Financial Aid

1. Incentive and Merit Awards

   This category of financial aid rewards meritorious performance. Financial aid opportunities include:

   Incoming/continuing students

   • Regent Awards – Our most prestigious awards covering full tuition, with some offering an annual cash stipend – deadline: Oct. 31
   • Provost Awards – $1,000 annual cash stipend for Regent Award finalists – deadline: Oct. 31

   Incoming students

   • Concordia University System Scholarship – Up to $2,000 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 biblical languages – deadline: May 31
   • $500 for completing all forms and requirements – deadline: June 30

   Continuing students

   • GPA scholarship – $1,000 each year for students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA

2. Institutional Scholarship and Awards

   There are many scholarships and other awards of varying amounts made available annually through donor gifts or from endowment earnings. Donors have indicated unique preferences and restrictions for the use of these funds. Each student’s circumstances are also unique, and the Director of Financial Aid works to match these two unique sets of circumstances in an equitable manner.

3. Adopt-A-Student Aid

   Individuals and organizations within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod take great joy in being personally connected with students while supporting them financially. These individuals and organizations contribute directly to the educational expenses of students and the recipient students correspond with those donors, not only to thank them, but to share their lives, faith, and formational experiences. The Director of Financial Aid, working with Seminary Advancement staff, pairs donors with students to make the best matches possible.

4. District Aid

   Most LCMS Districts provide financial assistance to pastoral students from that district. The amount of aid varies and is determined by the individual district. Students must complete the District Financial Aid Application, which can be facilitated through the Seminary’s Financial Aid office.

5. Home Congregation Aid

   Most LCMS Congregations provide financial assistance to pastoral students from that congregation. The amount of aid varies and is determined by the individual congregation. Student communication with the pastor is critical in this process. Concordia Seminary contacts each LCMS congregation with enrolled students each year to provide information about the cost of attendance and to ask for their support.

6. Scholarships

   Outside scholarships comprise any aid that a student applies for from a source outside of the Seminary. These may be religious or secular. The Financial Aid Office is aware of numerous outside scholarships and provides this information to students. Students may also request assistance in understanding which of them would be good matches to their personal situations.

7. Institutional Grant

   Concordia Seminary is committed to providing sufficient financial aid to cover at least the cost of tuition for each student. The six types of aid above are designed to do just that and in many cases, provide financial aid in excess of tuition. Students with excess funds keep them without restriction, to be used however they wish. Other students do not receive sufficient financial aid from the above six types to pay for tuition. For these students, Concordia Seminary provides an institutional “capstone” grant to make up that difference.

Student Financial Aid Partnership Agreement

Students who wish to receive aid from the Seminary, including institution scholarships and Adopt A Student aid, must annually acknowledge the Partnership Agreement.

It is the goal of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to use the resources with which it has been entrusted to provide grants to all Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Residential Alternate Route (RAR) students that equal or exceed their tuition charges, with the outcomes being that student tuition is fully funded and that it is done an equitable manner. Such outcomes depend upon a collaborative partnership between donors, students, and staff.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• 2024-25 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457)
• LCMS District Application
• Residential Ministerial Formation Student Financial Aid Partnership Agreement

1. 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 over 3.5 will be eligible for a grant up t0 25 percent tuition, for a total possible Graduate Grant of 75 percent of tuition.

2. Incentive and Merit Awards

   This category of financial aid rewards meritorious performance. Financial aid opportunities include:

   Incoming students

   • Concordia University System Scholarship – Up to $2,000 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 biblical languages – deadline: May 31
   • $500 for completing all forms and requirements – deadline: June 30

   Continuing students

   • GPA scholarship – $1,000 each year for students who maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA

3. Institutional Scholarships and Awards

   There are many scholarships and other awards of varying amounts made available annually through donor gifts or from endowment earnings. Donors have indicated unique preferences and restrictions for the use of these funds. Each student’s circumstances are also unique, and the Director of Financial Aid works to match these two unique sets of circumstances in an equitable manner.

4. Adopt-A-Student Aid

   Individuals and organizations within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod take great joy in being personally connected with students while supporting them financially. These individuals and organizations contribute directly to the educational expenses of students and the recipient students correspond with those donors, not only to thank them, but to share their lives, faith, and formational experiences. The Director of Financial Aid, working with Seminary Advancement staff, pairs donors with students to make the best matches possible.

5. District Aid

   Most LCMS Districts provide financial assistance to pastoral students from that district. The amount of aid varies and is determined by the individual district. Students must complete the District Financial Aid Application, which can be facilitated through the Seminary’s Financial Aid office.

6. Home Congregation Aid

   Most LCMS Congregations provide financial assistance to pastoral students from that congregation. The amount of aid varies and is determined by the individual congregation. Student communication with the pastor is critical in this process. Concordia Seminary contacts each LCMS congregation with enrolled students each year to provide information about the cost of attendance and to ask for their support.

7. 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.

8. Institutional Grant

   Concordia Seminary is committed to providing sufficient financial aid to cover at least the cost of tuition for each student. The seven types of aid above are designed to do just that and in many cases, provide financial aid in excess of tuition. Students with excess funds keep them without restriction, to be used however they wish. Other students do not receive sufficient financial aid from the above six types to pay for tuition. For these students, Concordia Seminary provides an institutional “capstone” grant to make up that difference.

Student Financial Aid Partnership Agreement

Students who wish to receive aid from the Seminary, including institutional scholarships and Adopt A Student aid, must annually acknowledge the Partnership Agreement.

It is the goal of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to use the resources with which it has been entrusted to provide grants to all Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Residential Alternate Route (RAR) students that equal or exceed their tuition charges, with the outcomes being that student tuition is fully funded and that it is done an equitable manner. Such outcomes depend upon a collaborative partnership between donors, students, and staff.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• 2024-25 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457)
• LCMS District Application
• Residential Ministerial Formation Student Financial Aid Partnership Agreement

The Seminary does not offer any grants or aid for the SMP program.

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.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• LCMS District Application

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.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• LCMS District Application
• CHS Financial Aid Partnership Covenant

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.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• LCMS District Application
• EIIT Financial Aid Partnership Covenant

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.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• LCMS District Application

1. 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).

2. 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 over 3.5 will be eligible for a grant up to 25 percent of tuition, for a total possible Graduate Grant of 75 percent of tuition. Merit awards will be recalculated at the end of each academic year during the student’s time in the M.A. Program.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• 2024-25 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457) – if you have completed all of your coursework for your degree this application is no longer required

1. 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).

2. 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.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• 2024-25 FAFSA Application (School Code G02457) – if you have completed all of your coursework for your degree this application is no longer required

1. 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).

2. Merit-based support

   Graduate students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above will receive grants equal to 50 percent of tuition.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program
• 2024-25 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 students will receive a standard grant of 50 percent of published tuition.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application – completed prior to first year of enrollment in current degree program

Students enrolled in the MA Program will receive a standard grant of 50 percent of published tuition.

Required Financial Aid Documents

• 2024-25 Seminary Financial Aid Application