Lutheran College Scholarships

Like most branches of the Christian faith, the Lutheran Church holds education in high regard. Many Lutheran organizations recognize that paying for college can be difficult without financial assistance. As a member of a Lutheran church, a student may be eligible for one of several Lutheran scholarships awarded to faithful individuals every year. Some are based on merit, while others are based on course of study or interest in ministerial pursuits.

Many Lutheran colleges and universities offer scholarships to Lutheran students based on which career path they choose. For example, at Valparaiso University, the Allen Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for students who want to enter church vocations, while the Ament-Brenner Scholarship is for members of a Lutheran congregation in Greater St. Louis area who are pursuing careers in in healthcare, such as nursing, pre-medical arts, physical therapy, or occupational therapy. Other scholarships are designated for those who demonstrate strong Lutheran leadership or for students who are the children of Lutheran church workers.

Aside from scholarships offered directly through universities, or in partnership with universities, certain Lutheran nonprofit organizations also offer scholarships to Lutheran students who meet certain eligibility requirements. Students often must have been part of a Lutheran congregation for a set period of time and demonstrate financial need and/or academic merit. Finally, individual Lutheran churches may have college scholarships available at the local level, so be sure to ask your local Lutheran church about the availability of grants or other funding.

List of Lutheran Scholarships

• Bethesda Lutheran Communities Scholarships — Academic scholarships awarded to six Lutheran students. Two scholarships of $5,000 are awarded to undergraduate students (sophomore or higher) who are entering the field of developmental disabilities, and $3,000 scholarships are given to Lutheran seminarians who have completed their first year of study and plan to include ministry to people with developmental disabilities in their future parishes.


• ELCA Torrison Scholarship Fund — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) offers four grants of $5,000 to Lutheran men and women who have been accepted into medical school. Must hold membership in the ELCA, be graduating seniors, demonstrate academic merit, and be nominated by an approved individual.


• The Lutheran Foundation Health Professions Scholarship Program — Minimum of $1,000 scholarships available to individuals pursuing a career in a healthcare profession who reside in the Lutheran Foundation's 10-county area in Indiana and attend a college or university in the Foundation's 10-county area in Indiana.


• Women of the ELCA Scholarships — Various scholarships available for women who hold membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), including Opportunity Scholarships for Lutheran Laywomen, scholarships for administrative leadership, scholarships for ordained ministry, and scholarships for ELCA college and seminary leadership. Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements.

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Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.