Trinity Lutheran Seminary

Financial Aid Resources

Melissa Curtis Powell
Director of Financial Aid

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Melissa Curtis Powell has served as Trinity’s financial aid director since 1995. Her office is located on the first floor, where you will find information about available financial aid, scholarships, and living on a budget. She advises students to “apply for scholarships early, borrow as little as possible, and monitor your spending.” Financial aid at Trinity is not primarily about loans, but about applying for free money and then funding the remaining amount with loans. Loans are always the last resort.

In the January/February 2009 edition of Lutheran Partners, Melissa Curtis Powell describes the financial challenges students face when they enter seminary and the satisfaction that comes from helping them learn essential life skills. Read this article and a related article by 2007 graduate Kimberly Conway online.

Melissa Curtis Powell article

Kimberly Conway article

Office of Financial Aid

FUNDING EDUCATION TO ENABLE DISCERNMENT

Trinity Lutheran Seminary’s mission is to provide the finest theological education to those who have discerned God’s call. Trinity is committed to working with students on an individual basis to make a theological education possible. It is Trinity’s goal that graduates will be able to accept calls wherever there is a need, without the burden of large educational debt.

Through substantial support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, individual and organizational donors, and Trinity’s endowment fund, tuition costs are kept at a reasonable level. In addition, more than 70 percent of Trinity’s students receive some form of financial aid. Trinity Lutheran Seminary has a generous scholarship program, maintains its own institutional loan program, in addition to participating in the federal work study and Stafford Loan programs.

 

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COST OF ATTENDANCE
Tuition $434/credit hour 
Many students will take 30 hours in 9 months = $13,020
Bexley Hall Master of Divinity Tuition $509/credit hour 
Many students will take 30 hours in 9 months = $15,270
Fees Full-time $700 (estimate)
Summer Greek $1,953 for TLS Students
Health Insurance $2,412 basic insurance or $3,108 enhanced
These rates were for the 2009/2010 year


You will be placed in one of the below budgets that closest fits your living arrangements:

Student in TLS efficiency suites 
Housing $3,078
Food $4,357
Transportation $2,013
Personal/Miscellaneous $3,849
$13,297*

Student in 1 bedroom apartment
Housing $3,807
Food $4,357
Transportation $2,013
Personal/Miscellaneous $6,215
$16,392*

Student in 2 bedroom apartment
Housing $4,680
Food $4,867
Transportation $2,013
Personal/Miscellaneous $6,215
$17,775*

Student in 3 bedroom apartment
Housing $5,418
Food $5,052
Transportation $2,013
Personal/Miscellaneous $6,215
$18,698*
*The above budgets were constructed by using the moderate budget standards for metropolitan areas from The College Board. They include estimates for room, board, rent, utilities, transportation, clothing, entertainment, children’s school expenses, insurance other than student, debt payments, etc. Miscellaneous personal includes: Recreation/entertainment, household supplies, personal hygiene, haircuts, cosmetics, clothing, and dry cleaning/laundry.


Additional Allowances

You may be eligible for additional financial aid budgetary allowances for: commuting from a primary residence while residing in our efficiency suite during the week ($2,000 commuter and possibly $2,000 additional housing allotment), childcare expenses, and a one-time computer purchase (up to $2,000 budgetary allowance with receipt). This additional allowance is not in the form of additional grant money. The additional allowance is the potential eligibility to borrow additional Stafford loan money and is not automatic.


CHECKLIST & SEQUENCE FOR FINANCIAL AID
  • You must be admitted into a degree program at Trinity or Bexley Hall.
  • You must be at least half time for each semester for which you want to be considered for Financial Aid.
  • Go on-line to: www.fafsa.ed.gov and file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to be eligible to receive any free grant money from Trinity or Bexley Hall or eligibility for other money that may be available to you. Our Title IV school code is: G03044.
  • Fill out the paper APPLICATION FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID and return form to the Office of Financial Aid.