Financial Aid

To be eligible for financial aid from St. Vladimir’s Seminary, a student must normally (1) live on campus (if enrolled in a residential program), (2) be enrolled at the seminary on a full-time basis as a degree candidate, and (3) be making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree. To be considered full-time, students must be enrolled for at least twelve credits per semester; D.Min. students must be enrolled for six credits per term while registered for course work, three credits per term during their final project registration. To be eligible for U.S. Government loans, students must be degree candidates and enrolled for at least six credits per semester.

Students enrolled on a full-time basis (as defined above) are eligible to receive aid from the seminary only for the number of semesters or terms necessary for normal completion of a degree program. Therefore, M.Div. candidates are eligible to receive financial aid for no more than six semesters; M.A. candidates for no more than four semesters; Th.M. candidates for no more than two semesters; and D.Min. candidates for no more than six terms.

Satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree program is measured not only by a student’s successful completion of courses but also by satisfactory participation in the seminary’s co-curricular activities of chapel worship and community service.

Exception in the Case of Probation or Special Needs. A residential degree candidate whose course load has been reduced by the Faculty Council in the case of probation or by the Academic Dean in the case of a student with special needs (see Disability Services) remains eligible for financial aid on a pro-rated basis, as long as he or she is enrolled for at least six credits per semester and is otherwise making satisfactory progress toward completion of program requirements.

Grants and Scholarships
The seminary administers need-based tuition grants, need-based scholarships, merit scholarships (Th.M. program only), and continuing education grants (D.Min. program only). Awards are made annually but are distributed one semester or term at a time to eligible students, as defined above. The amount given per semester or term will normally be one half the total award for the year.

Matching Grant Opportunity
Need-based tuition grants (M.Div., M.A., and Th.M. programs) consist of two components: (1) an outright tuition grant and (2) a matching grant opportunity. Outright grants are applied directly against a student’s tuition; matching grant funds are awarded on a dollar-to-dollar basis with funds received from outside ecclesial bodies or organizations, such as dioceses, parishes, parish organizations, church aid organizations, or church scholarship funds. Funds received from private individuals do not qualify for matching grant funds.

U.S. Government Loan Programs
The seminary participates in the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. Through this program, students may apply for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans to help cover both the billed expenses (i.e. tuition and fees, room and board, or rent paid to the seminary) and non-billed expenses (living expenses) associated with their seminary studies. The program is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled in a degree program on at least a half-time basis, in good academic standing, and not in default on any previous loan. See the Direct Loan Application Instructions for more information and details about the steps involved in applying for a loan.

Application Deadline: May 1

St. Vladimir’s Seminary awards or renews all grants and scholarships once a year during the spring application process. Application materials and an estimated expense budget by degree program are usually available online in late December or early January. The deadline for all financial aid applications—both new applications and renewal applications—is April 1. Applications received after May 1, or incomplete applications received prior to the deadline but completed after April 1, will be considered for financial aid only if funds remain available and/or on a wait-listed basis. After the award or renewal of a grant or scholarship, the seminary is unable to consider modified requests for financial assistance.

1. Applications for Residential Programs (M.Div., M.A., Th.M.). Students in residential programs, both prospective and returning students, who seek need-based financial aid granted or administered by the seminary must complete the seminary’s "Financial Aid Application". Students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (U.S. permanent residents) must also complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit the FAFSA Student Aid Report with EFC. Prospective students will submit their financial aid application & FAFSA Confirmation page through the admissions portal.
» 2022-2023 Financial Aid Application
» FAFSA

2. Applications for D.Min. Program. Students in the D.Min. Program, both prospective and returning students, who seek a continuing education grant and/or need-based financial aid granted or administered by the seminary must complete the seminary’s "Application for D.Min. Grant & Need-Based Award"; students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (U.S. permanent residents) must also complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit the FAFSA Student Aid Report with EFC. The FAFSA is not required for students who seek only a continuing education grant. Prospective students will submit their financial aid application & FAFSA Confirmation page through the admissions portal.
» 2020-2021 Application for D.Min. Grant & Need-Based Award
» Continuing Education Grant Workshop Report Form
» FAFSA

Financial Exigency. If a student should experience significant, unforeseen financial difficulty after the award/renewal period and the exhaustion of financial aid funds, he or she is encouraged to speak to the Chief Financial Officer prior to the beginning of the semester in order to arrange a formal payment plan.

Probation and Loss of Award
Any student who does not meet the minimum conditions for retaining a seminary grant or scholarship, as defined for each grant or scholarship, will be placed on probation for the following semester.

Refund Policy
If a student withdraws from the seminary during the semester under circumstances permitting a refund of fees, then eligible fees will be refunded—to student, matching donor organization, scholarship fund—on the basis of an official withdrawal date and in accordance with the seminary’s refund schedule.

Veteran Benefits and Outside Scholarships
For seminary need-based aid purposes, VA benefits and outside scholarships, such as Fulbright awards, are applied toward the student's cost of education (see Estimated Expenses by Degree Program) before a student is considered for seminary financial aid.

Please feel free to contact the Financial Aid Administrator with any questions about financial aid or the financial aid application process.