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Financial Aid

How do you afford seminary? Many students at Northern receive financial aid through a scholarship or grant or participate in our Partners in Ministry program. Our admissions counselors have been right where you are, wondering if it is possible to follow God’s call into ministry, enhance knowledge, and sharpen skills without knowing how to answer financial questions. We have been there and want to help. Give us a call if you have questions.

Full Tuition Scholarships | Scholarships & Grants | Federal Loans

Financial Aid Application Process:

(Steps 1-4 are required for all students seeking aid of any kind)

1. Apply for admission and gain acceptance into a master's-level degree program.

2. Complete the Northern Seminary one page Application for Financial Aid (download application here). Submit the completed Northern Application to the Financial Aid Office. This financial aid application, along with the completed FAFSA (see step 3), triggers your financial aid review.

3. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid - Federal Student Code: G01736). Students are considered for Northern scholarships and grants only after completing the FAFSA.

4. Register for classes for the entire academic year with assistance from your pre-enrollment advisor/admissions counselor. Financial aid cannot be calculated until you register! Students must register for a minimum of 6 hours per quarter to qualify for financial aid.

5. If you would like to apply for federal loans, please see additional steps required below.

*Students are considered on a priority basis. Students are encouraged to complete the application early in the admission process so that they may receive information regarding their award in a timely manner.

Full Tuition Scholarships

These particular scholarships are only available to new students who begin in the Fall term. Current students are ineligible for the Presidential and Perkins Scholarships.  The Financial Aid Office will be happy to assist you in exploring alternative resources for financial aid upon completion of the above process.  Additionally, students may only apply to one scholarship program or the other – one cannot apply to both the Presidential Scholarship and the John Perkins Fellowship.

Presidential Scholarship: 100% Tuition (more info here)

• Applicant must have a degree from an accredited undergraduate institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
• Applicant must be able to articulate a call to ministry
• Applicant must be admitted to a Masters degree program (MDiv or MACM) for the Fall term
• Applicant must complete the FAFSA (Federal School Code: G01736)
• Applicants must take at least 9 hours each quarter (an average of 3 courses)

In order to receive additional information regarding the Presidential Scholarship application process, you must fill out the interest form found here

John Perkins Fellowship: 100% Tuition (more info here)

• Applicant must have a degree from an accredited undergraduate institution
• Applicant must be able to articulate a call to urban ministry
• Applicant must live in an approved urban setting
• Applicant must be admitted to the Master of Divinity program for the Fall term
• Applicant must complete the FAFSA (Federal School Code: G01736)
• Applicants mustcomplete their coursework in 3 to 5 years

In order to receive additional information regarding the Presidential Scholarship application process, you must fill out the interest form found here

Scholarships & Grants

Northern Scholarship: 10 - 50% (download application here)

• Applicant must be admitted to a Masters degree program
• Student is expected to take at least 6 hours each quarter (2 courses)
• Based on a combination of merit and financial need
• Applicant must have a 3.0+ cumulative G.P.A.
• Applicant must complete the FAFSA (Federal School Code: G01736)
• Applicant must register for courses for an entire year (Fall, Winter, and Spring terms)
• Financial Aid is awarded for an entire academic year and students must reapply by April 30 of each year

Northern Grant: 10 - 25% (download application here)

• Applicant must be admitted to a Masters degree program
• Student is expected to take at least 6 hours each quarter (2 courses)
• Based on a combination of merit and financial need
• Applicant must have a 2.5+ cumulative G.P.A.
• Applicant must complete the FAFSA (Federal School Code: G01736)
• Applicant must register for courses for an entire year (Fall, Winter, and Spring terms)
• Financial Aid is awarded for an entire academic year and students must reapply by April 30 of each year

Partners in Ministry 50% (Masters Students) (download application here)

• Student commits to paying 50% of tuition and all fees
• The student's church or ministry pledges to participate in the Partners in Ministry by providing a financial gift equal to 25% of tuition for each quarter the student is enrolled
• Applicant must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours each quarter
• 2.5+ cumulative G.P.A. required

Note: Northern provides a 25% grant to any student meeting the above qualifications resulting in a total of a 50% tuition reduction.

Partners in Ministry 50% (Doctoral Students) (download application here)

• Student’s home church must contribute 25% of tuition
• Applicant must be admitted to the Doctoral program
• Applicant must be enrolled full-time in the Doctor of Ministry program 
• 3.0+ cumulative G.P.A. required

Note: Northern provides a 25% grant to any student meeting the above qualifications resulting in a total of a 50% tuition reduction.

Spouse Grant: 50%

• Available to the spouse of any current full-time student
• Grant may be applied toward one course in each quarter

Federal Loans (Title IV Funds)

Please read thoroughly if interested in Federal Loans: frequently asked questions regarding federal aid.

Students interested in pursuing a Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry or a Masters Specialization may apply for federal student loans. In order to receive federal student loans, students must:

• Be admitted into a Masters-level degree program
• Take at least 6 hours per quarter
• Register for entire academic year with pre-enrollment advisor, and then continue to do so each summer

Applying for Federal Loans:

1. Apply for admission and gain acceptance into a masters-level degree program.
2. Complete the FAFSA (Federal School Code: G01736).
3. Register for entire academic year with pre-enrollment advisor/.
4. Apply for any scholarships or grants from Northern Seminary (information and applications available above).
5. Complete online Federal Aid Interview (more info).* As part of the interview, students who do not have a Master Promissory Note (MPN) on file with the government must sign their MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans. Upon completion of the interview and/or confirmation process you will be notified if an MPN is required.  Follow a step by step guide here for completing it.  If you need to create a PIN, click here. In addition, students must complete a Federal Aid payment agreement. This can be accomplished by contacting the Business Office at 630.620.2111

After completing the online interview, students will receive information by email regarding their loan awards. Any loan disbursement date is an estimated date; the Northern staff will notify you when your funds are available.

Note: The Department of Education selects approximately 30 percent of all submitted FAFSAs to undergo a process called verification. It is the student's responsibility to gather the necessary information to complete this verification process. If selected, you will need to send the requested materials, along with a cover letter which includes your full name, to 1.877.889.6168. Verification takes a minimum of four to five weeks once all documents are received by our third party servicer.

6. Please complete the Title IV Student Loan Disbursement Agreement. Your loan funds automatically pay your tuition and fees. The funds can be used to pay other account items, but you must give us permission to do so by selecting them on this form. The enclosed form must be returned to the Business Office at Northern Seminary. You can drop it off at Kern Hall or mail it to:
   
   Northern Seminary
   ATTN: Federal Aid Office
   660 E Butterfield Road
   Lombard, IL 60148

Student Resources:

www.studentloans.gov - This website is a source of information from the U.S. Department of Education on how to manage your student loans. There are several links to helpful information and resources regarding the decisions you need to make when managing your loans, including what to expect, exit counseling, and repayment plans.

www.finaid.org/calculators - FinAid is a website that will connect you to a variety of calculators, including: Cost Projector, Savings Plan Designer, Expected Family Contribution, and Financial Aid Calculator and Loan Calculator.

Thank you for considering Northern. We will be praying for you as you consider the next steps in your ministry preparation.