Academics, Admissions, University News
Concordia University, St. Paul announced a new church work tuition guarantee that ensures eligible students enrolled in church work programs will pay no more than $6,000 in tuition each academic year. This move further supports Concordia St. Paul’s commitment to preparing more workers for the church as the most affordable church work option in the Concordia University System of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Beginning fall 2021, full-time students enrolled in a church work program will receive a minimum of $17,900 in combined institutional financial aid each year. Scholarships and grants from a student’s home congregation, LCMS District and local communities may be stacked on top of this guarantee to further reduce the cost of tuition and living expenses. The new church work tuition model is available for all incoming and current full-time church work students enrolled in the following programs:
- Director of Christian Education
- Director of Christian Outreach
- Director of Parish Music
- Lutheran Classroom Teacher
- Pre-Deaconess
- Pre-Pastoral
“At a time when the need for servants in God’s church is more needed and necessary than ever before, God has led Concordia St. Paul to take this bold action so that even more students have the opportunity to prepare to serve in LCMS congregations and schools,” explained Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, president of Concordia St. Paul. “We pray that this university-wide investment will be joyfully received by the church and again demonstrate CSP’s deep commitment to making known the Good News of Jesus Christ on campus, throughout the LCMS, and around the world.”
With this move, Concordia University, St. Paul addresses concerns about church worker indebtedness, a key barrier for those exploring church work professions, and continues to provide a high-quality education led by experienced faculty. This expanded commitment to accessibility and affordability for future church professionals is made possible due to the support of generous benefactors and careful management of the University’s financial resources.
“When I was first told about the tuition guarantee, my jaw dropped,” said Christian Ministry major and Director of Christian Education program student Madison Patrow, ‘22, of Grand Rapids, Minn. “This is an extraordinary gift to current and future churchwork students like me that will continue to benefit us even after we begin the professional ministry to which God calls us. It is another example of the amazing dedication and care CSP faculty and staff have for their students, during and after our time at Concordia. They genuinely want us to succeed and this is a blessed demonstration of that, for which I am incredibly grateful.”
Chair of CSP’s Department of Theology and Ministry Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann added the tuition guarantee is a generous investment in the schools’ LCMS church work programs. “Our theology and ministry faculty are thrilled that the university is able to offer an excellent education at an affordable price. Moreover, CSP continues to offer its full-tuition Twelve Disciples Scholarship, ” Koschmann said. “Where you study matters, and we are confident that CSP is the best all-around choice for preparing for church work in the LCMS.”