclusively for children of missionaries.
Key Features of the MK Scholarship:
- Tuition-Only Scholarship: The MK Scholarship covers tuition expenses only and is applied after other scholarships and grants have been awarded. Food, housing, and fees are not included.
- MK Care and Leadership Development Program: Participation in the MK Care and Leadership Development Program is a requirement for receiving the MK Scholarship. This program is designed to support MKs and other Third Culture Kids (TCKs) as they transition into life at Liberty University.
- Partial or Full-Tuition Coverage: Liberty University provides a partial or full-tuition scholarship per academic year, disbursed over the four consecutive years of the bachelor’s degree program. The scholarship amount is determined after considering other federal, state, and Liberty institutional gift assistance.
Application Details
The Fall 2026 MK Scholarship Application submission deadline was January 23, 2026. To apply for future Fall MK Scholarships, it is essential to connect with the sending agency to verify pre-qualification. Evangelical mission sending organizations that meet Liberty University's theological and financial accountability standards can apply to be part of this program. The evaluation and approval process typically takes 3-6 months.
AGWM Scholarships
For several years, AGWM (Assemblies of God World Missions) and its affiliates have offered scholarships for students pursuing higher education. These scholarships are made possible through donations from organizations and individuals.
Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide
Eligibility Criteria for AGWM Scholarships:
- Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate program during the 2026/27 school year.
- Parents must be currently active with AGWM.
- Applicants can apply for multiple scholarships if they meet the requirements for each.
- Students cannot apply for a scholarship if they have been awarded that scholarship in a previous year.
- A different essay must be submitted for each scholarship category, addressing the specific writing prompt in 1000 words.
Types of AGWM Scholarships:
ISMK General Scholarship: Created through donations by faith organizations and individuals, this scholarship requires applicants to have served on the field for four years to qualify.
- Essay Prompt: Reflect on your experiences growing up as an MK. How has this upbringing shaped your values, worldview, and aspirations?
MK Regional Scholarship: Funded through donations from Regional Offices, this scholarship encourages applicants from each region to apply, with one student being awarded a scholarship. To be eligible, the MK applicant’s parents must be current AGWM missionaries in that region.
- Essay Prompt: Share your experience of living overseas and how it has influenced your spiritual growth, cultural understanding, and educational journey. Discuss the challenges you have faced, the lessons you have learned, or the unique perspectives you have gained from your time overseas.
ISMK Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is for MK applicants pursuing a major in public service, including fields such as military, law enforcement, humanitarian work, public service, social work, education, or counseling. Any AGWM MK who has lived overseas for a minimum of four years and is pursuing one of the listed majors may apply. This scholarship is made possible through contributions to the J.J. Smeya and Phil Billings Memorial Fund.
- Essay Prompt: Write an essay that outlines your dedication to a career in public service. Discuss the reasons behind your desire to serve your community or country.
SEU Alumni ISMK Scholarship: Made possible through anonymous donations from MK alumni graduates of Southeastern University (SEU), this scholarship requires the MK applicant to be enrolled as a full-time student at SEU for the upcoming school year.
- Essay Prompt: Write an essay detailing your passion for Southeastern University’s core values and mission.
MK Alumni Visual Arts Scholarship: This scholarship is made possible by donations from Commission Creative, a design team for missionaries.
Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships
NOBTS Missionary Scholarships
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) offers missionary scholarships for individuals who are currently or have been employed by the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The award amounts and requirements vary based on the categories of missionary involvement.
Types of NOBTS Missionary Scholarships:
Active Career IMB Missionary Scholarship:
- Provides up to 50% coverage of a student’s tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
- Available to career IMB missionaries who are fully funded, full-time, and currently serving on the mission field or on a stateside assignment. Students completing or having completed their field personnel orientation at the International Learning Center are also eligible.
- Applicable to both on-campus and distance courses.
- Recipients must resubmit a verification of employment letter from the IMB annually.
- If the student loses employment status with the IMB, they will no longer be eligible.
- "Tuition and fees" include tuition charges, registration fees, student service fees, and internet program fees.
- If a student receives other NOBTS scholarships, they will be applied first, and the Active Career IMB Missionary Scholarship will be reduced so that a total of 50% of the student’s tuition and fees are covered.
- Non-institutional aid, such as scholarships from outside foundations or from your church, can be combined with the missionary scholarship.
Returned Journeyman/ISC Scholarship:
- Provides up to 50% coverage of a student's tuition and fees.
- If a student receives other NOBTS scholarships, they will be applied to the student’s account first, and the Returned Journeyman/ISC Scholarship will be reduced so that a total of 50% of the student’s tuition and fees is covered.
- Non-institutional aid, such as scholarships from outside foundations or from your church, can be combined with your missionary scholarship.
- Scholarship totals cannot exceed a semester’s educational expenses.
NAMB Missionary Scholarship:
- Provides up to 50% coverage of a student's tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate students and up to 30% coverage for doctoral students.
- Recipients must resubmit a verification of employment letter from NAMB annually.
- “Tuition and fees” include tuition charges, registration fees, student service fees, and internet program fees.
- If a student receives other NOBTS scholarships, they will be applied to the student’s account first, and the NAMB Missionary Scholarship will be reduced so that a total of 50% or 30%, respectively, of the student’s tuition and fees are covered.
- Non-institutional aid, such as scholarships from outside foundations or from your church, can be combined with your missionary scholarship.
MK Scholarship:
Read also: Scholarship Guide
- For IMB and NAMB MKs.
- Applicants must be degree-seeking in an undergraduate or graduate program (not applicable toward doctoral coursework).
- The scholarship is not applicable to the spouse of the qualified child of missionaries.
- Recipients must resubmit a letter verifying their parents’ employment with the IMB or NAMB annually.
- “Tuition and fees” include tuition charges, registration fees, student service fees, and internet program fees.
- Provides up to 100% coverage of a student's tuition and fees.
- If a student receives other NOBTS scholarships, they will be applied to the student’s account first, and the MK Scholarship will be reduced so that a total of 100% of the student’s tuition and fees are covered.
- Non-institutional aid, such as scholarships from outside foundations or from your church, can be combined with your missionary scholarship.
Additional Notes for NOBTS Scholarships:
- “Active-duty” for IMB means career IMB missionaries who are fully funded, full-time, and currently serving on the mission field or on a stateside assignment. Those completing or having completed their field personnel orientation at the International Learning Center are considered eligible as well.
Other Christian Scholarship Opportunities
Beyond specific missionary-focused scholarships, numerous opportunities are available for Christian students in general. These scholarships are offered by various colleges and private organizations to reward students for their church and community service.
Resources for Finding Christian Scholarships:
- Churches, Christian Schools, and Faith-Based Organizations: These entities often have scholarship opportunities specifically for Christian students.
- Online Scholarship Search Engines: Many websites specialize in listing scholarships for Christian students.
WMU Foundation Scholarships
The WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union) Foundation and national WMU assist Southern Baptist students, including children of Baptist missionaries (NAMB & IMB), and those preparing for Baptist missions service with scholarships.
Application Requirements:
- Applicants must ask two references to submit an online endorsement form by December 31, before the close of business (4:30 pm CST).
- One endorsement MUST be completed by a WMU leader (e.g., WMU director, state or associational WMU leader, church WMU leader). The WMU endorser should state their WMU connection on their endorsement.
- The second endorsement should be completed by an academic source (e.g., high school/homeschool teacher, college advisor or professor).
- The application is considered incomplete until both references have submitted their endorsement form. Incomplete applications as of the close of business on December 31 will not be considered.
Christian Missionary Scholarship Foundation
The Christian Missionary Scholarship Foundation helps missionary kids, whose parents have made personal and financial sacrifices to serve the Lord all over the world, afford a quality Christian college education.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be children of missionaries currently on or recently returned from the mission field who have made significant financial sacrifices to serve the Lord.
Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at one of the following schools:
- Calvin University (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Dordt University (Sioux Center, IA)
- Hope College (Holland, MI)
- Kuyper College (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL)
- Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL)
Students who receive a scholarship are not restricted to a particular major or academic program.
Scholarships vary in amount and are renewable for four years if the student is enrolled full time and in good academic standing.
Scholarship recipients who go on to medical school are eligible for further assistance.
Application Process
Applications are accepted until February 1, 2026. To be considered for an award, both the student application and parent application must be submitted.
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