I. Seattle Pacific Seminary Scholarships
New students who are admitted to Seattle Pacific Seminary (SPS) and continuing students are eligible to apply for SPS scholarships. These scholarships provide financial support towards tuition costs for graduate courses taken in the Seminary only (i.e. THEO courses); scholarship aid will not apply to courses taken outside of the School of Theology.
Steps to Apply:
To apply for a Seminary scholarship, SPS students must complete the following two steps prior to the scholarship application deadline of March 31:
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA provides the Seminary with an assessment of a student’s financial need. Students can complete a FAFSA form online. (Seattle Pacific University’s school code is: 003788).
- Complete a SPS scholarship application.
The scholarship application provides the Seminary with a detailed assessment of a student’s financial situation, and allows the Seminary to understand any additional information about a student’s finances that may not have been captured by FAFSA. In a student’s scholarship application, the Seminary is seeking a concise statement of monthly expenses, monthly income, and additional information about a student’s financial situation that should be listed (e.g. additional scholarships a student is applying for, etc.).
Students are evaluated for scholarship aid based on: financial need, merit (e.g. GPA, vocational preparedness), and on a first-come-first-serve basis (i.e. students will be evaluated and awarded scholarships as soon as their application materials are received).
New and continuing students who are interested in applying for a Seminary scholarship are strongly encouraged to complete their FAFSA and scholarship application well in advance to the application deadline. The Seminary will receive scholarship applications as early as January 1, up until the deadline.
Eligibility Criteria:
SPS scholarships are awarded to new and continuing students based on the following criteria:
- New students must confirm their enrollment to the Seminary by completing and mailing their Admissions Response Form to the SPS administrative offices:
Seattle Pacific Seminary
Alexander Hall, Suite 109
3307 3rd Ave West
Seattle WA 98119-1997
- SPS scholarships are evenly distributed to students’ SPU student account across each quarter of the academic year (Fall, Winter and Spring) and cannot be deferred to a future term or academic year.
- New students must be enrolled in a minimum of five graduate credits, and continuing students must be registered for six or more graduate credits in the Seminary (i.e. THEO courses only). Exceptions to this minimum credit policy are evaluated and approved on a case-by-case basis by the SPS administration.
- Seminary scholarship aid cannot be applied toward graduate courses offered outside of the School of Theology (e.g. the School of Business, Government, and Economics; School of Psychology, Family, and Community; Industrial-Organizational Psychology; and Education).
- Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 each quarter to maintain their eligibility to receive their SPS scholarship award.
- Seminary scholarships will not be awarded in combination with other tuition discount programs offered by SPS, such as the Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount Program, and the Multi-year Tuition Discount Program.
II. Applying for Federal Student Loans
New students who are admitted to SPS and continuing students may apply for federal student loans to assist with the cost of their graduate education and living expenses. Federal student loans are administered by the Student Financial Services department at Seattle Pacific University. SPS does not administer federal student loans for Seminary students; the Seminary administration only deals with scholarship aid.
For more information on how to apply for federal student loans, visit the following link for the SPU Graduate Catalog.
For more information about the services available through SPU’s Student Financial Services, visit the following link.
III. Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount Program
The Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount Program provides a 50% tuition discount for first-year students of SPS who are actively employed in a full-time or part-time capacity at a Christian church or a parachurch organization, such as: Campus Crusade, InterVarsity, Navigators, Union Gospel Mission, Urban Impact, Young Life, Youth for Christ, or World Vision (Note: This is not an exclusive list).
Students who receive the Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition discount will be eligible to receive the 50% tuition discount during their first academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter) OR their first 40 credits at the Seminary, whichever comes first.
Steps to Apply:
To apply, students must be admitted to a degree program at SPS, and must complete the following steps:
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA provides the Seminary with an assessment of your financial need. Students can complete a FAFSA form online. (Seattle Pacific University’s school code is: 003788).
- Demonstrate active employment at an approved Christian Church or Parachurch organization. Students can confirm their employment by asking a supervisor to send a letter or email to the Director of the Seminary communicating students’ active employment status at a church and parachurch organization. Students will not be required to maintain their active employment through the duration of their first academic year; the Seminary only requires that students demonstrate their active employment at the time they confirm their enrollment.
Eligibility Criteria:
The Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount Program will be awarded based on the following criteria:
- Students must be enrolled in their first year at the seminary.
- Students must be employed at a Christian Church or Parachurch organization at the time they confirm their enrollment to the Seminary.
- Students must be enrolled in a master degree offered by the Seminary (M.Div. and M.A. students); students who are enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies (GCC) will not be eligible.
- Students must be enrolled in a minimum of five credits during each quarter of their first year at the Seminary, unless otherwise approved by the Dean or Director of the Seminary.
- Students will not be eligible to obtain the 50% tuition discount for classes taken outside the Seminary – the graduate courses must be courses offered through the School of Theology (i.e. THEO courses only). The tuition discount will not be applicable toward graduate courses offered outside of the School of Theology (e.g. the School of Business, Government, and Economics; School of Psychology, Family, and Community; Industrial-Organizational Psychology; and Education).
- Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 each quarter to continue to receive the Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount.
- Students who are awarded the Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount will not be eligible to receive additional tuition scholarship support from the Seminary. However, students who are selected to serve in the Murdock Discipleship Fellows Program will be eligible to receive the four-credit tuition scholarship associated with this paid-internship.
- The Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount and Multi-year Tuition Discount Scholarship will only be extended to a combined total of ten students each year.
- The Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount will be subject to change or withdrawal based on a year-to-year evaluation of results.
IV. Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship Policy
The Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship Policy provides a 50% tuition discount for first-year students who exhibit exceptional qualifications on the basis of their prior academic performance, vocational preparedness, and their personal and spiritual maturity. This policy provides the 50% tuition discount for two years for M.A. students and three years for M.Div. students of SPS.
Since the Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship, there is no application process; rather, students are evaluated based on the strength of their Seminary application.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Student must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA for 3.5 or higher, and possess exceptional experience serving in a Christian leadership (which will be attested to in the student’s Seminary application).
- Students must be enrolled in their first year at the seminary.
- Students must be enrolled in a master degree offered by the Seminary (M.Div. and M.A. students).
- Students who receive the Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship must be enrolled in a minimum of five credits during each quarter of their first year at the Seminary, unless otherwise approved by the Dean or Director of the Seminary.
- Students will not be eligible to obtain the 50% tuition discount for classes taken outside the Seminary – the graduate courses must be courses offered through the School of Theology (i.e. THEO courses only). The tuition discount will not be applicable toward graduate courses offered outside of the School of Theology – e.g. the School of Business, Government, and Economics; School of Psychology, Family, and Community; Industrial-Organizational Psychology; and Education.
- Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 each quarter to continue to receive the Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship.
- Students who are awarded the Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship will not be eligible to receive additional tuition scholarship support from the Seminary. However, students who are selected to serve in the Murdock Discipleship Fellows Program will be eligible to receive the four credit tuition scholarship associated with this paid-internship.
- The Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship and the Church and Parachurch Staff Tuition Discount Program will be extended to a combined total of ten students each year.
- The Multi-Year Tuition Discount Scholarship will be subject to change or withdrawal based on a year-to-year evaluation of results.
V. Paid Internships
In partnership with the Center for Biblical and Theological Education, SPS provides opportunities for new and continuing students to apply for paid-internships. The following paid-internships are currently available to students:
- Murdock Discipleship Fellows Program (MDF).
Each academic year, four first-year SPS students are selected to receive this paid-internship opportunity which includes leading AND developing leaders of accountable discipleship groups for SPU undergraduate students. These SPS student interns will provide leadership for this vital undergraduate ministry, while also receiving opportunities for support and mentorship in their own vocational discernment. MDF applications are due by March 2. For more information (including information on compensation), visit this link.
- Kern Fellows: “Business as a Holy Calling.”
Each academic year, four second- and third-year SPS students are selected to receive this paid-internship opportunity, which includes leading “Business as a Holy Calling” studies and discussions in local church settings. Interns are compensated for the time they spend being trained on the intersection of faith and business, developing curriculum, and leading small group studies in church settings. Applications for the “Business as a Holy Calling” internship are due on April 1. For more information (including information on compensation), visit this link.
VI. Graduate Assistantship Opportunities
A limited number of graduate assistantship opportunities are available each school year. Graduate assistantships are generally for students who have completed at least one year of graduate work with SPS.
Graduate assistants can expect to work ten hours per week, for ten weeks each academic quarter, and earn $13-$15 per hour.
To be eligible, students must take at least six credits a quarter, and must make satisfactory progress toward their degree. To apply, download the Graduate Assistantship Application, and submit your application to seminary@spu.edu no later than March 31.
VII. John Wesley Seminary Foundation Grant/Loan
Students who are pursuing full-time ministry in the Free Methodist Church may qualify for this grant/loan opportunity. Qualified applicants must be Conference Ministerial Candidates (CMC) in the Free Methodist Church. For more information and to begin the application process, visit the Free Methodist Church Department of Leadership Development website.
VIII. Seattle Pacific University: Church Matching Grant
SPU Church Matching Grant is an additional scholarship administered by the University (not by the Seminary) that matches scholarship gifts made by Christian churches to its SPU students of up to $500.
SPS students are encouraged to take advantage of the Church Matching Grant, since it provides students with an opportunity to receive scholarship support from the University that is over and above any scholarship aid a student receives from SPS.
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