Deadlines for financial aid applications:

• April 1 – for returning residential and distance learning M.Div. students
• July 29 – for new residential M.Div. students
• August 15 – for new distance learning M.Div. students

Financial aid award letters are mailed by the last day of March, April, and August.

Keep in mind when applying for Financial Aid:

• Grant recipients must be matriculated (enrolled in the degree program) M.Div students.
• Recipients must be enrolled at least half-time.
  • Half-time for a semester is 7.5 credits in-residence and 6 credits in distance learning 
  • You will receive half of your award each semester.  In the IR program, you will receive your full semester award if you are taking between 12 and 16 hours, half of your award if you are taking between 7.5 and 11 hours, and no award if you are taking less than 7.5 hours.    In the DL program you will receive your full semester award if you are taking 7.5 or more credits.  You will receive half of your award if you are taking at least 6 credits but less than 7.5, and no award if you take less than 6 credits.
  • This does not apply to seniors in their last semester when they are completing the degree in three years, if full-time enrollment is not necessary to meet the graduation requirements.
• Recipients of any funds administered by the Financial Aid Office must be making satisfactory progress toward their degree.  If your grade point average drops below the requirement for your degree program, the academic affairs office will notify you that you have been placed on academic probation.  You may receive funds for only one semester while on academic probation.
• If a scholarship or loan recipient becomes ineligible for the award, the FA offer will be adjusted or withdrawn.  You will be notified if a portion of your loan needs to be returned to the lender.
• In determining who will receive grants, consideration is given to: academic achievement, ecclesiastical endorsement, family resources, support from church and friends, income opportunities outside of the seminary, eligibility for government loans, and present debt.

If you would like additional information on the grants, loans, and work study programs, please contact? ??Pat Dykhuis??? or ? Pat Dykhuis.

Required Forms:

Students are required to complete two forms to apply for financial aid.

1. The WTS FA application assesses need based on student income, expected gifts, assets and projected expenses. This WTS financial aid application form should be downloaded (see bottom of page), completed, and returned to Pat Dykhuis. [pat.dykhuis@westernsem.edu]
2. The U.S. Government form, FAFSA. This form can be accessed at FAFSA.gov.

Loans:

Students who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents and who are enrolled at least half time may apply to borrow up to $20,500 on an annual basis through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program.(Internet Explorer only to open this link) Of that amount, up to $8,500 may be available on a subsidized basis depending upon the information reported through FAFSA and the WTS financial aid application.  First time borrowers must do entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note by going to the website www.studentloans.gov.

Code of Conduct:  WTS receives no benefits, gifts or remuneration from any bank/lender in exchange for referrals for Title IV student loans.

Students planning on a career in military chaplaincy can borrow up to $10,000 per year from the WTS Loan Program - Derk VanRaalte Fund.  Loans from this program will be forgiven when the student becomes a military chaplain.

??G?r?a?n?t?s????????????/Scholarshps:

??G?r?a?n?t?s???????????? and scholarships range from $500-$6000 and may involve the opportunity to meet the benefactor at the seminary’s annual scholarship luncheon.  All recipients are expected and required to send personal thank you letters to donors who have provided the funds.  The Advancement Office will provide more information for you near the beginning of the fall semester.

Work Opportunities:

Work opportunities for students at Western Theological Seminary are available in maintenance, the bookstore, and the library.

To support and encourage couples in which both people attend Western Theological Seminary seeking a Master of Divinity degree, the seminary offers scholarships which will waive 50% of each semester’s tuition charge when both people are making satisfactory academic progress and when they are attending at least ½ time.  For this policy, half-time is defined as 7.5 credits for in-residence students and 6 credits for distance learning students.  Satisfactory academic progress for this policy is defined as a 2.75 GPA for the academic period.  Students cannot receive this scholarship and other seminary ?g?r?a?n?t?s????????????????????.