Financing Seminary
As a mission-centered institution, our priority is preparing you to minister to a world in need of God’s love—without the burden of navigating that journey alone. We are committed to making your education affordable through a variety of creative pathways. Learn about our Scholarships and Aid here.
Scholarships are awarded for the full length of your degree program and all students who apply to Wesley are considered for funding and support based on holistic attention to the fullness of you!
We partner with you from application to commencement:
- financial aid counseling and appointments
- paid student work/ambassador positions
- stewardship courses and financial workshops
- updates to vital changes or information within the institution or Dept of Ed.
- external scholarship access
Wesley DC Merit Scholarships and Awards
No person who meets our admission requirements shall be denied access to scholarships, grants, loan programs, or employment on the basis of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
Please note: some awards are designated specifically on background or ministry objectives.
Wesley DC Merit Scholarships
Wesley DC offers a limited number of scholarships to students of all denominations based on prior academic achievement and demonstrated ability and potential for leadership in the church. These scholarships include the Bishop’s, Oxnam, Governor’s, Presidential, Dean’s and Wesley Merit Awards.
Wesley DC Merit scholarships are awarded during the admissions process. To be eligible for these awards, you must apply for admission by February 1 in the preceding academic year you plan to enter seminary.
Bishop’s Merit Scholarship – Full-tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
Oxnam Merit Scholarship – 75% tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
Governor’s Merit Scholarship – 60% tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
Next Call Merit Scholarship – 50% tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
President’s Merit Scholarship – 40% tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
Wesley Merit Scholarship – 25% tuition coverage for up to 81 credit hours for MDiv, 60 credit hours for MTS, and 36 credit hours for MA
All who have applied by February 1 will be considered for all awards for which they are qualified.
Ellura Harvey Winters Award
Tuition coverage for an entering student who exhibits potential for academic excellence and for leadership in The United Methodist Church. This is a first-year award only, but recipients may be considered for additional aid after a successful first year of studies.
These scholarships are awarded during the admissions process. To be eligible for these awards, you must apply for admission by February 1 in the preceding the academic year you plan to enter seminary.
United Methodist Student Scholarships
Students from conferences of the United Methodist Church are considered for special matching scholarships awarded by Wesley DC and their home conference. Students may also explore available denominational scholarships.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
Applications for the following scholarships may be found at www.gbhem.org. Applications typically open in December and are often due by March 13.
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation
Every year, the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation awards more than $2 million in scholarships to Methodist students attending a United Methodist-related school. Applications are typically open January 1 – March 1 for the following academic year. Awards range from $500 to $10,000. Applications are available at www.umhef.org
United Methodist Ministerial Educational Funds
United Methodist students need to contact their Annual Conference to apply for tuition grants or service loans provided by the Ministerial Educational Funds.
United Methodist Conference-Specific Scholarships
For more information, contact the chairperson or register at the conference link.
Alabama-West Florida Conference
Alaska United Methodist Conference
Arkansas United Methodist Conference
Baltimore-Washington Conference
California-Nevada Conference Scholarships
California-Pacific Conference Scholarships
Detroit Conference Scholarships
East Ohio Conference Seminary Scholarships
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference
Greater New Jersey Conference Scholarships
(Indiana United Methodist Scholarships/Grants)/Heartland Methodist Foundation
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Louisiana Conference Scholarships
Missouri Conference Scholarships
Nebraska Conference Grants & Scholarships/Great Plains United Methodists
New Mexico Conference Scholarships and Grants
Urban Ministry Scholarship Program
North Georgia Conference Scholarships
Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference
Central Appalachian Conference/Red Bird Missionary Conference
Rio Texas Conference/Rio Grande Conference
Mountain Sky Conference/Rocky Mountain Conference
South Carolina Conference Scholarships
Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference Scholarships
Western North Carolina Conference
Virginia Conference Scholarships
Michigan Conference/West Michigan Conference
Need-Based Grants
Need grants are available to students who demonstrate need via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and on the Wesley DC Financial Assistance Application. Both documents are due by the priority deadline of May 1 for consideration. The FAFSA code is G01464.
Student Loans
Students are encouraged to borrow conservatively, exhausting all other sources of aid first. Federal Direct Loans provide students with the best borrower benefits, with a low fixed interest rate and low fees. The FAFSA code is G01464.
Note: The FAFSA Application must be completed in order to request Federal Direct Loans.
Student Employment
Part-time positions may be available throughout the year as department needs arise. Hiring is based on both financial need and experience or aptitude. The student employment application can be found under Forms and openings are listed under Current Openings as jobs become available and student staffing is needed. Jobs are typically average 10 hours per week. Student employees receive regular bi-weekly payroll checks. These funds are not applied to a student’s account and are not listed as pending aid on the student’s building statement.
Military/Veterans
Air Force Chaplaincy Scholarships
The Air Force offers scholarships for individuals who want to become service chaplains. To qualify applicants must: 1) meet Air Force commissioning requirements, 2) receive written permission from a listed DoD ecclesiastical endorser, 3) be in good academic standing, and 4) be younger than 39 years of age upon completion of theological studies. For more information, send a request to chaplains@rs.af.mil
Yellow Ribbon Program
Wesley Theological Seminary participates in the Yellow Ribbon program in partnership with Veterans Affairs under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33). Contact VA for your certification of eligibility.
Master's Level Academic Standing
The Dean’s Office in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar monitor academic progress of all students. Students who receive one F are put on academic warning.However, a student who receives an F and still has a GPA of over 2.3 as a Title IV or need grant recipient or 3.0 or greater as a merit recipient is considered to be making SAP for Financial Aid purposes.
A student who receives more than one F over the course of his or her academic program will be placed on Academic Probation by the Dean. A student is also placed on Academic Probation if he or she has a cumulative GPA of below a 2.3, which is required for graduation. Additionally, this student would be required to appeal the loss of his or her student aid (see SAP Appeals Process).
While federal regulations suggest that schools whose programs are greater than two academic years should require that students be maintaining a C or its equivalent or academic standing consistent with the school’s requirement for graduation at the end of the second year, Wesley DC requires this at the end of each academic year, when SAP is evaluated.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Process (SAP)
At the conclusion of spring semester each year, SAP will be evaluated on each student receiving merit aid, need grants and/or Direct Loans. If the Financial Aid Committee makes the determination that a student is not meeting SAP requirements, either at the required pace or through the required GPA, the student is not put on financial aid warning.Students not meeting the minimum requirement will be notified and be given an opportunity to appeal.
Students must submit an appeal letter explaining the cause of the academic issues or mitigating personal circumstances that may have led to poor performance and academic plan to improve his or her GPA. The Financial Aid Committee will then render a decision on whether to grant the appeal. If the appeal is granted the student will be awarded his/her aid for the following academic year after which SAP will be re-evaluated. If at the end of the probationary/appeal year, if the student has met the required minimum GPA for the type of aid received, the aid will be reinstated.
If SAP is not met by the end of the probationary/appeal year, the aid will not be reinstated. Second appeals are rare and at the discretion of the Financial Aid Committee. If the student has not met SAP a second time but has shown significant progress over the probationary year rather than repeating the same level of poor performance, a second appeal may be granted.
Whether a student is granted an appeal or not, he or she may reenter the Federal Title IV loan program once the student regains eligibility with the minimum required GPA.
Questions? Need an appointment? Email us at financialaid@wesleyseminary.edu, or call us at (888) 616-8781.
Affording Seminary
For more information on Affording Seminary, click the button below.