United Lutheran Seminary (ULS), an institution formed by two Lutheran seminaries in Pennsylvania coming together to form one seminary, recognizes that affordable seminary education is the need of the hour.
Due to the generosity of many benefactors and well-wishers of the seminary, along with an already substantial financial aid budget, the seminary is blessed to be able to offer financial support, in the form of scholarship awards, to all students who are enrolled in degree seeking programs: Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts (MA), Master ofArts in Public Leadership (MAPL), Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership(MAML), Master of Sacred Theology (STM), and Doctor of Ministry (DMin).
The 2019-2020 Cost of Attendance (COA) for ULS is categorized by degree. The COA includes both direct costs (costs that a student is directly billed) and indirect costs (costs a student may incur by attending but is not directly billed for by the institution). The COA is used to determine a student’s financial need. Please Note: these are estimated costs.
Who Is Eligible for Financial Aid?
All students who are enrolled in a degree seeking program (MDiv, MA, MAPL, MAML, STM, DMin).
How to Apply for Financial Aid?
Students must apply for financial aid each academic year in which they are enrolled. To apply for financial aid, students must complete both of the following applications:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The FAFSA may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Please be sure to include United Lutheran Seminary’s federal school code, G03291.
- ULS Institutional Financial Aid Application.
Students should apply for financial aid when they complete their application for admission or as soon as possible after being admitted. It is suggested that you have the FAFSA and ULS Institutional Financial Aid application completed by May 1st each year.
Students must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress to be eligible for financial aid. Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated by both qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (time towards degree completion) methods. A student is not making Satisfactory Academic Progress if they fall below a 2.0 cumulative grade point average OR fall below a completion rate of 67% of courses attempted (this includes withdrawals and failed courses).
Sources of Financial Support
First Theological Degree Full-Tuition Scholarship
Students are eligible for this scholarship if they meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in a degree seeking first theological program: MDiv, MA, MAPL, and MAML.
- Making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
For new students, completed admission applications with all required documents must be received by the admissions office no later than June 15th for the fall semester and November 15th for the spring semester enrollments.
This scholarship award will cover tuition for up to 10 courses/30 credits an academic year; typically taken as 5 courses/15 credits a semester.
All students are expected to seek and utilize all available financial funding support from personal, familial, congregational, judicatory, synodical and/or private/external sources.
Graduate Degree Scholarship
Students are eligible for this program if they meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in a degree seeking graduate programs: STM and DMin.
- Making Satisfactory Academic Progress.
For new students, completed admission applications with all required documents must be received by the admissions office no later than June 15th for the fall semester and November 15th for the spring semester enrollments.
This scholarship award will cover up to the cost of 2 courses/6 credits a semester.
All students are expected to seek and utilize all available financial funding support from personal, familial, congregational, judicatory, synodical and/or private/external sources.
ULS Housing Allowance award
This award is available to students who bring to the seminary a full-tuition scholarship from an outside source (Fund for Leaders, Metro New York Synod, Huneke Fund, VA benefits, etc.).
The award amount will be up to the cost of a one-bedroom apartment for up to10 months on either the Gettysburg and/or Philadelphia campus (not to exceed $7000 annually). Students who reside off campus are eligible to receive an award amount for up to $5000 annually.
This award is not available to students who are enrolled part time and/or as a Co-op student (Co-op students receiving housing assistance through a specialized program).
Please Note: The ULS Housing Allowance Award will be offered during the 2019-2020 academic year. Future funding for this award will be reviewed on an annual basis by the seminary administration and awarded on a fund’s availability basis.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan is available to professional and graduate students who are US citizens/permanent residents and are enrolled in a degree seeking program at least half-time (6 credits per/semester). You do not have to demonstrate any financial need to be eligible.
The maximum annual amount that can be borrowed is $20,500. Interest will begin to accrue on this loan once the loan proceeds are disbursed to the school and will continue accruing interest while the student is attending school. For the 2019-2020 academic year, as of October 1, 2018 until September 30, 2019 the interest rate is 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). To apply for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling Session online at www.studentloans.gov.
Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan
The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan is available to professional and graduate students who are US citizens/permanent residents and are enrolled in a degree seeking program at least half-time (6 credits per semester). Students do not have to demonstrate any financial need to be eligible.
The maximum annual amount a student may borrow is calculated by deducting any other financial aid the student is receiving (grants/scholarships, loans) from their ULS Cost of Attendance 2019-2020. Interest will begin to accrue on this loan once the loan proceeds are disbursed to the school and will continue accruing interest while the student is attending school. For the 2019-2020 academic year, as of October 1, 2018 until September 30, 2019, the interest rate is a fixed 7.08% with an origination fee of 4.248% (the origination fee is deducted from the loan before the funds are disbursed to the school). To apply for the Federal Direct Graduate Plus loan, you must complete a credit application, Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling Session online at www.studentloans.gov. Please note: If you have any adverse credit your loan will not be approved. You may appeal and reapply with a credit worthy cosigner to be approved.
Contact Information
As of February 10, 2020, students should contact Dean Sebastian with questions.
Financial Aid Office Locations
Philadelphia Campus
7301 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119
Brossman Center, #232
Gettysburg Campus
61 Seminary Ridge
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Valentine Center, #105
