To be eligible for School of Theology and federal student aid funds, a student must make satisfactory academic progress each term. For a description of what satisfactory academic progress entails for each degree program, please see the STH Bulletin. The following policies were developed in consultation with the Federal Student Aid Handbook.

Length of Time for Financial Aid Coverage

The length of time a student is eligible for School of Theology financial aid depends on their degree program. Generally, a full-time term of aid can be split into two part-time terms of aid. However, students must also abide by the time limitations of each degree. A full-time or part-time term of aid may be used in the summer.

Degree	Full-Time Terms of Aid	Part-Time Terms of Aid	Time Limitation
MDiv	6	12	5 Academic Years
MTS or MSM	4	8	4 Academic Years
STM	2	4	2 Academic Years
PhD	10	N/A	10 Academic Years

It is also important that a student track the number of units remaining to complete their degree requirements. While number of terms remaining is the most common method for tracking financial aid eligibility, the School of Theology also reviews the number of units remaining to complete degree requirements. The School of Theology does not provide financial aid to students past the number of units they need to meet their program requirements.* Therefore, if students apply for a course overload in one or more terms or transfer in units from another institution, this may leave them with a small number of units to complete in their final term and they will only receive financial aid towards the number of units needed. In both of these circumstances, the number of units remaining supersedes the number of terms of financial aid eligibility. The student has the option to enroll in additional courses past the number of units required to complete the degree, but they will be at the student’s own cost. Transfer units do not count against the calculation of remaining terms of financial aid eligibility if they are making up units for terms when a full-time student took fewer than 12 units.

Students taking fewer than 12 units per term may end up using all of their terms of financial aid eligibility prior to completing their degree requirements. For these reasons, students should be cautious in keeping in mind their maximum number of terms of financial aid eligibility and their remaining units when planning their registration each term. In addition, please review the STH Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Policy carefully because taking a leave of absence can impact a student’s remaining terms of financial aid eligibility as well.

*Full-time School of Theology MDiv, MSM, and MTS students may take Seminary Singers (up-to 2 units) and/or Spiritual Companioning (up-to 2 units) without counting them toward their degree program free electives. In that case, the units do not count toward a student’s financial aid eligibility. Students, however, may count those units toward degree program free electives if they wish, in which case they would count toward a student’s financial aid eligibility.

Impact of Failed Course on Financial Aid Eligibility

If a student receives a failing grade in a course, the School of Theology will not provide additional financial aid to replace financial aid that was used for the failed course. Students can never receive more financial aid than they were awarded upon admission to the School of Theology.  The impact of this policy is felt at the end of student’s program. For example, if a student is progressing through their program at the expected rate and fails a course in the first term, in all likelihood, they will not have enough financial aid eligibility remaining to cover their last course.

Financial Aid Warning

If a student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the appropriate student review committee for their degree program and are placed on Academic Probation, they will receive a financial aid warning which applies to their School of Theology financial aid and, if the student has it, their federal financial aid. For example, if a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress in the Fall term, they may be placed under a financial aid warning in the Spring term. The warning period lasts for one term during which the student will continue to receive School of Theology and federal financial aid funds.

If a Dean’s Fellow does not meet the required 3.3 cumulative GPA, they will receive a financial aid warning, which applies to their School of Theology financial aid. ** The warning period lasts for one term during which the student will continue to receive their Dean’s Fellowship.

The academic progress of the student is evaluated at the end of the warning period.

** From Fall 2022 through Spring 2025, Dean’s Fellows who do not receive a stipend only need to maintain a 2.7 GPA to maintain their 100% tuition scholarship.

Grace Period for STH Financial Aid

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress after the financial aid warning period and are placed on a second term of Academic Probation will continue to receive their School of Theology financial aid for the following term as a grace period. The financial aid warning period and the grace period do not need to be consecutive. Once a student is placed on a second term of Academic Probation, they are placed on a grace period for the following term.

If the student is able to raise their cumulative GPA to meet satisfactory academic progress at the end of the grace period, the student’s scholarship will be automatically reinstated for the following term. If the student does not achieve a cumulative GPA to meet satisfactory academic progress by the end of the grace period but achieves a high enough term GPA they may appeal to the STH Academic Services Team to retain their financial aid moving forward.

If a Dean’s Fellow does not meet the required 3.3 cumulative GPA at the end the Financial Aid Warning period, the student will receive their Dean’s Fellowship as a grace period for the upcoming term and the tuition scholarship pertaining to their degree program for the term following the grace period.** If the student is able to raise their cumulative GPA to a 3.3 or better at the end of the grace period, their Dean’s Fellowship will automatically be reinstated for the following term. If a student does not achieve a cumulative 3.3 GPA by the end of the grace period but achieves a 3.3 term GPA they may appeal the STH Academic Services Team to retain their scholarship moving forward.

** From Fall 2022 through Spring 2025, Dean’s Fellows who do not receive a stipend only need to maintain a 2.7 GPA to maintain their 100% tuition scholarship.

Appealing for a Grace Period of Federal Financial Aid

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress after the financial aid warning period and are placed on a second term of Academic Probation will lose their federal financial aid eligibility. However, student may appeal to the School of Theology Academic Services Team to receive a grace period of federal financial aid. A student may appeal on the basis of injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances. The appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to make satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation. The grace period of federal financial aid lasts for one term and means that the student’s eligibility for federal financial aid is reinstated for that term. The student’s progress will be evaluated at the end of the grace period. If based on the student’s appeal, the STH Academic Services Team decides that the student should be able to meet satisfactory academic progress by the end of the following term then the student may be placed on a second grace period of federal financial aid with or without an academic plan. If an academic plan has been devised for the student (by the appropriate student review committee for their degree program) and they are meeting its requirements, they are eligible to receive federal financial aid as long as they continue to meet the plan’s requirements.

Disciplinary Probation and Financial Aid

If a student is placed on disciplinary probation and they are either a Dean’s Scholarship, Dean’s Fellowship or Merit Scholarship recipient, they will instead receive the tuition scholarship that pertains to their degree program, unless otherwise determined by the Academic Policies, Procedures, and Fellowships Committee.

Suspensions and Financial Aid

Students who are suspended from the University will have their tuition scholarship for the term withdrawn, unless they successfully appeal to the Academic Dean to retain their scholarships. Students must submit their petition within two weeks after their suspension is finalized.

If a student’s petition is approved, the financial aid utilized that term counts as part of a student’s total financial aid eligibility.

Defaulted Federal Student Aid

If a student is currently in default status on any federal student aid (Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans (where the student was the borrower), Direct Consolidation Loans, or Federal Perkins Loans), the student cannot receive any further federal or institutional student aid funds until they have resolved the default in accordance with the Federal Student Aid Handbook.

The School of Theology recognizes that many students have obligations in addition to their academic studies. Therefore, if a student needs to enroll part-time (6-8 units/term) and the student is offered a Dean’s Fellowship, Ordination Scholarship, or Named Fellowship, the School of Theology is committed to awarding the full award according to the policies below:

• The total amount awarded cannot exceed what the student would have received if the student completed the degree full-time
• STH will not provide financial aid to students past the number of units needed to complete program requirements:
  • MDiv: 74 units (72 units for students who matriculate in Fall 2024 and later)
  • MTS : 49 units (48 units for students who matriculate in Fall 2024 and later)
  • MSM : minimum of 44 (choral conducting) or 41 (organ)
• The degree must be completed within the time limitations named in the STH Academic Bulletin:
  • MDiv: 5 years (This requires an average of 7.3 units/term over 10 terms)
  • MTS & MSM : (This requires an average of 6.125 units/term over 8 terms)
• If the student’s award includes a stipend, the part-time student may only receive half of the stipend each year. For example, if the student would have received a $5,000 annual stipend as a full-time student, the student will receive a $2,500 annual stipend as a part-time student.
• If a tentative graduate has not received the full amount of the stipend offered, the remaining amount will be awarded in the student’s final term. For example, if the student would have received a $5,000 annual stipend as a full-time student (for a total of $15,000 over 3 years) and the part-time student received a $2,500 annual stipend over 10 term (for a total of $12,500 over 5 years), the student will receive an additional $2,500 stipend in the student’s final term for a total of $15,000.

Students who are US citizens or permanent residents may apply for federal aid. To apply, students must complete both the STH financial aid application and FAFSA here. Further information on federal financial aid can be found here. Students may also apply for credit-based federal PLUS loans through the Boston University Office of Financial Assistance. First-time borrowers must complete 1) an online master promissory note and 2) online entrance counseling. If it is a student’s first time receiving a federal unsubsidized loan at BU, then they must complete the online entrance counseling.

For current interest rates and loan fees, please visit the US Department of Education online. Repayment begins six months after the student borrower is no longer enrolled at least part-time in their degree program. Information on repayment can be found here.

Types of federal aid offered by the School of Theology

Federal Work-Study: This program is designed to help qualified students meet education expenses through employment. Jobs are available both on-campus and in approved nonprofit organizations off-campus. The School of Theology receives a limited amount of federal funds; preference is given to returning students who had a work-study job in the previous academic year and remaining funds are awarded to incoming students with the greatest financial need on a first-come, first-served basis. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Eligibility for federal unsubsidized loans is determined through the review of an accurate FAFSA. Students enrolled in a degree program and registered for at least 6 units are eligible to apply for a federal unsubsidized loan. Note that Boston University is an approved direct lender for the federal unsubsidized loan.

Qualified students are encouraged to apply for financial aid at the School of Theology.

A student wishing to change their degree program (for example, from the MTS to the MDiv) must make a formal request using a Change of Program form. These forms can be obtained in the STH Admissions Office and require the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If the Change of Program is approved and the student is changing to a degree program longer than their original program, their number of terms of financial aid eligibility will be extended to match that of their new program. Likewise, if the program the student is changing to is shorter than their original program, their number of terms of financial aid eligibility will be reduced to match that of their new program. Students are not permitted to change programs in their final term. If a student is a Tuition Scholarship recipient, their tuition scholarship percentage will be adjusted to that of their new program in the term in which the Change of Program is effective.

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Students can waive the Sports Pass fee if they wish through the Student Link > Money Matters. More information on the Sports Pass and other fees can be found here. 

All in-school loan deferment is handled by the BU Office of the University Registrar. All loan deferment paperwork should be submitted to them.

When completing your tax return, please be sure to consult the following information from the IRS on what is taxable income for students. Information for international students from the IRS can be found here. General tax information from the IRS for students is here. If you have questions on what is taxable income for you, please consult a tax professional. BU policy bars financial aid officers from tax advising.

For more information, see here.

If a student moves from part-time to full-time (or vice versa), their aid will be adjusted in relation to their new tuition charge. For example, if a Master of Divinity student moves from full-time to part-time and is registered for at least 6 units, they would be eligible to receive 70% off the part-time tuition rate (provided that they have successfully completed the financial aid application process).

Students who officially withdraw or take a leave of absence will have their tuition and fees canceled or refunded in accordance with the University’s refund schedule, which is published by the University Registrar’s Office. The School of Theology will decrease a student’s tuition scholarship in proportion to any reduction in tuition called for by the University’s refund schedule. This tuition scholarship uses up part of the financial aid eligibility that a student was awarded upon admission to STH and STH does not provide additional financial aid to make up for the financial aid that was used during a student’s leave of absence. This can leave a student with little to no financial aid eligibility in the last term of their program. For more information regarding Boston University’s refund policy, please review BU’s Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Schedule. For information regarding a mid-term leave of absence from Boston University for medical reasons, please review the information at Student Health Services.