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Financial Aid & Scholarships

All assistance with financial aid is managed by Ashland University. As a graduate student, please visit AU Financial Aid for information and assistance.

Scholarship Info

The generosity of our friends and alumni provide endowed scholarships that serve the needs of our full time students. In 2011, over 90% of all full time students at Ashland received scholarship assistance.

One of the first questions that may come to mind after answering God’s call to seminary might be how are you going to pay for it. Ashland Theological Seminary is committed to doing our part in making an excellent theological education affordable to you. As a private, interdenominational school, we do not have large revenue streams from the government or one denomination funding the school. It is up to us to work with you to create a financial plan that will move you toward your goal of earning a graduate degree from Ashland.

There are ten principles that guide our views on financial aid and assistance:

#1

The primary purpose of financial aid is to assist a student in their theological preparation for ministry occupations and to make possible the enrollment of promising candidates by providing assistance to students who demonstrate financial need.

#2

Financial need is defined as the difference between the total cost of attending seminary and the amount of resources available to the student.

#3

Financial assistance consists of grants, loans, employment, scholarship, gifts and assistantships.

#4

The family of the student, whether the student is married or unmarried, is expected to make every reasonable effort to assist the student with his or her educational expenses.

#5

Students are expected to provide a major share of their expenses through savings and other assets or through employment where feasible.

#6

In the case of a married student without children, the spouse is expected to be gainfully employed if possible. The spousal earnings are to be considered as part of the family income.

#7

The students home church is encouraged to assist with the cost of preparation for ministry in cases where the student shows financial need.

#8

Financial aid is typically awarded on a year-by-year basis to students showing need, with re-application and review annually.

#9

Students on academic probation are not eligible for scholarship aid from the seminary. Students on academic probation may also be placed on financial aid probation and therefore ineligible for student loans.

#10

In cases where a student receives outside scholarships or grants, Ashland reserves the right to adjust any scholarship from the school.

Available Scholarships

Trustees Award

All students taking 16 credit hours per quarter receive the Trustees Award which is a 25% reduction in the per credit hour tuition. If a student were to take 16 hours at our $375 per hour fee, the tuition would be $6,000. With the Trustees Award, these students only pay $4,500 for those 16 credit hours.

Qualifications

  • Admission to any master’s degree program at Ashland Theological Seminary
  • Registration for 16 credit hours or more per quarter
  • In good academic standing with the seminary (academic probation may disqualify a student from this award)
  • Bachelor Exempt Student are given exemption from the academic standing requirement until after they have completed 24 credit hours at a 2.7 GPA as stipulated in their admission.

Application

No application necessary. All students meeting the above criteria receive the award.

Brethren Leadership Initiative Scholars

Amount

Full tuition for a completed Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Practical Theology degree. A limited number of awards are given each year.

Qualifications

A current member of a Brethren Church and a commitment to service to the Brethren Church and/or its affiliations for a minimum of five years after graduation. Scholars are also expected to fully participate in the leadership initiatives associated with the scholarship including mentoring, training, conferences and other opportunities.

Application

To be considered for the Brethren Leadership Initiative Scholars program you must complete a full assessment with the Brethren Church National Office and receive their recommendation for the scholarship award.

Visit Brethren Church Website

Excellence Award

Amount

$4,500 (awarded as $1,500 quarterly). A limited number of awards are given annually.

Qualifications

  • A returning student having completed at least 36 credit hours
  • Registered for at least 12 hours per quarter
  • An ATS cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher
  • This award is given to the top GPAs earned

Application

  • A completed Scholarship Application Form
  • A completed Excellence Award Faculty Nomination Form
  • All documents must be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management by May 15
  • Scholarship awards are for one year only and application must be made annually until degree completion. This is not an automatically renewable award.

Theological Studies Award

Amount

$3,000 (awarded as $1,000 quarterly). A limited number of awards are given annually.

Qualifications

  • An MDIV, MAR or MABTH student
  • A returning student having completed at least 36 credit hours
  • An ATS cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Scholarship is awarded to the highest GPAs in the category.

Application

  • A completed Scholarship Application Form
  • All documents must be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management by May 15
  • Scholarship awards are for one year only and application must be made annually until degree completion. This is not an automatically renewable award.

Professional Studies Award

Amount

$3,000 (awarded as $1,000 quarterly). A limited number of awards are given annually.

Qualifications

  • An MACC, MDIVCC, MAC or MAPT student
  • A returning student having completed at least 42 credit hours
  • An ATS cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Scholarship is awarded to the highest GPAs in the category

Application

  • A completed Scholarship Application Form
  • All documents submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management by May 15
  • Scholarship awards are for one year only and application must be made annually until degree completion. This is not an automatically renewable award.

Brethren General Scholarships

Amount

up to $3,000 annually

Qualifications

  • A member in good standing with a Brethren congregation affiliated with the Brethren Church, Ashland, OH
  • Admission to a degree of study at ATS
  • Registered for at least 10 hours per quarter

Application

  • A completed Scholarship Application Form
  • All documents submitted to the Office of Enrollment Management by May 15
  • Scholarship awards are for one year only and application must be made annually until degree completion. This is not an automatically renewable award.

Partner in Ministry Award

Amount

50% tuition reduction per class taken. Can be applied to a degree program, for personal growth, for credit or audit.

Qualifications

  • The husband or wife of a full time, enrolled ATS student
  • Either admission to a degree program at ATS or admission as a Guest Student for credit or audit

Application

  • A completed Partner in Ministry Form available from the Office of Enrollment Management or online
  • Applications are due before the beginning of the quarter to which the benefit will be applied
  • Only one application needs to be held on file. To continue the benefit in subsequent quarters, simply confirm with the Registrars Office your intent to enroll each quarter.

Emily & Dariush

Recipients of the "Partner in Ministry Award" tell the story of their journey.

Alumni Benefit

Amount

One free audited course annually

Qualifications

  • An alumni of any masters or doctoral degree program at ATS
  • The alumni may choose from a select number of available courses listed on the alumni page of our website
  • Space is limited and granted on a first come basis

Application

  • A completed Guest Student Application
  • An Alumni Audit Waiver Form
  • Both forms are available from the Office of Enrollment Management or online
  • Forms must be returned to the Registrar’s Office by September

Campus Ministry Award

Amount

$750 per quarter

Qualifications

  • Admission into any Master’s level program at Ashland
  • Full time employment in campus ministry at a University or College
  • The scholar must maintain a GPA of 2.7

Application

  • A completed Scholarship Application
  • A letter of employment from the university, college or para-church ministry organization

Student Roundtable

The Student Roundtable is the student voice to the faculty and administration of Ashland Theological Seminary. Each campus: Ashland, Cleveland, Columbus, and Detroit have three (3) Roundtable Members who seek to listen to student concerns and feedback, serve has hospitable representatives of the school and to respectfully offer feedback through their assigned mentors.

Amount

$1,500 annually

Qualifications

  • Enrolled student in a Master’s program at Ashland
  • Maintain all GPA requirements for scholarship
  • Perform with excellence the responsibilities assigned

Application

Internships

A variety of paid internships are available through the Seminary and Ashland University where students can exercise their gifts and talents in the service of others. Seminary Internships include Chapel, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Counseling/Care, and Student Life. Internships are available at each of the four centers (Ashland, Cleveland, Columbus, and Detroit). University Internships vary annually but involve pastoral and leadership service to the Office of Religious Life and the campus ministry The Well.

Amount

$3,000 to $5,000 annually

Qualifications

  • Enrolled in a Master’s program at Ashland
  • Maintain all GPA requirements for scholarship
  • Perform with excellence the responsibilities assigned

Application

  • A completed Internship Application
  • An interview with the party supervising the internship

Need More Info?

The generosity of our friends and alumni provide endowed scholarships that serve the needs of our full time students. In 2011, over 90% of all full time students at Ashland received scholarship assistance.

Apply

Who to Contact

Glenn Black gblack@ashland.edu 419-289-5151