
Financial Aid
Your Seminary education is an investment not only in yourself, but also in the future of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Because of this, many people and organizations contribute to a variety of funding options, which we can explore with you, based on your needs, eligibility and program of interest.
Ministerial Formation – Residential
-
Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Residential Alternate Route (RAR)
-
Incentive and Merit Awards
This category of financial aid rewards meritorious performance. Financial aid opportunities include:
Incoming/continuing students
- Regent Awards – Two grants of full tuition and two grants of full tuition plus a $4,500 cash stipend per academic year – deadline: Oct. 31
Incoming students
- Concordia University System Scholarship – $500 for students graduating from a Concordia University System school or Valparaiso University – deadline: Oct. 31
- $500 for passing the ELCEs – deadline: Feb. 28
- $500 for passing the languages – deadline: May 31
Continuing students
- GPA scholarship – $1,000 each year for students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA
-
Priority Endowment Scholarship
These grants are funded by donor gifts and investment income from endowments where the donor has requested the award be made to students who meet certain criteria, e.g. LCMS district, geographic area, academic performance, etc.
-
Adopt-A-Student Grants
The Seminary is blessed to have many donors who commit to supporting a student through his academic career. In return for this financial support, students are required to communicate on a regular basis with these donors. Historically, students who have established positive relationships and have regular communication with these donors have seen an increase in their Adopt-A-Student awards.
-
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
-
Scholarships
Per the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant M.Div. and RAR students are required to apply for multiple scholarships with at least one being from our provided list.
-
Residential Program Grant
This grant will fill any gap in tuition funding after all other support is received.
Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
Students who wish to receive institutional financial aid, including priority endowment and Adopt-A-Student awards and/or other scholarships and grants, must annually agree to a Partnership Covenant.
This covenant expresses the Seminary’s commitment to guarantee financial aid to Master of Divinity and Residential Alternate Route students at least equal to the cost of tuition. Students must agree to maintain satisfactory academic progress as well as apply for scholarships from their district, home congregation and other organizations and individuals. Also, students must complete their required financial aid documents on time and must correspond with their individual donors on a regular basis.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457)
- LCMS District Application
- Residential Ministerial Formation Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
-
-
Master of Arts (M.A.), Spiritual Care Major with Deaconess Certification
-
Graduate Grants
Graduate students are eligible to receive Graduate Grants based on a combination of need and merit. Students may receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Graduate students also are eligible to receive up to 25 percent of tuition based on their incoming or previous year’s GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above will receive the full 25 percent grant, while students with a GPA between 3.51 and 3.74 will receive a prorated amount based on their average. Students with a GPA of 3.5 and below will not be eligible.
-
Incentive and Merit Awards
This category of financial aid rewards meritorious performance. Financial aid opportunities include:
Incoming students
- Concordia University System Scholarship – $500 for students graduating from a Concordia University System school or Valparaiso University – deadline: Oct. 31
- $500 for passing the ELCEs – deadline: Feb. 28
- $500 for passing the languages – deadline: May 31
Continuing students
- GPA scholarship – $1,000 each year for students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA
-
Priority Endowment Scholarship
These grants are funded by donor gifts and investment income from endowments where the donor has requested the award be made to students who meet certain criteria, e.g. LCMS district, geographic area, academic performance, etc.
-
Adopt-A-Student Grants
The Seminary is blessed to have many donors who commit to supporting a student through her academic career. In return for this financial support, students are required to communicate on a regular basis with these donors. Historically, students who have established positive relationships and have regular communication with these donors have seen an increase in their Adopt-A-Student awards.
-
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
-
Scholarships
Per the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant Master of Arts with Deaconess Certification students are required to apply for multiple scholarships with at least one being from our provided list.
-
Residential Program Grant
This grant will fill any gap in tuition funding after all other support is received.
Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
Students who wish to receive institutional financial aid, including priority endowment and Adopt-A-Student awards and/or other scholarships and grants, must annually agree to a Partnership Covenant.
This covenant expresses the Seminary’s commitment to guarantee financial aid to Master of Arts with Deaconess Certification students at least equal to the cost of tuition. Students must agree to maintain satisfactory academic progress as well as apply for scholarships from their district, home congregation and other organizations and individuals. Also, students must complete their required financial aid documents on time and must correspond with their individual donors on a regular basis.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457)
- LCMS District Application
- Residential Ministerial Formation Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
-
Ministerial Formation – Distance
-
Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP)
The Seminary does not offer any grants or aid for the SMP program.
-
Specific Ministry Pastor to General Pastor Certification (GPC)
Students enrolled in the GPC Program will receive a standard grant of 50 percent of published tuition.
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- LCMS District Application
-
Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS)
The Seminary will provide CHS students financial assistance of one-third (1/3) of published tuition through a Partnership Covenant.
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- LCMS District Application
- CHS Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
-
Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT)
- The Seminary will provide EIIT students financial assistance of one-third (1/3) of published tuition through a Partnership Covenant.
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- LCMS District Application
- EIIT Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
- The Seminary will provide EIIT students financial assistance of one-third (1/3) of published tuition through a Partnership Covenant.
-
Deaconess Studies Program (Online-ODS)
Students enrolled in the Deaconess Studies Program (Online) will receive a standard grant of one-third (1/3) of published tuition.
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- LCMS District Application
Advanced Studies
-
Master of Arts (M.A.)
-
Need-based support
Graduate students are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
-
Merit-based support
Graduate students also are eligible to receive up to 25 percent of tuition based on their incoming or previous year’s GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above will receive the full 25 percent grant, while students with a GPA between 3.51 and 3.74 will receive a prorated amount based on their average. Students with a GPA of 3.5 and below will not be eligible. Merit awards will be recalculated at the end of each academic year during the student’s time in the M.A. Program.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457) – if you have completed all of your coursework for your degree this application is no longer required
-
-
Master of Arts (M.A.), Spiritual Care Major with Deaconess Certification
-
Graduate Grants
Graduate students are eligible to receive Graduate Grants based on a combination of need and merit. Students may receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Graduate students also are eligible to receive up to 25 percent of tuition based on their incoming or previous year’s GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above will receive the full 25 percent grant, while students with a GPA between 3.51 and 3.74 will receive a prorated amount based on their average. Students with a GPA of 3.5 and below will not be eligible.
-
Incentive and Merit Awards
This category of financial aid rewards meritorious performance. Financial aid opportunities include:
Incoming students
- Concordia University System Scholarship – $500 for students graduating from a Concordia University System school or Valparaiso University – deadline: Oct. 31
- $500 for passing the ELCEs – deadline: Feb. 28
- $1,000 for the top 10 percent of GRE verbal scores (among all incoming M.Div., RAR and M.A. Deaconess students) – deadline: Feb. 28
- $500 for passing the languages – deadline: May 31
Continuing students
- GPA scholarship – $1,000 each year for students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA
-
Priority Endowment Scholarship
These grants are funded by donor gifts and investment income from endowments where the donor has requested the award be made to students who meet certain criteria, e.g. LCMS district, geographic area, academic performance, etc.
-
Adopt-A-Student Grants
The Seminary is blessed to have many donors who commit to supporting a student through her academic career. In return for this financial support, students are required to communicate on a regular basis with these donors. Historically, students who have established positive relationships and have regular communication with these donors have seen an increase in their Adopt-A-Student awards.
-
Districts and Home Congregations
The Seminary is blessed in its relationships with LCMS districts and the student’s home congregations who financially support our students in their formation for ministry.
-
Scholarships
Per the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant Master of Arts with Deaconess Certification students are required to apply for multiple scholarships with at least one being from our provided list.
-
Residential Program Grant
This grant will fill any gap in tuition funding after all other support is received.
Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
Students who wish to receive institutional financial aid, including priority endowment and Adopt-A-Student awards and/or other scholarships and grants, must annually agree to a Partnership Covenant.
This covenant expresses the Seminary’s commitment to guarantee financial aid to Master of Arts with Deaconess Certification students at least equal to the cost of tuition. Students must agree to maintain satisfactory academic progress as well as apply for scholarships from their district, home congregation and other organizations and individuals. Also, students must complete their required financial aid documents on time and must correspond with their individual donors on a regular basis.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457)
- LCMS District Application
- Master of Arts (M.A.) with Deaconess Certification Student Financial Aid Partnership Covenant
-
-
Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)
-
Need-based support
Graduate students are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
-
Merit-based support
Graduate students also are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their incoming or previous year’s GPA. Students with a GPA over 3.5 will be eligible for a grant up to 50 percent of tuition, for a total possible Graduate Grant of 100 percent of tuition. Merit awards will be recalculated at the end of each academic year during the student’s time in the S.T.M. Program.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457) – if you have completed all of your coursework for your degree this application is no longer required
-
-
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
-
Need-based support
Graduate students are eligible to receive up to 50 percent of tuition based on their need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
-
Merit-based support
Graduate students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above will receive grants equal to 50 percent of tuition.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
- 2023-24 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457) – if you have completed all of your coursework for your degree this application is no longer required
-
-
Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
Doctor of Ministry students will receive a stand grant of 50 percent of published tuition.
Financial Aid Applications
- 2023-24 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
-
Specific Ministry Pastor to Master of Arts (M.A.)
Students enrolled in the MA Program will receive a standard grant of 50 percent of published tuition.
Financial Aid Applications
Scholarships
We encourage students to apply to independent foundations that support ministerial and theological education through the distribution of grants and scholarships.
Concordia University System Scholarship
The Concordia University System Scholarship provides financial aid opportunities for incoming students who graduate from the colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (CUS) or Valparaiso University (VU), and who have applied to a program in Ministerial Formation at Concordia Seminary.
Regent Awards
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ Regent Awards are designed to help future pastors overcome financial barriers and fulfill their call to ministry.
District Support
To apply for district support, visit the CUS website. Find the representative from your district to find deadlines and to determine if you are required to provide information beyond the general district application.
Student Loans
Post-baccalaureate students are eligible for unsubsidized loans only. The federal direct unsubsidized loan program is not need based and provides loans based on the student’s total cost of attendance and anticipated financial assistance.