“The Jubilee Scholarship took away such a tremendous amount of financial stress, it’s almost indescribable. It’s made my seminary experience much more enjoyable because it’s taken away the biggest barrier for me to go to school.”

-Amy Dunckelmann, second-year M.Div. student

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

The Jubilee Scholarship program, which provides 100 percent tuition scholarships for all incoming Master of Arts and Master of Divinity students, makes a significant impact on our graduates’ indebtedness. Thanks to generous donor support, we have been able to extend the Jubilee Scholarship to a limited number of Graduate Certificate students. Since the introduction of the Jubilee Scholarship, the number of loans taken by all students continues to decline each year, with 85% of our students not applying for student loans in 2023. Average loan amounts for all students hit a new record low for a second time since 1998.

Your investment in the future of the church through the Jubilee Scholarship program means Christian leaders are able to enter ministry in a healthier financial position, allowing them to focus more of their energy on God’s work. Because of you, 67 percent of 2023 seminary graduates left with ZERO student loan debt – up from 30 percent in previous years. For the remaining 33 percent, the median amount of debt they leave seminary with is $35,000. 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.

Your support of the Current Scholarship fund allows students to freely follow their call to ministry, and minimize their debt so they can serve God’s world where they are most needed.

Scholarship facts

Luther Seminary budgeted $7 million in scholarships and financial aid for the 2023-2024 academic year. In addition, local congregations provide assistance to individual students. On average, this covers approximately half of the cost of tuition, but students still incur significant living expenses that must be covered through employment, loans or other sources of income.

33% of Luther Seminary students graduated with seminary debt in 2023.

Make a Scholarship Gift Today

The figures are for full-time M. Div. study for the 2023-24 school year.

Tuition	$23,200
Living expenses and books	$27,608
Total	$50,808