Grants and Scholarships
Eligibility: To be eligible for financial aid in a given semester at Western Seminary, students must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program.
Application Process: To apply, students must first complete the FAFSA (use school code G07178), then complete the appropriate grant or scholarship applications in SIS. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a free application that helps students determine their eligibility for federal financial aid. The FAFSA is NOT an application for aid at Western Seminary. In conjunction with the FAFSA, you must also complete an application for the type of aid you are seeking (including loans) in your SIS account. Unless otherwise specified, grants and scholarships are awarded for a single term, and students must re-apply each semester. International Students do not need to complete the FAFSA, and most should only complete the International Student Scholarship Application.
Awards: Grant and Scholarship awards are usually made during open registration for the upcoming semester. Applications are processed once all required materials are submitted. Most awards are percentage based, with an amount calculated based on the number of anticipated credits listed on the student's need-based grant application.
Grant Stacking Policy: It has always been Western's best practice to award students the maximum amount of financial aid they are eligible for, up to 20% of total tuition. Students who apply for multiple grants and scholarships may be awarded more than one, but not to exceed 20% of their total tuition. Please read Western's grant stacking policy for more information.
Disbursement: Grant and Scholarship disbursements are made directly to student accounts, starting on the Monday before the semester begins.
Paying Tuition: Tuition is due in full by the tuition deadline, regardless of when a grant or scholarship is disbursed. If a student's grant or scholarship has not disbursed by the tuition deadline, they can either pay in full and receive a refund once aid is disbursed to their account, or they can sign up for a monthly payment plan and make the first payment. In the latter option, any amount disbursed above the remaining balance will be refunded to the student, up to the amount already paid.
Please click below for details on individual grants or scholarships.
Named Scholarships
These named scholarships are non-renewable, and in most cases cannot be combined with other grants and scholarships from Western Seminary. Please review the eligibility requirements below before applying.
2024–2025 Named Scholarships
The 2024–2025 named scholarships list below provides pertinent information related to named scholarships that are available for students to apply for in the 2024–2025 academic year. Instructions pertaining to reviewing criteria and eligibility statements and then submitting an application are included in the linked document below.
- View available 2024–2025 named scholarships.
- Complete the scholarship application.
Need Based
Western Seminary Grant
Grants will be based primarily on financial need and will depend in large part on the amount of money available and the need of the applicant. Grants are awarded for a single term. Students must re-apply for grants every semester. All degree programs are eligible.
In order to qualify, students must:
- Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Have an SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) of $3,000 or less, as determined by FAFSA data.
Partnerships
Venture Church Network Grant
Western Seminary and the Venture Church Network (VCN) have partnered to provide VCN staff and members with exceptional opportunities for advanced theological studies! Here’s how you can benefit from this exclusive offer:
25% Partnership Grant: All verified members or staff of VCN churches will receive a 25% tuition grant for credit courses that satisfy degree program requirements. Course or program fees are not covered by this grant.
Credit for Previous Studies: You can request credit for prior studies accepted by Western Seminary faculty.
Eligibility and Application Process
Eligibility: In order to receive this partnership grant, VCN staff and members must complete a grant application every semester before the financial aid deadlines (August 1 for Fall, December 1 for Spring, and April 1 for Summer), and applicants must list Joyce Mercado of Venture Church Network as their reference. Joyce’s email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Note: Admission to Western Seminary is not guaranteed. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and submit all necessary materials, including reference forms and financial aid documents.
Partnership Grant
Thanks to the strong partnership between Western Seminary and the organizations and churches listed below, eligible staff/volunteers may be eligible for a partnership grant. Grants are awarded for a single term. Students must re-apply for grants every semester. In order to apply, fill out the FAFSA, the Need-Based Grant application and the Partnership Grant application. Most partnership grants offer a discount range (e.g. 10-20%), with each eligible student receiving at least the lower percentage, with the possibility of increase up to the higher percentage based on financial need. This grant does not stack with the Need-Based grant.
Important Note: Eligibility criteria and discount percentage varies by partnership
The following is a list of participating churches and organizations:
Parachurch
Church Partnerships
- Acts 29 Network Churches
- Calvary Global Network (CGN)
- Church on the Move // Tulsa, OK
- Grace Church // Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina
- Van City Church // Vancouver, WA
- Venture Christian Church // Los Gatos, CA
- Venture Church Network (formerly CBAmerica)
- Westgate Church // San Jose, CA
Alumni Scholarships
Alumni Scholarship
Graduates of a Western Seminary masters program are eligible for a 20 percent tuition scholarship for their doctoral program at Western Seminary. The awarding process is automatic, so no application is necessary. Scholarships are awarded for a single term. This scholarship does not stack with the Need-Based grant.
Alumni Audit Opportunity
Degree graduates of Western Seminary are invited to audit one course per year at no charge. Degree graduates include those who have completed a full master's or doctoral degree program.
Church Matching Grants
Church Matching Grants
Western Seminary offers a church matching grant, matching contributions from partner churches up to 15% of a student's tuition. To qualify, students must be enrolled at least half-time and referred by their partner church. The agreement must be signed by the church’s executive leadership; students cannot sign on behalf of their supporting church. While churches are welcome to contribute more, Western's match will not exceed 15%. Eligibility criteria and deadlines apply. For questions, please contact the Financial Aid department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Other
International Student Scholarships
Most international students are not eligible for other institutional grants or scholarships, and should complete the form below. Students coming to study residentially in the USA will need to apply by April 1 each year. Students planning to remain abroad are subject to the standard financial aid application deadlines. International Student Scholarships are awarded one year at a time, so the application form only needs to be completed once per academic year. International students working on campus may stack tuition waivers with the International Student Scholarship.
International Students that are eligible for a Partnership Grant should This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss whether they should apply for the International Student Scholarship or for the Partnership Grant. If the tuition discount percentage is greater through the Partnership Grant, students should submit the Need-Based and Partnership Grant applications. Since International Students cannot complete the FAFSA, other means will be used to assess financial need, if required for the grant in question.
Learning Together Program (LTP)
If you are the spouse of a currently enrolled student in a Master’s or Doctoral Degree program, you will qualify for The Learning Together Program. Spouses are invited to audit one on-campus course per semester at the regular audit rate, and depending on the enrollment-level of the student, may qualify to receive a scholarship. The spouse of a full-time (8+ credits) degree student will receive a 75% scholarship. The spouse of a half-time (4-7 credits) degree student will receive a 50% scholarship. The spouse of a degree student taking 3-1 credits will not be eligible.
The Learning Together Program cannot be combined with the Advanced Studies Certificate Program or Partners in Ministry Programs. Please note: The LTP does not include online or coaching courses.
To register:
- Set up an S.I.S. account for enrollment and registration.
- The waivers and tuition adjustments for participating in Learning Together are applied through Financial Aid. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to notify Financial Aid that you have registered. Please include the degree student’s name in the email.