Financial Aid

Admissions application deadlines to be considered for a scholarship are December 1 (international applicants), June 1 (Richmond and Charlotte domestic applicants).

Balancing the call from God with the realities of financial responsibility is no easy task. It may seem daunting, but you are not alone! For two centuries seminarians at Union Presbyterian Seminary have balanced these two realities of theological education with the help of the Financial Aid staff.

92.3% of Union Presbyterian Seminary students receive financial aid.

SCHOLARSHIPS & INSTITUTIONAL AID

1. Tuition Aid
All students who apply for admission by the deadline are eligible to receive aid of at least 100% of tuition for full-time students or 2/3 of tuition for those attending at least half-time in their degree program on either campus

2. Merit Scholarships
Additional Merit Scholarships may be awarded to degree-seeking M.Div., MACE, MAPT, or dual degrees students attending at least half-time based on the information in the application for admission. Reviewers will consider factors such as the applicant’s academic record, life experience, and/or community engagement, for instance, in determining an award. Merit Scholarships may be for up to $8000.

In order to be eligible for these scholarships, UPSem Richmond international applicants must submit their admissions application by December 1st. Richmond and Charlotte domestic applicants must submit their admissions application by June 1st.

3. Need-based Aid
Students who apply to their program after the scholarship deadline may still apply for need-based aid. Need-based aid is available for students in the M.Div., MACE, MAPT, dual, and D.Min. degrees. The deadline to apply for need-based aid on the Richmond campus is June 10 and in Charlotte is July 15th. Need-based aid is capped at 2/3 of tuition for Masters level students.  There is not need-based aid for Th.M. students. D.Min. students may receive up to 1/3 of tuition. There is a separate application for need-based aid.

4. THE REV. DR. KATIE GENEVA CANNON CENTER FOR WOMANIST LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
The Cannon Scholarship is granted to a degree-seeking woman of African descent who shows genuine promise for womanist leadership.

5. CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & RECONCILIATION STUDENT AMBASSADOR FELLOWSHIP
The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation operates from the seminary’s Charlotte campus and is directed by Associate Professor of Bible Rodney S. Sadler Jr. Grounded in a ministry that is mandated in scripture, its two main goals are to remind people in seminary of the significance of social justice work as part of ministry and to bring the activist community into the seminary. CSJR offers a Student Ambassador Fellowship each spring. Please see the detailed description and reach out to Erin Mills, Program Associate, if you have any questions.

6. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) STUDY GRANTS
Students who are members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) may be eligible to apply for grants from the denomination through the PC(USA) Office of Financial Aid for Studies. A student in the M.Div. program must be enrolled at least as an Inquirer. Students in their third year or greater must be Candidates. The application period opens in April and ends in June. All applicants must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for this grant. Students may register for notification of the application period with the PC(USA) Office of Financial Aid for Studies.

TH.M. SCHOLARSHIPS (RICHMOND)

Union Presbyterian Seminary is pleased to offer scholarships equal to full tuition for students in the Master of Theology program. To be eligible, applications for the program must be complete by March 1.

Other Sources of Funding

FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM

Union Presbyterian Seminary also participates in the Federal Loan Program. While loans should be viewed as a last resort to financing a theological education, some students find them necessary to meet expenses. Approximately 20% of our students borrow from this program each year. For graduate students, the maximum unsubsidized loan is $20,500 per year. Although loan eligibility is based on cost of attendance less expected family contribution, a student cannot borrow in excess of $20,500.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as the first step in applying for a loan.  Students should make sure that they complete the FAFSA that relates to the academic year for which they are seeking a loan and key in the Union Presbyterian Seminary school code of G03743.

GI BILL®

This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia & North Carolina State Approval Agencies. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official US government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH

Some excellent databases for scholarship searching are https://application.candler.emory.edu/portal/external-scholarships, maintained by the Candler Theological Seminary and www.seminaryscholarships.org, which is maintained by Dallas Baptist Seminary.


Financial Aid Tools

The tools below will help you plan for your time in seminary.