Types of Aid

North Park offers a generous financial aid program to enable students to pursue theological education in preparation for Christian ministry.  For starters, tuition is kept low, compared to other graduate programs, through the institutional endowment, generous annual donors, and the support of the Evangelical Covenant Church.  We desire to help our students minimize or eliminate the need for borrowing to pay for seminary education.

Financial Aid Changes

We will be announcing changes to the Seminary financial aid program in early March 2012, including our scholarships and grants.  The information below will give you a general sense of the financial aid available for new students.

This website is regarded as the official authority for the current Seminary financial aid program.  Financial aid awards under which students matriculate at  North Park are the award packages under which they graduate.  We do not revise financial aid awards annually.

Please revisit this page in the coming weeks for details on the new financial aid program.

Applying for Finanical Aid

• Nyvall and Lund Scholarships are awarded automatically and do not require a separate application.
• Presidential and Diversity Scholarships require the FAFSA and a scholarship application.
• International students should submit the North Park Financial Aid Form to be considered for scholarships and grants.
• North Park need-based aid requires the FAFSA.
• The FAFSA is also required to borrow federal Stafford Loans.  North Park's school code is 001735.

Scholarships

• Presidential Scholarship These scholarships are available to members of the Evangelical Covenant Church who have demonstrated potential for effective ministry and commitment to serve in the Evangelical Covenant Church.  Academic records, references, and other criteria will be reviewed, in addition to the scholarship application.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time on-campus enrollment (8+ credit hours/semester). 
• Covenant Diversity Scholarship  North Park is committed to helping the Christian church increasingly become a church that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the Kingdom of God.  This scholarship is available to members of the Evangelical Covenant Church who have demonstrated potential for effective ministry and a commitment to serve in the Evangelical Covenant Church. 
• Academic Scholarships Nyvall and Lund scholarships are awarded based on academic records from previous study; award amounts vary.

Grants

• North Park Grant
  Limited need-based grants may be available after submission of the FAFSA (domestic students) or North Park Financial Aid Form (international students). 
• Spousal Grant
  Spouses of full time Seminary students (30 semester hours per year) may be eligible to receive a 50% tuition discount for Seminary courses and can audit courses for free.
• Ministry Partners
  Full time employees of partner organizations may be eligible for specific grants or scholarships.  Current Ministry Partner organizations are InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Young Life Staff, and Evangelical Covenant Church Offices.  Please contact the Office of Seminary Admission for details regarding these partnerships.  A letter of confirmation from the respective ministry partner may be required.

Costs Not Covered by Scholarships or Grants

North Park scholarships and grants apply toward regular course tuition.  Students are responsible for all other fees and costs.  These include the community service fee, field education costs, housing, insurance, among other routine fees that may be charged.

Other Resources to Finance Your Education

Loans

• Domestic, degree-seeking students are eligible to apply for federal Stafford Loans.  Half time attendance (four credit hours per semester) is required to be eligible to borrow federal loans.
• Certificate-seeking students are not eligible for federal student loans.
• North Park counsels students to minimize student borrowing and debt.  More information about federal student loans can be found here.

Campus Employment

• Residential Seminary students are eligible for campus employment.  Human Resources maintains a list of job postings.
• Graduate assistantships may be available, but usually require one or two semesters of completed academic work prior to application.

Off-Campus Employment

• Seminary students often find part-time work in local churches or organizations.  A job opportunity posting board is maintained in Nyvall Hall.  In addition, there are a myriad of opportunities for employment in the City of Chicago.