2026 NVFC Scholarship to Columbia Southern University Application Period Open
Through the annual Columbia Southern University (CSU) scholarship program, CSU and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are assisting volunteer responders in reaching their educational objectives for the eighteenth year. Scholarships to CSU for up to 60 credit hours toward any one online degree program will be awarded to two NVFC members.
Applicants must be NVFC members (join at www.nvfc.org/join) and current volunteer responders in order to be eligible. The scholarship is good for up to three years or until the degree is completed, whichever comes first, and it will be applied straight to tuition.
“Training and education are the most requested benefits that our members ask for, and through this annual program we have been able to provide 34 NVFC members with a scholarship they can use towards any CSU degree program,” said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. “We appreciate CSU’s ongoing commitment to helping our members attain the education that will propel them forward.”
“Volunteer responders give so much of themselves to their communities, often while balancing careers, families, and public service. At Columbia Southern University, we’re proud to partner with the National Volunteer Fire Council to help support those individuals in reaching their educational goals,” said Natasha Willett, CSU corporate outreach coordinator.
More flexibility is provided via CSU's online learning platform, which enables emergency services workers to further their education while preserving a positive work-life balance. Scholarship applicants can choose from a variety of degree programs offered by CSU, such as organizational leadership, emergency management, emergency medical services, fire science and fire administration. Associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs are available. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has granted CSU accreditation.
Applications for scholarships are accepted from May 15 to Aug. 17. October 2026 will see the announcement of the winners.
Visit the CSU website to find out more about this scholarship opportunity and to apply. Please contact the scholarship liaison by phone at 888-785-3006 or via email at [email protected].
About the Author
Ryan Baker
Associate Editor
Ryan Baker is a writer and associate editor with prior experiences in online and print production. Ryan is an associate editor for Firehouse with a master's degree in sciences of communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He recently completed a year of teaching Intro to Public Speaking at UW-Whitewater, as part of his graduate program. Ryan acquired his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2023 from UW-Whitewater, and operates currently out of Minneapolis, MN. Baker, also writes freelances for the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA) in his free time, while also umpiring baseball for various ages across the Twin Cities Metro Area.