Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Admissions > Financial Aid

Description
Theological education is one of the most costly forms of graduate education. Recognizing that fact, Louisville Seminary provides some form of financial assistance to over 82 percent of its student body. In addition, resources are available to help students defray the cost of their education. Part-time jobs, employment for spouses, and field placements are a few of the opportunities that can provide supplemental income.

Following admission, individual financial programs are arranged with each student. These provide a planning guideline enabling both the student and Louisville Seminary to chart costs, measure financial need, and appropriate assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, or advice.

Louisville Seminary's scholarships and financial aid programs provide substantial help for students. Extensive resources make it possible to offer financial assistance to all full-time students whose private resources fall short of covering the costs of seminary study. Louisville Seminary offers a variety of financial aid: including tuition grants, scholarships, and student loans. Louisville Seminary's many grants, financial aid, and scholarship programs, coupled with personal financial planning, can greatly reduce financial stress for both the student and recent graduate. Back to Top

Scholarships for Excellence

I. Presidential Merit Scholarships for Excellence identify individuals who have exhibited a strong level of academic excellence in their undergraduate preparation for Seminary. As a result of the work they have shown, the expectation at Louisville Seminary is for academic success to continue and to help fashion the foundation for their lifetime in ministry and vocation. These scholarships are therefore based on strong academic merit. Louisville Seminary is graced to stand beside such accomplishment and to offer scholarships of up to $20,000 per year. Merit scholarships can be annually renewed for up to three years, usually in the MDIV degree program.

The EDUCAnderson Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year presidential scholarship, the EDUCAnderson Scholarship is unrestricted and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The John Olert Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year scholarship offered to Presbyterian Church (USA) students displaying outstanding potential for ministry and church leadership, The John Olert Scholarship has as its preference students who are members of any of the churches which John Olert served in the course of his ministry and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. If there are no candidates from these congregations, then the recipient shall be a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Churches served by John Olert include Fourth Street Presbyterian, Owensboro, KY; First Presbyterian Church, Owensboro, KY; First Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, MO; Knox Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, OH; Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church, MI; Church-by-the-Sea, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

The Dr. Walter Kennedy Patterson Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year scholarship offered to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) students with at least a B average (3.0) or better in their undergraduate college work and who are under the care of a Presbytery either as an inquirer or a candidate. Students who have demonstrated promise in biblical studies, theology, and church history through excellence in the undergraduate study of humanities (including such disciplines as literature, philosophy, the natural sciences, religion, history, and the fine arts) are eligible, with preference given to those who have completed a two-year course of study in either college Latin or college Greek. The Patterson Scholarship provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Patterson Scholarship was established in 1933. For more than 70 years, this scholarship has recognized excellence in the area of biblical studies, theology, and church history with a special emphasis in the biblical languages. In addition, candidates who apply for admission to Louisville Seminary and are approved before their senior year in college may receive $1,000 to offset the expenses of the last year of college. Recipients also are eligible to compete for fellowships for post-seminary work.

The Norma Tate Rich Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year scholarship offered to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) students displaying outstanding potential for church leadership, the Norma Tate Rich Scholarship has as its preference male students under the age of 25 and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year scholarship offered to students displaying outstanding potential for church leadership. Preference will be given to Presbyterian students who plan to enter pastoral ministry in a congregational setting upon graduation. The scholarship provides $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Sharon Elaine Smith Presidential Scholarship - A renewable three-year presidential scholarship, the Sharon Elaine Smith Scholarship is unrestricted and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

II. Promise for Ministry Scholarships for Excellence honor individuals who, by the merit of previous experience and performance in roles of leadership, demonstrate to their respective Churches and church leaders great promise for leadership in ministry. This is a significant component that distinguishes Louisville Seminary’s Scholarship for Excellence Program among other seminary scholarship programs. Where the Church sees gifts and skills for ministry, Louisville Seminary is graced to partner in this unique way to provide the means to prepare and hone that rich promise and to offer scholarships of up to $20,000 per year. Promise scholarships can be annually renewed for up to three years.

The New Horizons Promise for Ministry Scholarships - Supporting students from particularly challenged backgrounds and with a goal to broaden students' awareness of other cultures, the New Horizons Scholarships cover expenses other than tuition. These scholarships are offered to students in both Masters and Doctoral programs.

The Rogers Foundation Promise for Ministry Scholarship - A renewable three-year promise for ministry scholarship, the Rogers Foundation Scholarship is an open, non-restrictive Promise for Leadership in Ministry Scholarship and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Margaret Stewart Schmidt Promise for Ministry Scholarship - A renewable three-year promise for ministry scholarship, the Margaret Steward Schmidt Scholarship has as its preference female Episcopal students; if no female Episcopal student, then to an Episcopal student; if no Episcopal student, then to a female student and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Dean K. and Rebecca M. Thompson Promise for Ministry Scholarship – A renewable three-year promise for ministry scholarship, the Thompson Scholarship is offered to students who demonstrate a pastoral heart and understanding that represent the call and commitment to long-distance pastoral ministry, which the Thompsons have incarnated and advocated throughout their own ministries by providing up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

The Peggy Able Wagner Promise for Ministry Scholarship - A renewable three-year promise for ministry scholarship, the Peggy Able Wagner Scholarship has as its preference international students and provides up to $20,000 toward tuition, fees, books, and living expenses.

III. Tuition-Plus Scholarships for Excellence are a category of Promise for Ministry Scholarships that honor individuals who, by the merit of previous experience and performance in roles of leadership, demonstrate to their respective Churches and church leaders great promise for leadership in ministry. For students who qualify for and who are the recipients of up to a full tuition grant (currently valued at $9,660), Louisville Seminary will supplement, as funds are raised and made available, tuition assistance with new Tuition-Plus Scholarships for Excellence. Tuition-Plus Scholarships will be valued between $5,000 and $10,000. When supplemented with a tuition grant, this type of scholarship support can be enhanced to equal the value of a full Scholarship for Excellence. In this case, the donor and the Seminary work together in a partnership of financial aid support instead of the donor providing the full Scholarship for Excellence, which is valued at up to $20,000 per year. These scholarships provide support for fees, books, and living expenses.

Nomination Dates

Scholarship Nomination Forms can also be obtained from the Office of Admissions. Forms must be received by February 15 each year. Nominees must have a completed admission application on file with the Office of Admissions by February 15.

Nomination Form

Financial Aid Programs Tuition Grants - Tuition grants are based on financial need, and Louisville Seminary is able to provide grants for up to 100 percent of tuition for students who demonstrate full need.

Federal Work Study - Federal Work Study is also an option for qualified students.

Veteran's Administration Benefits - Louisville Seminary is approved for the training of veterans and others eligible to receive V.A. benefits.

Stafford Loans and Perkins Loans - These two federal programs support eligible students who are making satisfactory progress toward educational objectives. Normally, these loans accrue no interest and require no repayment until after graduation. Repayment is arranged over several years at low interest rates.

Emergency Loan Fund - These cover unanticipated/unplanned emergency financial problems.

Denominational Grants/Loans - Many denominations offer grants and loans to help with unsecured expenses for candidates for ministry. Louisville Seminary works to help students apply for these. Back to Top

Student Income Opportunities Field Education Stipends - Field education opportunities equip students with practical experiences outside of the classroom. Each field education position pays a stipend over eight-and-one-half months. Typically, students work approximately 16 hours each week (earning approximately $300 per month). Summer allows more work time, typically 25 to 40 hours a week.

Student Supply Pastors - Advanced students also are eligible to serve as student supply pastors. These positions may offer larger stipends (approximately $500 per month) than field education placement but are only available to advanced students.