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TRIO

Biola TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded cohort program that helps first-generation, low-income and/or students with disabilities graduate with their bachelor’s degree. We are one of over 3,500 TRIO programs across the U.S. and serve up to 140 undergraduate students each year.

Eligiblity

Become a TRIO Student

To be eligible to participate in TRIO, students must be either enrolled at Biola University or accepted for enrollment in the next academic term. All majors and class years are encouraged to apply if they meet one of the following criteria:

  • Be a first-generation college student (i.e., neither parent has a bachelor’s degree)
  • Meet income guidelines, based on your families taxable income as determined by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Be able to provide documentation of a diagnosed disability or be registered with the Office of Student Accessibility

Application Deadline

Applications will be live starting in January 2026. More information coming soon.

Contact Us

Email: trio@biola.edu
Location: Rose Hall

Office Hours

Regular Hours: 8–5 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
Closed on observed holidays.

Program Benefits

Individualized Coaching

TRIO students will meet with their dedicated success advisor to discuss concerns and campus resources, and receive a success plan recommending the use of various TRIO services to achieve their academic, career and personal goals. These meetings occur weekly during the first semester, bi-weekly in the second semester and monthly in subsequent semesters to track progress.

Peer Mentor Program

Every year, three second-year peer mentors are selected to offer supplemental advising in various academic subjects and study skills. Mentors will introduce first-year TRIO mentees to various campus resources and plan community events.

Note: These are paid positions.

Academic Enrichment Programming

TRIO students will have the opportunity to attend regular on-campus performances, exhibitions, film screenings and Q&A with film creatives as a community. Regional opportunities include visiting graduate schools and cultural institutions, including museums and historical sites — all free of charge.

Academic Support

  • Study Skills Workshops: These workshops will cover topics essential for collegiate success, such as time management, calendaring and following a syllabus.
  • Tutoring: TRIO partners with the Office of Student Accessibility to provide expanded one-on-one tutoring hours for TRIO students free of charge. Tutors have been highly recommended by course faculty.
  • Priority Access to the Lending Library: Each semester, TRIO students are invited to browse and borrow textbooks from the Lending Library ahead of the broader Biola student community.
  • Laptop Rentals: TRIO students will have access to several laptops for short-term use on a first-come, first-served basis.

Career Support

  • Career Launch Academy: A free three-week experience, proven to help students proactively create relationships with professionals and launch effective job and internship searches in the hidden job market, led by one of Biola’s career specialists.
  • Summer Internship Grant: Eligible students for the summer internship grant will be encouraged to apply for annual one-time grant awards per credit for summer internship or fieldwork courses.
  • Career Workshops: Led by career specialists, sessions will cover topics such as exploring career options, writing a resume and cover letter and applying for graduate school.

Financial Support

  • Student Loans 101: A workshop for all first-year TRIO students, covering types of loans, reducing loan amounts and repayment plans.
  • Financial Wellness Plan: On a yearly basis, TRIO students will meet with their success advisor to create a financial plan tailored to their career and/or graduate school goals and to address immediate financial concerns.
  • Tuition Grant: TRIO students identified with the greatest unmet financial need will be eligible for one-year micro-grants.
  • Financial and Economic Literacy Workshops: Led by the faculty advisor to the Financial Planning Association, sessions will cover topics such as budgeting, FAFSA completion, federal financial aid policies and credit management.

Mental Health Support

  • Counseling and workshops: The Biola Counseling Center provides two full-time counseling interns to provide drop-in, individual and group counseling sessions, as well as mental health workshops. Psychology interns work as full-time clinicians, under supervision, as the last step before receiving their Psy.D. or Ph.D.
  • Scholarships to the Biola Counseling Center: 16 TRIO students with the highest identified need for mental health support will be eligible for up to 12 counseling sessions at no cost.