We can help you
KEEP DEBT DOWN
with the ULS Full Tuition Scholarship
To be eligible for financial aid, students must be admitted into one of the degree programs below. In addition, students must be an eligible U.S. Citizen, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and submit the ULS Financial Aid Application each academic year in which they wish to be considered for financial aid.
The application is available on the student portal, Henry.
Click here view a tutorial video.
Funding is available for full-time and part-time students on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited funding may be available for eligible affiliated students and international students - please see below for additional information.
Click here to view the 2021-2022 Financial Aid Policy in its entirety.
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’).
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.
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
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.
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.
In most cases, the withdrawal date for students who officially withdraw will be the actual date of withdrawal as determined by the ULS Registrar’s Office. Students who cease attending without officially withdrawing are considered "unofficial withdrawal." In this case, the midpoint of the semester (or in some cases, the last date of attendance) will be used in determining the amount of aid to be returned. If you should have to withdraw at any point, please contact the Financial Aid office.
Return of Title IV Funds
Federal regulations state, that if a student who has been awarded a Federal Direct Student Loan withdraws before the 60% point in time of the semester or term, then unearned financial aid funds must be returned within 45 days, and this may result in the student’s owing a balance to the seminary and/or the federal government. The return of Federal Title IV loans is calculated based on the number of days in a semester that a student attends ULS. The percentage of unearned aid to be returned is equal to the number of days remaining in the semester, divided by the number of calendar days in the semester.
Federal loans are returned in the following order:
(1) Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, (2) Direct Loan. Students determined to be eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, will be notified by letter of their eligibility.
Students that wish to provide authorization for specific individuals to have access to their ULS Financial Aid and Advancement Office information, must complete the online Title IV FERPA form, through the ULS Student Portal, Henry. Please see Section 11.5 (Confidentiality & FERPA).
Click HERE, to book an appointment with the ULS Financial Aid Office. You can also reach us by email at financialaid@uls.edu, or by phone at 215.248.6301.