Financial Aid

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

Concordia Seminary administers a variety of financial aid programs in support of its students’ education goals. It is the Seminary’s goal that a lack of sufficient financial resources should not, by itself, prevent qualified students from pursuing formation for entering pastoral or diaconal ministry, or advanced study in theology and ministry.

Institutional Grants

Direct institutional grants are funded by donor gifts and investment income. The Seminary and its students enjoy the good will and generosity of many people who are committed to the Seminary’s mission and ministry.

Private Scholarships

The Seminary encourages students to apply to several independent foundations that support ministerial and theological education through the distribution of grants and scholarships. Financial Aid maintains a list of these resources.

On-Campus Employment

Student employment opportunities are managed by Health and Wellness. Pay rates vary depending on the type of work performed. Students may hold no more than four jobs at any one time and may work up to a total of 18 hours per week while taking classes. While on term breaks, or on summer break and not taking classes but enrolled in the program, students may work up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Education Loans

After other sources of education funding are arranged, a student may still have unmet need. Concordia Seminary is a participant in the Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan Program. Financial Aid is authorized to determine eligibility and to authorize disbursement of such loans. All students requesting a loan must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a loan request form in the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans Benefits and Vocational Rehabilitation

Veterans who are entitled to educational benefits as a result of military service should notify Financial Aid before enrolling in classes. Financial Aid will file VA form 22-1999 in accordance with current regulations to verify a qualified student’s enrollment in the Seminary. Other questions about veteran’s benefits should be directed to the Veterans Administration (VA) Regional Office at 9700 Page Ave; Suite 101, St. Louis, MO or by calling 888-442-4551.

Persons who are eligible for benefits under other programs, such as vocational rehabilitation, should notify Financial Aid before enrolling in classes so that such benefits can be considered along with other forms of assistance for which the student may be eligible. For all VA programs, full-time enrollment will be designated as follows:

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) – nine credit hours per term* • Residential Alternate Route (R.A.R.) – nine credit hours per term* • Master of Arts (M.A.) – nine credit hours per term* • Master of Arts with Deaconess Certification (M.A. Deac.) – nine credit hours per term* • Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) – four credit hours per term* • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – four credit hours per term* • Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) – six credit hours per term* • Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) – one course (two credit hours) per term* • Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) – two courses (three credit hours) per term* • Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) – one course (two credit hours) per term* • Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) – one course (two credit hours) hours per term* • General Pastor Certification (GPC) – one and half credit hours per term*

*Full terms are Fall, Spring and Summer. Enrollment of any amount of credits in the Winterim is considered full-time for all programs.

Financial Aid Warning Status

Students who are placed on Academic Probation will simultaneously be placed on Financial Aid Warning status. Students who do not successfully remove their Academic Probation (one term) will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and become ineligible for all federal and institutional financial aid, including work study, direct loans and institutional grants.

Residential Students

Eligibility

LCMS students in residential Ministerial Formation programs (M.Div. and RAR) who have signed the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant and have completed all necessary applications are eligible for grant aid in an amount equal to their cost of tuition. Students who fail to meet the conditions of the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant may lose grant eligibility.

Application

All incoming students must prepare and submit a Concordia Seminary Financial Aid Application. In addition, all eligible students must annually complete the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant and a District Financial Aid Application. All forms are available online at csl.edu/financialaid. The deadline for submitting all application materials is April 1.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

All students must complete the FAFSA annually at studentaid.gov. After submitting the FAFSA, the Financial Aid office and the student will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR provides the data necessary to determine the student,s need for both on-campus employment and direct loans.

Financial Planning

Students should prepare a personal financial plan with realistic estimates of income and expenses. Financial Aid prepares basic estimates of expenses and can refer students to resources for personal financial planning.

Grant Information

Institutional grants include the following components: Adopt-A-Student grants; priority endowment scholarships; Merit, Presidential and Regent awards; and residential programs grants. These grants are not guaranteed.

Acknowledging Financial Support

Tuition grants for residential Ministerial Formation students are made possible only through the generosity of individuals, organizations, congregations and districts that make financial contributions to Concordia Seminary. Personal letters of appreciation from students affirm to donors that their gifts are needed and appreciated. Concordia Seminary requires recipients of financial aid supplied by named endowments and the Adopt-A-Student program to write regularly to the donors who are supplying their tuition grants. Students who fail to acknowledge these grants in a timely manner may forfeit any Seminary-administered grants.

Distance Students

Eligibility

The enrollment status of all distance program students of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is part-time (less than half-time). None of the distance programs of Ministerial Formation (CHS, GPC, EIIT, SMP, ODS) conducted by Concordia Seminary makes students eligible for federal financial aid programs, including loans, nor are students with existing education loans eligible to request deferment.

Students in these programs may be eligible for institutional financial aid depending on the program in which they are enrolled. Students also may be eligible for aid administered by LCMS districts, auxiliaries and Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs), as well as their home congregations.

Application

All eligible incoming students must prepare and submit a Concordia Seminary Financial Aid Application and the Financial Aid Partnership Covenant. In addition, all eligible students must annually complete a District Financial Aid Application. All forms are available online at csl.edu/financialaid. The deadline for submitting all application materials is April 1.

ADVANCED STUDIES FINANCIAL AID

Eligibility

All students in Advanced Studies programs (M.A., D.Min., S.T.M. and Ph.D.) who are making satisfactory academic progress are eligible to apply.

Application

All incoming students must prepare and submit a Concordia Seminary Financial Aid Application. In addition, all M.A., S.T.M. and Ph.D. students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents must annually submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All forms are available online at csl.edu/financialaid. The deadline for submitting all application materials is April 1.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Students should prepare a personal financial plan with realistic estimates of income and expenses. Financial Aid prepares basic estimates of expenses and can refer students to resources for personal financial planning.

General

• Program Continuation Fees and Extension

Fees for graduate examinations and written projects (theses, dissertations) are not eligible for financial aid. • Priority endowments: In addition to institutional grants, some students may be eligible for grants from “named” endowments.

These funds are administered in accordance with the stipulations of the endowments. • Applicants who have been accepted to the

Seminary as fully funded Advanced Studies students are admitted subject to the provision of the International Student Academic

Progress Policy available from the Graduate

School.

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

• D.Min. fees (e.g., Orientation and MAP) are not eligible for financial aid. • Tuition grant — 50 percent of tuition guaranteed

Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)

• Need-based support — up to 50 percent tuition support based on need analysis (contact Financial Aid for exact formula) • Merit-based support — up to an additional 50 percent tuition support based on academic performance (contact Financial Aid for exact formula)

Master of Arts (M.A.)

• Need-based support — up to 50 percent tuition support on need analysis (contact

Financial Aid for exact formula) • Merit-based support — up to an additional 25 percent tuition support based on academic performance (contact Financial Aid for exact formula) • Residential Alternate Route students who also are enrolled in the M.A. Program will receive financial aid in accordance with their

Ministerial Formation program and not according to the categories indicated above. • Students who have completed the SMP

Program and are now enrolled in the M.A.

Program will receive 50 percent tuition support.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

• Need-based support — up to 50 percent tuition support based on need analysis (contact Financial Aid for exact formula) • Merit-based support — an additional 50 percent tuition support as long as a cumulative

GPA of 3.5 is maintained