Financial Reality:
Why Luther needs your support

Generous Gifts Make a Difference!

DONOR DOLLARS AT WORK: Friends and alumni/ae give to ensure seminarians are 100 percent equipped to lead in mission. Donor support made up 55 percent of the annual budget when combining outright gifts and endowment income. Charitable gifts cover everything from student scholarships and cross-cultural experiences to new course development and much more!

Luther Seminary awards more than $3.1 million in financial aid each year. Congregations provide another $1.2 million in assistance. On average, this covers approximately four-fifths of the cost of tuition. Students still incur significant education and living expenses. Scholarships and tuition support make it possible for students to say "Yes!" to God's call!

WHY ANNUAL GIFTS MATTER: It would take more than $186 million of unrestricted endowment to generate the annual spending power given by our friends and alumni/ae each year.

2008-2009 Fiscal Facts

COST TO EDUCATE A STUDENT AFTER DONOR SUPPORT. The average student receives $5,821.44 per year in scholarships and grants. As the sample student budget below shows, this leaves a significant gap for students to fill.

Tuition 11,000
Room and Board 5,120
Books and Fees 2,000
Transportation 3,000
Misc. Personal 6,750
Total 28,870

 

How Luther Seminary Is Financially Supported

Gifts, Grants 9,303,268
Tuition, Fees 5,224,037
Endowment Income 3,206,067
Churchwide, Synod Support 2,011,440
Auxiliaries and Other 677,747
Total Income Budget 20,422,559

How Luther Seminary Spends Its Money

Student Education & Support Programs 8,912,466
Academic Support 936,635
Student Services 1,102,015
Institutional Support 6,858,936
Grants, Scholarships 3,314,470
Physical Plant, Maintenance 2,048,512
Total Budgeted Expenses 20,422,559
Next Steps

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At-A-Glance Statistics
Read quick facts about students, faculty, financial aid and the budget.

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semrel@luthersem.edu
651-641-3448 or 1-888-3LUTHER.

Scholarships Allow More Students to Say "Yes"

Students enter into the ministry at great cost to themselves. The cost of a seminary education is rising and with it the level of student debt.

The number of students who graduate with a debt load has reached 77%. For M.Div. students, the median educational debt load, including undergraduate debt, is $44,764. for M.A. students, it is $35,455.

High debt levels limit the types of calls students can accept, especially to rural or inner-city congregations that cannot pay high enough salaries to allow students to cover their debt payments.

Scholarship gifts are an important way to help curb student debt and allow more students to say “yes” to God's call.

 

Next Steps
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Can't find what you're looking for?
semrel@luthersem.edu
651-641-3448 or 1-888-3LUTHER.

Your Gifts at Work

Donor Stories