“What is so remarkable about the Jubilee Scholarship is I literally would not be here if it weren’t for it. And being able to have the financial freedom to do the thing that is meaningful and necessary for me to do what I was made to do…is such a relief to myself and my family.”-Colleen Lindstrom, 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. The number of loans taken by all students has declined 22 percent since the 2018-2019 academic year.
Thanks to generous Jubilee Scholarship donors, 55 percent of seminary graduates leave without educational debt – up from 30 percent in previous years. For the remaining 45 percent, the median indebtedness climbed to $55,500. 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 scholarships 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 $6.07 million in scholarships and financial aid during 2019-2020. 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.
45% of Luther Seminary graduates graduate with seminary debt.
Make a Scholarship Gift TodayThe figures are for full-time M. Div. study for the 2020-21 school year.
Tuition | $18,500 |
Living expenses and books | $23,722 |
Total | $42,222 |