Tuition & Financial Aid

A mosaic is anything made up of various and unique elements that together forms a single composite whole. A mosaic consists of different textures, colors, shapes, and sizes—each one beautiful, valuable, and representing something that is an irreplaceable and essential part of the whole.

Through the Mosaic Leadership Scholarship, North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) supports the vision of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), which values becoming a church that is anchored in the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic diversity of the kingdom of God.

Mosaic Leadership Scholarships are designed to support leaders with multi-cultural or multi-ethnic backgrounds who desire to become further equipped through theological education, in order to strengthen the mosaic tapestry of the Church.

Mosaic Leadership Scholarships recognize men and women who have demonstrated, through previous leadership (in ministry, community, career, civic, or pastoral contexts), the potential for significantly expanded and more effective work and ministry in the church and/or society.

Mosaic Leadership Scholarships are offered to degree-seeking students as part of a financial aid award package. Financial aid awards assume a personal financial investment and the opportunity for the student to benefit from the Church Matching Grant program. Evangelical Covenant students who are eligible for the Mosaic Leadership Scholarship may also be eligible to receieve a Presidential Scholarship.

Mosaic Leadership Scholarships are offered to a limited number of students who

• Will be degree-seeking students (full- or part-time) at North Park Theological Seminary
• Demonstrate a sense of call to vocational ministry in the church or broader community
• Have demonstrated a record of leadership and service in the church and/or community
• Must belong to a local church

Factors considered in awarding of Mosaic Leadership Scholarships

• Previous academic record
• Previous experience serving in ministry or community leadership
• Level of commitment to lead in the church or community and embody the values of the Mosaic Leadership Scholarship
• References (submitted with the application for admission)
• Student financial need (as indicated by the FAFSA)

Requirements for those who accept the scholarship

• Be involved in a local church
• Cooperate with the North Park Development office in donor acknowledgment campaigns and represent North Park Theological Seminary from time to time as requested (may include thank-you note writing, submission of autobiographical information, phone calls, church visits, photo session, and permission to use photo). The Development office will communicate specific requirements to recipients.

Additional requirements specific to full-time main campus students

• Get involved on the North Park campus in some capacity of your choosing—this can be in University Ministries, Student Association, Chapel Committee, Globalization and Diversity Committee, Sankofa, Journey to Mosaic, or another approved context.

Additional requirements specific to part-time students

• Yearly submit a one-page report on your current ministry and/or community leadership involvement to Seminary Staff.
• Part-time students are also strongly encouraged to participate in Sankofa, Journey to Mosaic, North Park Seminary travel courses, or University Ministry Global Partnership trips.

To Apply for the Mosaic Leadership Scholarship

No separate application is required. Every degree program applicant will be evaluated for potential eligibility for the Mosaic Leadership Scholarship.

Our merit-based scholarships award past academic performance for future graduate study.

Nyvall Scholarship

Awarded upon admission to degree-seeking students who have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.7 (out of 4.0), the Nyvall Scholarship is a 30% tuition reduction.

This award cannot be combined with a Presidential Scholarship, and the reduction is not applied to fees, including Field Education.

Lund Scholarship

Awarded upon admission to degree-seeking students who have an undergraduate GPA between 3.3 and 3.69 (out of 4.0), the Lund Scholarship is a 20% tuition reduction.

This award cannot be combined with a Presidential Scholarship, and the reduction is not applied to fees, including Field Education.

Federal Student Loans are administered by the U.S. Department of Education and not by North Park University.

Start with FAFSA Form

If you are a United States citizen or eligible non-citizen, you should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in addition to your application for admission.

What: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
When: Available beginning December 1 of each year
Why: To determine your eligibility for need-based financial assistance
How: Visit studentaid.gov;
Important: North Park University (including North Park Theological Seminary) federal school code is 001735

Graduate Student Loans

Degree-seeking seminary students who are United States citizens or eligible non-citizens can apply for federal student loans to assist in funding their education. Federal rules require that you enroll in at least four hours of credit for each semester in which you plan to borrow money. Students enrolled in doctoral or certificate programs, including the Spiritual Direction or Urban Ministry certificates, are not eligible for federal loans.

North Park strongly encourages graduate students to minimize student borrowing and debt, as much as possible. However, many graduate students do choose to borrow student loans as part of their financial aid packages. All student loans must be repaid; most federal student loans are offered at a significantly lower interest rate than other private loans.

In order to explore options for student loans, you must complete a FAFSA for each academic year you want loan funding. Generally, you will start loan repayment six months after you graduate or leave school.

North Park is not the lender or servicer of any student loan. If you do access student loans, you are responsible for submitting correct, current address information to your lender/servicer for any loans you take out. This is especially important as you leave North Park and enter repayment. Name and address information updated at North Park will not be forwarded to your lender/servicer.

Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for Graduate Students

Graduate students may be eligible for federal unsubsidized Stafford Loans. Interest will accrue throughout the life of the loan, but you are not required to make interest payments while in school.

The amount of money graduate students can borrow in Stafford Loans is set by the federal government, but is tied directly to the cost of attendance for your academic program. Therefore, it varies widely within the University’s graduate programs. Your admissions recruiter and the Financial Aid Office can give you more information about how much loan money you may qualify for.

Interest rates and loan fees can be found on studentaid.gov, the Federal Student Aid site from the U.S. Department of Education

You do not have to make payments on your Stafford Loans while you are in school. Repayment begins six months after you cease to be enrolled at least half-time (six credits for undergraduate students; four credits for graduate students), and lasts at least 10 years. However, your loan servicer may provide other options for deferment or graduated repayment depending on your financial circumstances when you are no longer is school. There is no penalty for prepayment.

If you have never borrowed a Federal Stafford Loan before, then you must complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN). You also must complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling. Both of these items can be done online using your FSA ID. These documents only need to be completed one time (rather than annually, like the FAFSA). They will be good for all of the Stafford Loans that you borrow while attending North Park.

Both of these items, the MPN and Entrance Counseling, must be received by the Financial Aid Office before your loan can be processed.

Graduate PLUS Loans

If you are a graduate student, and you have borrowed your annual limit of Federal Direct Stafford Loans, then you can apply for a Graduate PLUS Loan, which is a credit-based loan guaranteed by the federal government.

• Interest rates change year to year.
  Direct Unsubsidized Loans for Graduate Students for the 2025-2026 year is 7.94%. (Interest Rates for Direct Loans First Disbursed on or After July 1, 2025, and Before July 1, 2026)
• Repayment begins 60 days after the final disbursement has been sent to North Park and the repayment term is up to 10 years. You do have the option to defer payment while you are enrolled at least half-time (four credit hours per semester). You can choose this option when you complete the PLUS Loan Application or by contacting Direct Loan Servicing at (800) 557-7394 after the loan has been disbursed. There is no penalty for prepayment.
• Two documents must be completed for this loan to be processed: the Grad PLUS Loan Application and, if your loan is approved, the Grad PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note. Both are completed online using your FSA ID.

Private Loans

We recommend exhausting all federal financial aid options before applying for a private loan as private loans are not regulated by North Park or the government. They are often not as favorable as the PLUS and/or unsubsidized Stafford Loans in terms of fees, interest rates, and repayment schedules.

Exit Counseling

Students who leave North Park are required to complete exit counseling for their federal student loans. Exit counseling will explain to you your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower.

Through the Church Matching Grant program, North Park will match a financial gift from a home church, up to $500 per academic year, with an equal financial award. Many churches offer both prayer and financial support to men and women who emerge within the ministry of the local church and have an initial sense of call into ministry.  Through this initiative, North Park seeks to honor and encourage the support local congregations offer to their members who are called into ministry and desire to seek theological training.

Congregations may provide more than the matching amount and are encouraged to invest as much as they can in future leaders.

All degree and certificate students may take advantage of this program.

This grant can be combined with any other scholarship or grants awarded.

The North Park Office of Seminary Admission will be glad to discuss this program with local church representatives.

We also encourage students to express their gratitude directly to their home church for such gifts and expressions of support

Eligibility and Notes

Students may be degree or certificate-seeking students who are enrolled in three or more academic credits for each semester the grant is applied.

If the addition of the Church Matching Grant funds and the North Park Match exceeds a student’s tuition charges for the semester, North Park institutional match will be reduced so not to exceed the tuition charges.

Church Considerations

Churches should be aware of the possible tax implications related to these programs, and should consult with their tax counsel on these mattters:

First, churches need to determine whether or not financial support to their employee would be considered a taxable benefit. The IRS rules do allow (under some conditions) for the exclusion of some educational benefits from taxable income.

Second, in general a donor may not select the recipient of financial assistance and also receive a charitable gift receipt for that assistance. Churches should establish and follow protocols so that individual donors are not receiving charitable gift credit for assisting individuals of their own choosing.

Alumni of North Park University

Alumni of North Park University are eligible for consideration for the Presidential Scholarship.

Denominational Staff of the Evangelical Covenant Church

Denominational staff, including mission staff, are eligible for consideration for the Presidential Scholarship.

Swedish Hospital Tuition Discount

North Park University is pleased to provide financial support for employees of Swedish Hospital (SH) who enroll in degree programs in either in-person or online courses, according to the following parameters:

• Degree-seeking students are eligible for a 30% tuition discount.
• Employment verification required via Swedish Hospital
• This discount will not be combined with other North Park grants and scholarships available to other students.