Matching Grant Opportunity. Need-based tuition grants (M.Div., M.A., and Th.M. programs) consist of two components: (1) an outright tuition grant and (2) a matching grant opportunity. Outright grants are applied directly against a student’s tuition; matching grant funds are awarded on a dollar-to-dollar basis with funds received from outside ecclesial bodies or organizations, such as dioceses, parishes, parish organizations, church aid organizations, or church scholarship funds. Funds received from private individuals do not qualify for matching grant funds.
Outside funds must be sent directly by the sponsoring organization to the seminary and must be received by the beginning of the semester (fall or spring) or term (summer) for which tuition support is being provided. Funds received after the deadline will not be eligible for a match unless arrangements for a payment plan have been made. Donor organizations must submit their first donation with the "Information and Submission Form for Donor Organizations":
» Submission Form for Donor Organizations
Calculating Tuition Eligible for Need-Based Aid. The amounts of tuition aid awarded in outright grants and donor matching opportunities are calculated as percentages of total eligible tuition, as determined by the student's semester enrollment (number of credits), the FAFSA report (for domestic students), and the information supplied on the seminary's Financial Aid Application. The following examples are provided:
- If a student were awarded a need-based tuition grant of 50% in outright grant money and 25% from a donor matching opportunity, then the student would receive $6,000 in grant money and the possibility of receiving up to $3,000 more from the seminary to match the $3,000 received from a donor matching opportunity from outside sources.
- If a student were awarded a need-based tuition grant of 20% in outright grant money and 40% from a donor matching opportunity, then the student would receive $2,400 in grant money and the possibility of receiving up to $4,800 more from the seminary to match the $4,800 received from a donor matching opportunity from outside sources.
In both examples, tuition would be fully funded.
