Office of Financial Aid

COST OF ATTENDANCE

You will be placed in one of the below budgets that closest fits your living arrangements:

*The above budgets were constructed by using the moderate budget standards for metropolitan areas from The College Board. They include estimates for room, board, rent, utilities, transportation, clothing, entertainment, children’s school expenses, insurance other than student, debt payments, etc. Miscellaneous personal includes: Recreation/entertainment, household supplies, personal hygiene, haircuts, cosmetics, clothing, and dry cleaning/laundry.

• Detailed information about housing and other charges

Additional Allowances

You may be eligible for additional financial aid budgetary allowances for: commuting from a primary residence while residing in our efficiency suite during the week ($2,000 commuter and possibly $2,000 additional housing allotment), childcare expenses, and a one-time computer purchase (up to $2,000 budgetary allowance with receipt). This additional allowance is not in the form of additional grant money. The additional allowance is the potential eligibility to borrow additional Stafford loan money and is not automatic.

Financial Aid Application Materials

Financial Aid Application (Trinity) 2010-2011 (47.73 kB)

Financial Aid Application (Bexley Hall) 2010-2011 (41.49 kB)

Merit Scholarship Application (39.21 kB)

Music Scholarship Application (32.35 kB)

SCHOLARSHIPS

Merit Scholarships

Some Trinity merit scholarships are awarded through individual application. Qualified students do not need to demonstrate financial need to apply. Prospective M.Div. students who are members of a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may apply.

To be considered for a merit scholarship, a student must be admitted to the M.Div. degree program and demonstrate a 3.5 cumulative grade point average through three years at an accredited college or university. The Financial Aid Committee will consider the student’s potential for effective ministry based on a written essay.

The Trinity Lutheran Seminary merit scholarship application must be postmarked by March 1. Awards of full, half, and quarter tuition will be announced by April 15 for the following academic year.  Assuming satisfactory academic progress is maintained, the merit scholarship will be renewed for the two remaining academic years on campus. Recipients of merit scholarships may also apply for all other financial aid.

Master of Arts in Church Music Scholarships

Internationally acclaimed soprano, Elizabeth Holleque, sang a memorable concert on November 12, 1995, in the Gloria Dei Worship Center at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. This, and a subsequent benefit concert by Ms. Holleque, funded The Holleque Scholarship in Church Music. This scholarship is awarded to incoming, full-time Master of Arts in Church Music students who exhibit outstanding musicianship and potential for effective leadership. A student’s scholarship is renewable provided a satisfactory academic record is maintained during the first year of full-time study in the Master of Arts in Church Music degree program.

The Presidential Scholarship in Church Music is awarded to incoming, full-time Master of Arts in Church Music students who demonstrate outstanding musicianship and potential for effective leadership. The scholarship is renewable provided a satisfactory academic record is maintained during the first year of full-time study in the Master of Arts in Church Music degree program.

OFF-CAMPUS SCHOLARSHIPS

The Office of Financial Aid maintains a list of off-campus scholarships, updated annually.

CHECKLIST & SEQUENCE FOR FINANCIAL AID

• You must be admitted into a degree program at Trinity or Bexley Hall.
• You must be at least half time for each semester for which you want to be considered for Financial Aid.
• Go on-line to: www.fafsa.ed.gov and file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to be eligible to receive any free grant money from Trinity or Bexley Hall or eligibility for other money that may be available to you. Our Title IV school code is: G03044.
• Fill out the paper APPLICATION FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID and return form to the Office of Financial Aid.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)

As part of applying for financial aid at Trinity, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can fill out your FAFSA online by leaving this site and going to the U.S. Department of Education web site. The address is www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Before Beginning a FAFSA

If you don't already have a PIN, apply for one now at www.pin.ed.gov You'll need a PIN to electronically sign your FAFSA. If you're a dependent student, your parents should also apply for a PIN now so they can electronically sign your FAFSA. Your PIN will be e- mailed to you within 1-5 days. If you don't provide an email address, your PIN will be mailed to your permanent mailing address within 7-10 days. Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you. Section 1 on the home page of www.fafsa.ed.gov has a list of all documents you will need to fill our your FAFSA.

Filling Out a FAFSA

Some applicants find it helpful to fill out a Pre-Application Worksheet before completing their online FAFSA. To print out a Worksheet, go to Section 1 on the home page. Select "Fill out a FAFSA" in Section 2. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you filled out a Pre-Application Worksheet, use it to complete the application. Remember, the first "F" in FAFSA stands for "Free!" There is no cost to apply for federal student aid, and free help is available. If you need help completing your application, click the "CHAT" link on any screen to chat online with a Customer Service Representative, or Call 1-800-4-FED-AID to speak to a Customer Service Representative. Once you've completed your application, review your answers carefully and, if necessary, correct them before submitting your FAFSA. Sign your FAFSA. You can sign electronically with your PIN, print a paper signature page to sign and mail in, or wait for a signature page to arrive in the mail. Submit your application by selecting the "Submit my FAFSA now" button on the very last page of the form. Once you submit your application, you'll be taken to a Confirmation Page that shows your confirmation number and estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your school will use your EFC to determine the types and amounts of aid you're eligible to receive. Print a copy of the Confirmation Page for your records.

FAFSA Follow-up

You'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Information Acknowledgement in the mail about 2 weeks after submitting your online FAFSA. If you provided your e- mail address, you'll receive an e-mail with a link to your SAR on the Web in no more than 5 days. Review all of your answers on your SAR and make sure they are correct. If you estimated your income, compare your FAFSA answers to your tax return or other financial records, and correct any answers that are wrong. Return to www.fafsa.ed.gov after submitting your FAFSA to check on the status of your application. With your PIN, you can also

1. Check the results of your processed FAFSA.
2. Correct any errors you made while filling out your application.
3. Print a copy of your SAR information.

STUDENT ACCOUNTS

Students will be billed each term by the business office. All charges and fees are payable upon receipt of a statement from the business office. For purposes of billing, the J-term and spring terms are considered one term. Thus, students should plan on making two payments during the regular academic year; “term,” as used in this catalog section, refers to the two periods: (1) fall term and (2) combined J-term and spring terms. Registration for subsequent terms will not be permitted until all amounts owed have been paid or satisfactory arrangements for such payment have been made with the Business Office. Students will not be permitted to graduate unless all charges have been paid in full.

A refund may be made to a student who does not complete a full term, based on the date of formal notification of withdrawal or the date on which the seminary formally determines that the student is dismissed or suspended and notifies him or her of this action. The seminary will retain a percentage of the tuition, fees, and other charges paid equal to the percentage of time for which the student was enrolled for the first 60% of the term. After 60% of the term is completed, no reduction of charges will be made. Refund of any monies to the student will be governed by the Federal Refund Policy as described in the Financial Aid section of this catalog. The seminary may retain reasonable additional fees, not to exceed $100, to cover application, enrollment, registration, and similar costs.

A student who withdraws from an individual course during a term will be charged tuition proportionately.

ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID

A student must be registered for at least six semester hours in the fall or spring to be considered a half-time student during one of those terms. Enrollment as an auditor does not establish eligibility for financial aid, and courses audited will not be counted in determining a student’s status. A student who has completed all the requirements for the degree is no longer eligible for financial aid.

A student must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Satisfactory academic progress with regard to the Master of Divinity program is defined as being a student in good standing (See page 16) in an academic program that can be completed in a period of four-five years, exclusive of internship. A full-time student in the Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts, or Master of Sacred Theology program must be in good standing and able to complete the degree program in a period of three academic years.

If a student is not in good standing for one term, but still shows that the academic program can be completed in the required period of time, financial aid may continue for another term. If the faculty permits a student to remain after a second term on academic probation, aid may continue for an additional term. A student permitted to remain beyond this point will be required to reestablish good academic standing and show satisfactory academic progress toward the degree before receiving any additional financial aid. A student’s academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each academic term.

Students who are required to register with Selective Service and fail to do so are ineligible to receive federal aid.

Certain students are randomly selected for verification. These students will be notified by the Director of Financial Aid and given the necessary forms to complete. Financial aid will not be finalized until all requested documentation is received.

FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES

Applications for financial aid from students expecting to enroll in the fall are due to the financial aid office by May 1. After that date all financial aid applications from students will be reviewed in the order received. Students must apply each year for renewal of financial aid. Students should contact the Director of Financial Aid early in the application process to discuss particular situations and needs. 

Trinity’s financial aid package consists of grants, loans, and employment. Grants are determined on a percentage basis of the total need after all other resources have been counted. Trinity loans are a part of the financial aid package and are determined on a percentage basis of the student’s unmet need. No interest is charged on Trinity loans if repayment is on schedule. Monthly payments of $75 begin nine months after graduation or separation from the seminary. The Trinity loan portion of the financial aid package is optional, and students may decline the loan. Once a loan has been declined, there is no guarantee that it may be available at a later date.

Upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a student may request a promissory note for the Federal Stafford Loan program. While the majority of students are eligible to receive subsidized Stafford Loans, an unsubsidized Stafford Loan may be available for students who have exhausted their subsidized Stafford Loans or who do not qualify for subsidized Stafford Loans. See the Director of Financial Aid for more details.

Students are counseled by the Director of Financial Aid regarding loan indebtedness, and additional loans are considered only if all other resources have been exhausted.

Employment of eligible students in Federal Work-Study positions is available on and off campus. These positions are specifically chosen for the learning and serving experience provided. All available positions are posted on a bulletin board outside the financial aid office. First-year students are encouraged to limit their part-time employment to 10-15 hours per week.

FEDERAL REFUND POLICY FOR WITHDRAWAL

It is assumed that a student who enrolls at Trinity will remain for the entire term. When a student finds it necessary to withdraw during the term, Trinity may provide a partial refund of charges.

Federal Stafford Loans are disbursed on the assumption that a student completes the academic term for which the loan is granted. If a student does not complete an academic term, the Federal Refund Policy governs how much federal aid the student is eligible for:

During the first 60% of the term, a student “earns” federal funds in direct proportion to the length of time he/she remains enrolled. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point “earns” all aid for the term.

A worksheet will be used by the Director of Financial Aid to determine the portion of Stafford Loan funds to be returned to the federal program. Return of federal funds (excluding work-study) minus unpaid charges must be distributed in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans

No return of federal funds is necessary for a student who withdraws from the seminary after 60% of the term is completed; the student enters repayment for those funds. The student must follow proper withdrawal procedures as described in the section on Withdrawal in the Trinity Academic Catalog.