Students that receive financial aid exceeding their actual COA may result in a reduction of previously offered/disbursed financial aid. For example: Student A is offered a ULS Full-Tuition Scholarship, but only enrolls in a single course—The previously offered scholarship would be reduced to cover one course.

‍Full time Student Scholarships
Eligibility for the ULS Full Tuition Scholarship is based primarily on the degree program of study that a student is enrolled in. The table below provides a breakdown of ULS Full Tuition Scholarship eligibility by program of study. Note, that students registered for less than the full-time credits/semester amount shown, will be considered as part-time students (see ‘Part-Time Student Full Tuition Scholarship’).
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Part-time Student Scholarships
Students that are enrolled in one of the above programs but enrolled in less-than-full-time semester credits listed, will be eligible for part-time Full Tuition Scholarship amounts. The part-time tuition rate is $2,250 per 3-credit course, and students are expected to seek and utilize all available funding support from personal, familial, congregation, judicatory, and/or external agency resources. Beyond these funds ULS will provide additional support up to the tuition owed.
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International Student Scholarships
ULS recognized the invaluable contributions that our international students contribute to the life of the seminary. However, due to limited funding, international students are ineligible for ULS Scholarships during their first year at ULS, and such students will need to provide support from other organizations to cover their studies. After the first year, tuition assistance could be considered for a limited amount on a case-by-case basis.
We are excited to have partnered with the ELCA, to encourage international students to seek funding through the ELCA International Leaders Program. This program is designed to enhance the capacity of the global church for mission and ministry. Please view the additional resources below:
ELCA International Leaders Program Brochure
ELCA Scholarship Application Guidelines
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Faculty/Staff Full Tuition Scholarship
Employees of ULS are eligible for a maximum of 3 credits/semester in ULS Full Tuition Scholarship Funds.Students that receive financial aid exceeding their actual COA may result in a reduction of previously offered/disbursed financial aid. For example: Student A is offered a ULS Full-Tuition Scholarship, but only enrolls in a single course—The previously offered scholarship would be reduced to cover one course.

‍Affiliate Student Scholarships
‍Evangelical Lutheran Church of American (ELCA)affiliation for ordination students attending ULS are eligible for up to six courses (18 semester credit hours) in Full Tuition Scholarship Funds to earn their Certificate in Lutheran Studies.
To be eligible, students must:
- Not be receiving funds from other sources, such as ELCA Fund for Leaders.
- Complete the affiliation for ordination application for admission. - Be admitted to ULS and returned all admissions documents to the admissions office.
- Complete the FAFSA and ULS scholarship applications.
- Have their Theological Review Panel Report (TRP) and Entrance Decision on file.
- Pay the required Affiliation fee ($1,000) in full.
‍Note: Students may choose to take less than 6courses and still be eligible for the ULS scholarship, however, will not receive the Certificate in Lutheran Studies.Students that receive financial aid exceeding their actual COA may result in a reduction of previously offered/disbursed financial aid. For example: Student A is offered a ULS Full-Tuition Scholarship, but only enrolls in a single course—The previously offered scholarship would be reduced to cover one course.

Donors wishing to designate funding for housing, living, books, etc., would simply needs to indicate this when submitting payments to the Student Billing Office, so it may be properly designated. We strive to be good stewards of our Full Tuition Scholarship funds, and so please kindly note that outside (non-ULS) funding that is not designated towards a specific cost of attendance item will be applied towards students’ tuition charges*. Our aspiration in inviting additional tuition funding for the seminary is to ensure that the maximum number of enrolled students can benefit from all the financial aid we can offer.  Receipt of additional financial assistance such as scholarships, congregational/synod payments, or vocational rehabilitation grants may change eligibility for offers that have already been processed.  All scholarship aid is disbursed to students’ accounts once the drop/add deadline has ended for each semester, so that ULS can verify students’ accounts before disbursement. Please refer to the Academic Calendar on the Registrar’s Office for specific semester dates and deadlines. ULS Scholarship funds, and Federal Loans may be decreased or canceled for students that receive outside assistance after financial aid funds have disbursed to their student account.

ULS supports Veterans of the United States military, and spouses or dependents of veterans, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to offer VA Educational Benefits (GI Bill) to eligible individuals enrolled in approved programs. ULS students eligible for benefits through Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill), Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill),Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance Bill), or other programs sponsored by Veterans Affairs, must complete both of the stepsbelow. Please visit benefits.va.gov/gibill/ for more information about all available and programs and benefits.

1. Visit va.gov/education/ to apply for benefits.
‍2. Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the ULS Registrar’s Office at registrar@uls.edu to establish a file and to verify your enrollment to VA.

• Students that indicate ‘No’ but would later like to be considered for a Federal loan, must email their request to financialaid@uls.edu.
  Prior to the disbursement of a loan that has been accepted on Henry, students must complete:
  1.  Master Promissory Note
  2. Loan Entrance Counseling
  Loan offers are subject to annual and aggregate loan limits. Students may visit www.studentaid.gov to review outstanding Federal loan balances, and for more detailed information on the different Federal student loan programs available. The interest rate for Federal Loans is set by the government and begins accruing immediately. For loans disbursed during the 2020-21 academic year, the interest rate was 6.08% with an origination fee of 1.062% (the origination fee is deducted from the loan before the funds are disbursed to the school). 
  ULS students on internship, project, dissertation, or that are completing other non-credit requirements to graduate will be considered as being at least half-time, and will be eligible for Federal student loans.
• Federal Graduate Unsubsidized Loans
  Eligible students that indicate interest in Federal loans will be offered a maximum academic year amount of $20,500 ($10,250/semester). It is recommended for students to only accept the amount that they need for educational expenses, since it is not required for the maximum amount to be accepted. If a student accepts an amount lower than what they have been offered, they may contact the Financial Aid Office to request an increase in their originally accepted loan amount.
• Federal Graduate Plus Loans
  This is a credit-based loan, to be used when a student has exceeded their Unsubsidized Loan eligibility. The PLUS Loan interest rate is generally higher than that of the Unsubsidized Loan, and the borrower is responsible for paying all interest. Students may request a PLUS loan on-line by visiting studentaid.gov.

Enrollment Census occurs after the registration drop/add deadline for each semester. After this point in time, the Financial Aid Office works in consultation with the Student Billing Office, to verify student registrations and eligibility for offered funding.  On or about the second week following Enrollment Census, financial aid is disbursed to students’ accounts. Students with remaining balances after disbursement, may make payments through Henry, or directly to the Student Billing Office.
Refunds
Remaining credit balances from Federal student loans, if any, will be refunded to eligible students within two weeks from the point that loan is applied to students' accounts. Not all students will have a credit balance and not all anticipated credit balances will occur at the same point in the term. Types of aid as well as tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other miscellaneous student account charges will vary from student to student based on enrollment, on‐campus purchases, and housing/meal plans, if living on campus. Please monitor your financial aid and refund status via Henry.