Overview
Drew offers financial assistance consisting of merit-based and need-based aid.
Merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Committee each March for fall enrollment and in December for spring enrollment. No separate application is required; all admitted applicants are automatically evaluated for a merit scholarship. It is important that applications are completed by March 1 or December 1, including applications for Federal Work Study and the Federal Stafford Loan.
Need-based financial assistance is available to qualified applicants who have completed both the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the Drew Theological School Supplemental Financial Aid Form.
The FAFSA, which is mailed to Illinois, generally takes six to eight weeks to be processed and the results sent on to Drew. Students should apply as early as possible.
Financial aid forms are mailed in late January or as soon as an application is received. The FAFSA form can also be obtained in the Financial Aid Office of any local college or university. For applicants to the Theological School, need-based aid is available in the form of subsidized and un-subsidized loans. Once you have accepted an offer for admission and returned your financial aid forms, you may be considered for need-based aid.
Outside Scholarships are available from a number of sources. As a service to current and future students, Drew Theological School has compiled a list of more than 150 Outside Scholarship Opportunities for students to all of our masters-level programs.
International students are not eligible to receive financial aid under any U.S. Federal program. However, Drew’s list of Outside Scholarship Opportunities has several scholarships open to international students.
Learn more about financial aid in the Theological School by reading the school catalog or by contacting the Office of Financial Assistance, finaid@drew.edu, (973) 408-3112.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the program cost?
Information about the cost of tuition and housing can be found on the webpage for the Office of Financial Assistance.
What scholarships and grants are available for Theological School students?
Students who intend to study full-time do not need to submit a separate application to be considered for any of the Drew Theological School scholarships. All applications completed by March 1 are automatically considered for a major scholarship. Drew structures financial assistance using two principles: (1) avoid unduly increasing any accumulated indebtedness; and (2) give priority consideration to students in the Master of Divinity program. In general, merit aid eligibility is dependent upon having a scholastic record of 3.3 cum GPA or better and evidence of outstanding promise for ministry or scholarship.
Theological School merit-based scholarships are given as a percentage of tuition, and that percentage remains constant during the degree program. Drew awards a number of 100% tuition scholarships to M. Div. students. Most students in the Master of Divinity program receive awards ranging from 20 to 75% of annual tuition. Students in the M.A. and M.A.M. programs receive up to 40% of tuition, and students in the STM program are eligible for scholarships up to 20% of tuition. There are a few 75% tuition awards for M.A.M. students who are pursuing ordination as United Methodist Deacons. Domestic students in all theological programs may qualify for federal need-based loans and often successfully apply for independent off-campus awards.
A complete list of merit-based scholarships and prizes is available through the Office of Financial Assistance.
How do I apply for federal need based aid?
Once you have accepted your offer of admission to a degree program, Drew requires the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Theological School Supplemental Aid form.
What other sources of financial aid are available?
You should investigate all possibilities for financial assistance, including church scholarships and grants, denominational assistance, and community service agencies such as Women's Club, Rotary, etc. Here are two sites you can use to begin your search:
