Students
come to seminary with an eagerness to learn,
though they must balance their enthusiasm
with realistic planning about how they will
cover their training costs. Indeed, the primary
responsibility to pay will rest on the student.
However, students are invited to explore the
financial aid options available from Western
Seminary and various outside organizations
that can help provide for and manage school
expenses all the way to graduation.
In order to qualify
for most kinds of financial aid below, students
must be enrolled half time (4 hours) and be
admitted to a degree program. Please note
that non-degree students are not eligible
for financial assistance. |
NEED-BASED
GRANT
Grants will be based primarily on financial need
and will depend in large part on the amount of money
available and the need of the applicant. Grants
are awarded on a fall-spring-summer academic year.
The Church Partnership Grants and Need-Based Grants
are funded by the endowment and restricted scholarships
shown in the Seminary catalog. Eligible programs
include Diploma and Masters
programs.
CB CHURCH, CB ORGANIZATION OR SUPPORTING CHURCH
GRANT
Students who are staff members of CB churches, CB
agencies or supporting churches may be eligible
for a grant of 25% of tuition costs. Contact the
Financial Aid Office for details and eligibility.
Please see Community Service information below
THIRD YEAR MASTER OF DIVINITY SCHOLARSHIP
Getting prepared for ministry in the 21st century
is demanding and costly – as are most things
of value! Going the “extra mile” for
the full M. Div. takes an extra measure of commitment.
Therefore, Western Seminary is pleased to announce
that Master of Divinity students may receive a scholarship
equal to 25% of their tuition for hours 65 through
90 of their program. Please see Community Service
information below.
MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Thanks to the strong partnership between
Western Seminary and the following ministry organizations,
staff workers in each organization may be eligible
for a partial scholarship. Please see Community Service information below.
ONE-TIME FIRST YEAR MASTER'S
GRANT RELOCATION
We recognize that relocating
is expensive; therefore, you may qualify for a
grant towards your first semester tuition to help
offset moving costs. The size of the grant is
dependent upon the distance you have relocated:
500-999 miles - $200, 1000-1499 miles - $400,
1500+ miles - $600.
TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
Visiting Western Seminary when you live at a distance
can be expensive! We would like to reward you for
visiting our campus by offering a scholarship that
will pay for one credit hour of tuition.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Please see Community Service information below.
ALUMNI AUDIT OPPORTUNITY
Degree graduates of Western Seminary are invited
to audit one course per year at no charge. Degree
graduates include those who have completed a full
master’s or doctoral degree program.
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SPOUSE
TUITION POLICY
To download the request for financial aid under
the Spouse Tuition Policy, please click
here.
FEDERAL
STAFFORD LOAN
Federal Stafford loans are interest loans obtained through a lender of the student's choice. Western Seminary recommends that students limit their borrowing to $13,333 in any 12-month period and total graduate/undergraduate borrowing to $40,000 at time of repayment. This applies to subsidized, unsubsidized Stafford loans, consolidated and Perkins loans. These recommended loan limits are based on the expected income of a Western Seminary graduate. A Committee (composed of the Financial Aid Director [chair], the Dean of Men, and the Business Manager) has been formed to act, on a case-by-case basis, upon appeals for borrowing beyond these recommended limits. Repayment begins six months after you graduate or cease to be at least a half-time student. The Stafford loan process can take six to eight weeks and should be started as early as possible. (As a graduate institution, students are not eligible for federal grant programs such as Pell.)
Helpful Links
DENOMINATIONAL
AND CHURCH ASSISTANCE
Some denominations have scholarships and loan programs
to assist seminary students. Many local churches
also have established scholarship funds for students
who are members of their congregations.
STUDENT
MINISTRIES, INC. (SMI)
SMI, a non-profit national organization, provides
a way for family, friends and churches to make tax-exempt
contributions to assist you with ministry and living
expenses while attending seminary. You must be involved
in an approved ministry. Contact SMI at 1-866-653-8802
for details, or View
the SMI webpage.
FINANCIAL
AID INFORMATION RESOURCES
Some students have been able to secure scholarships
or grants from trusts and civic organizations.
You may wish to do the
following:
- Contact your local library to
research grant books
- Download ATS Catalog "V"
"Outside Financial Resources for Theological
Students" from http://ats.edu/sets/studfst.htm.
or (use in the Portland Financial Aid Office.)
- Although
the majority of aid is for undergraduate level,
other scholarship sites include:
For students who are
not able to pay their tuition in full at the beginning
of the term, a monthly payment plan is available.
This plan is administered by Academic Management
Services and payments are made directly to AMS,
not to the seminary. There is a per-semester or
-year charge for this service but, if payments are
made on time, there are no interest or other charges
for using this plan. For more information about
how the plan works or to sign up for the plan, go
to www.tuitionpay.com.
Or you may call the Business or Financial Aid Offices
if you have additional questions.
Please note: This
monthly payment plan is not available for the summer
term. Back to Top
Financing your education
at Western Seminary is a combination of grants,
loans, working part-time or full-time along with
your current resources. This is no doubt that pursuing
an advanced degree will require some sacrifice but,
with careful planning and sound management, it can
be achieved. The Lord provides!
If you have any questions
please contact Mr.
Lynn Ruark at 503-517-1818 or (877-517-1800
ext. 1818).
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