Financial Aid

President Nieman posing with a graduate at commencement.

Pursuing a degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is a significant step towards your future, and we’re here to ensure that financial concerns don’t stand in your way. The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to working closely with each applicant to understand their unique circumstances, outline the total cost of attendance, and explore all available scholarship opportunities.

We are deeply grateful for the generous support from our alumni, friends, and congregations, which allows us to offer substantial financial assistance through endowed scholarship funds.

These scholarships are designed to help students like you fulfill their calling with confidence and support.

Additionally, many students receive supplemental aid from their home congregations, synods, and other organizations. We encourage you to explore all possible sources of financial support.

At LSTC, we are committed to providing a comprehensive aid package tailored to meet the diverse needs of our student body. To further support our students, we have recently launched three new scholarship funds aimed at making your education more accessible and affordable:

Visionary Scholarship Fund

LSTC’s core institutional scholarship program, provide support for tuition and related academic expenses.

Emerging Leaders Fund

This Fund aims to remove obstacles to full and equitable access to and participation in the seminary experience to students of color and students from historically underrepresented communities.

Global Leaders Fund

LSTC has a long history of welcoming accomplished students from across the globe; this fund aims to create an environment where students can thrive and therefore offer their ministry to a global audience as visionary leaders.

For the majority of our scholarship opportunities, no separate applications is required. Staff from admissions and financial aid are available to answer questions and will discuss this crucial aspect of attendance during the application process. Learn more about the application steps for financial aid here.

Scholarship Stories

Char Laywa making a thumbs up in front of signage directing toward LSTC

How Scholarships and a Leap of Faith Created New Opportunities for International Student Char Laywa

Sharei Green smiling in front of stained glass in the Augustana Chapel

MDiv Student Sharei Green on Scholarships and the Promise of the Future

From an Impossibility to Reality: Distance Learning and Scholarship Support Transforms Trenton Ormsbee-Hale’s Future

ELCA Fund for Leaders

We highly recommend that eligible students apply to the ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship. The core FFL program provides full tuition scholarships at an ELCA seminary for students who intend to become rostered leaders. The FFL centralizes other scholarship opportunities from synods across the denomination. Each year, the application window runs from December 1 to February 23 for admission the following fall semester. You can find out more about the different scholarships available through the ELCA Fund for Leaders program and apply here.

LSTC Finance Policy

Download

Download our financial policy guide for more information regarding typical costs relating to a program of theological study at LSTC.

Questions?

Email financialaid@lstc.edu