Tuition and Fees for 2023-2024

Tuition and fees paid by students cover only about 2 percent of the total annual educational and general costs for each full-time student at Luther Seminary. 

The remaining 98 percent is paid by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its synods, gifts from individuals and congregations, grants from foundations and corporations, bequests, income from the endowment and other miscellaneous sources.

Master of Divinity Degree and Master of Arts Degree

Tuition

Full Course $2,320

Half Course $1,160

Auditor Fee, per course $540

Continuation Fee $1,000
Applies to two-year Master of Arts degree students who have completed all course requirements except the writing project and are not enrolled in course. Payable every semester beyond the second year in the program.

SEVIS Management Fee $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Graduation Fee $200

Assessed during the final year
Non-refundable and non-transferable

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Advanced Standing Fee, per course $250

Not to exceed $1,250 for M.Div. students or $750 for M.A. students. Charge placed on student’s account when the petition is received. Students charged regardless of the outcome of the petition. No refunds.

Medical Insurance 

Because the Affordable Care Act has increased the health insurance options for students, Luther no longer offers its own student policy. Instead, students have multiple options for obtaining coverage: 

• As a covered dependent under a group health policy of a spouse or of parents if under age 26.

• An individual policy purchased directly from a private health insurer. 

• An individual policy purchased through the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov 

• Medicaid or other government programs if you qualify, based on your state of residence.

International students and scholars should heed the guidance from the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) office on medical insurance coverage requirements. An international student/scholar is defined as an individual living and studying in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, or another non-immigrant status (including R-1) visa. 

Graduate Certificate/Non-Degree

Tuition

Full Course $2,320

Half Course $1,160

Auditor Fee, per course $540

SEVIS Management Fee $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Graduation Fee $200

Assessed during the final year
Non-refundable and non-transferable

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Medical Insurance 

Because the Affordable Care Act has increased the health insurance options for students, Luther no longer offers its own student policy. Instead, students have multiple options for obtaining coverage: 

• As a covered dependent under a group health policy of a spouse or of parents if under age 26.

• An individual policy purchased directly from a private health insurer. 

• An individual policy purchased through the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov 

• Medicaid or other government programs if you qualify, based on your state of residence.

International students and scholars should heed the guidance from the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) office on medical insurance coverage requirements. An international student/scholar is defined as an individual living and studying in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, or another non-immigrant status (including R-1) visa. 

Master of Theology Degree

Tuition

Full Course $2,485
Half Course $1,242.50

Auditor Fee, per course $540

Continuation Fee $1,000

Payable per semester after two years of full-time study

Candidacy Fee $300

Payable upon approval of thesis proposal

Graduation Fee $200

Assessed during the final year
Non-refundable and non-transferable

SEVIS Management Fee $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Medical Insurance 

Because the Affordable Care Act has increased the health insurance options for students, Luther no longer offers its own student policy. Instead, students have multiple options for obtaining coverage: 

• As a covered dependent under a group health policy of a spouse or of parents if under age 26.

• An individual policy purchased directly from a private health insurer. 

• An individual policy purchased through the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov

• Medicaid or other government programs if you qualify, based on your state of residence.

International students and scholars should heed the guidance from the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) office on medical insurance coverage requirements. An international student/scholar is defined as an individual living and studying in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, or another non-immigrant status (including R-1) visa. 

Post-Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Non-Degree

Tuition

Full Course $2,485

Half Course $1,242.50

Auditor Fee, per course $477

SEVIS Management Fee $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Medical Insurance 

Because the Affordable Care Act has increased the health insurance options for students, Luther no longer offers its own student policy. Instead, students have multiple options for obtaining coverage: 

• As a covered dependent under a group health policy of a spouse or of parents if under age 26.

• An individual policy purchased directly from a private health insurer. 

• An individual policy purchased through the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov

• Medicaid or other government programs if you qualify, based on your state of residence.

International students and scholars should heed the guidance from the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) office on medical insurance coverage requirements. An international student/scholar is defined as an individual living and studying in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, or another non-immigrant status (including R-1) visa. 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Tuition

Full Time, per year (four years) $17,500

Auditor Fee, per course     $540

Continuation Fee $1,000
Payable per semester after four years of full-time study 

Candidacy Fee $300

Payable upon approval of thesis proposal

Graduation Fee $200

Assessed during the final year
Non-refundable and non-transferable

SEVIS Management Fee   $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Medical Insurance 

Because the Affordable Care Act has increased the health insurance options for students, Luther no longer offers its own student policy. Instead, students have multiple options for obtaining coverage: 

• As a covered dependent under a group health policy of a spouse or of parents if under age 26.

• An individual policy purchased directly from a private health insurer. 

• An individual policy purchased through the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov

• Medicaid or other government programs if you qualify, based on our state of residence.

International students and scholars should heed the guidance from the International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) office on medical insurance coverage requirements. An international student/scholar is defined as an individual living and studying in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, or another non-immigrant status (including R-1) visa. 

Doctor of Ministry Degree in Biblical Preaching

Tuition

Basic Tuition $15,450

Charges of $5,150 billed once per year for the first three years in the program. 

Continuation Fee $1,000

Payable every year in the program beyond the final year

Candidacy Fee $625

Payable upon approval of thesis proposal

SEVIS Management Fee $350
Assessed each year for certain international graduates

Graduation Fee $200

Assessed during the final year
Non-refundable and non-transferable

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Student Organization Fee $10
Payable every semester

Travel, books, lodging and meal expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Doctor of Ministry tuition will remain constant for the duration of a student’s time in the program, but fees are subject to change annually.

Affiliated Students

Affiliation Fee (within six months of being Entranced) $1,600   

(Non-Refundable)

     OR

Affiliation Fee (after six-month period) $2,000

(Non-Refundable)
For ELCA students attending a non-ELCA seminary but seeking ordination in the ELCA

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Before a transcript can be issued, accounts must be settled or arrangements, made for payment of balance. Refer to transcript cost charts online.

Student Organization Fee $10

Payable every semester

Auditors

Tuition

Full Course                                                                                 $540
Half Course                                                                                $540

Transcript Fee $10 + shipping/handling

Refer to transcript cost charts online https://inside.luthersem.edu/registrar/transcript-request/

Refund on Withdrawal from Luther Seminary

Refund of tuition is made to a student who withdraws from Luther Seminary by formal application via MyLutherNet. The effective date of withdrawal is the date a formal notice is received. All relevant offices will receive notice of the student’s withdrawal. Th.M., D.Min. and Ph.D. students need to make a formal application for withdrawal to the Advanced Theological Education Office. 

The seminary is not responsible for refunds if a student fails to follow this procedure. 

Effective July 1, 2000, Luther Seminary adopted a new refund policy that conforms to the updated version (section 668.22) of the Higher Education Amendments Act of 1998. Withdrawing students with Title IV funds (Federal subsidized / Unsubsidized Direct Loans and Federal Perkins Loan) will be subject to both federal policy regarding the possible return of Title IV funds AND Luther Seminary’s refund policy as outlined in the next section. 

Federal policy states that if a student totally withdraws from all courses within a given academic term on or before the 60 percent point in time of the enrollment period, calculated using calendar days, a portion of the total federal Title IV funds awarded to a student must be returned. The calculation of the return portion may result in the student owning a balance to Luther Seminary and/or the federal government. 

Please note: Students withdrawing from all courses in a term, ceasing to attend all courses in a term, receiving less than passing grades in all courses attempted in a term and receiving Title IV funds will be subject to the above federal policy. Questions about this should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid. finaid@luthersem.edu. 

Refund Schedule

Students who withdraw on or before the last day to drop add a course will receive a FULL REFUND. Withdrawing from a course after the drop/add date will result in NO REFUND.

Doctor of Ministry students withdrawing from their program are eligible for refunds of tuition and program fees payments based on the percentage of completion of their term. After 60% of the term there are no refunds. For example, the Biblical Preaching term is April 1 through March 31. No refunds would be issued if the student withdraws after November 5th.  The seminary is not responsible for refunds if a student fails to follow this procedure.

Delayed Veterans Benefits

The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 amended 38 USC §3679(e) to protect students in the case that their VA Education benefits are delayed through no fault of their own. This act requires schools to forgive the assessment of fines and program withdrawals when a VA beneficiary can demonstrate that they are entitled to payment.

Luther Seminary permits any “covered individual” (i.e. a person using Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 benefits1) to attend a course of education if they present the school a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility, Statement of Benefits, or VA form 28-1901, and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.

2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

In the above case, Luther Seminary will not impose any penalty whatsoever on the VA beneficiary student or require that such a student borrow additional funds because of their inability to meet financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.

Federal Tuition Assistance – Refund Policy

Luther Seminary has signed the Department of Defense (DOD) Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and is approved to process DoD Tuition Assistance (TA) for all of our degree programs.  TA benefits are available to qualifying individuals currently serving in the Armed Forces.  Each service branch has specific TA policies and annual funding limits.  Questions about your own TA eligibility should be directed to your unit or education office.  Some helpful links are below. 

Return of Tuition Assistance (Unearned TA Policy)

Students who use Tuition Assistance (TA) are expected to remain enrolled in the course for its entire duration. If a student using TA withdraws or stops attending, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of the benefit that was originally authorized. To remain in compliance with the Department of Defense's policy, Luther Seminary will return any unearned TA funds through at least 60% mark of the course on a prorated basis. The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on student-initiated date of withdrawal or last date of attendance noted by the instructor.

After 60% of the course has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return to the DOD. 

As an institution, we will bill the DOD after 60% of the course has passed to reduce the amount of incorrect TA funds being disbursed by the DOD to Luther Seminary. We will only bill for the amount the student earned given their enrollment.

Schedule for Returning Unearned TA

15-week course withdraw submitted

11-week course withdraw

6-week course withdraw submitted

Financial Petitions

The Financial Petition Committee is a standing committee of the Seminary that normally reviews requests to reduce or refund tuition costs when a student withdraws from a course past the stated refund deadline. Representatives from Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, the Business Office and Student Affairs serve on the committee. Financial Petitions must be submitted within 60 days of the student withdrawing from the course.

Students wishing to petition may do so by submitting a petition form for late course withdrawal through the Office of the Registrar, if applicable.

In addition, students must submit the Financial Petition form which may be found through the Student Affairs Office. 

Requests will not be reviewed unless all documentation is submitted with the petition.

Payment of Charges

A student’s registration is not complete until satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Business Office for payment of tuition, housing and all other charges. 

Satisfactory arrangements include any combination of the following:

1. Payment of all charges in full

2. Student aid awarded by Luther Seminary applied to account

3. Completed application for a direct loan

4. Documentation of future payments to be made directly to Luther Seminary by an outside source, such as a letter from the student’s home congregation stating the date and amount of tuition or other charges to be paid by that congregation

Registration for succeeding academic semesters or units of study is not permitted, and current registrations are canceled, until all amounts previously owed have been satisfied as explained above. 

A hold will be placed on a student’s record when his or her account is not paid. This hold will restrict a student’s registration until the account is paid off (allow for 24 hours for the hold to clear off the record) or arrangements have been made for payment (the hold remains on the student record; the Office of the Registrar will manually process the student’s registration). A hold will prohibit a student from registering online on MyLutherNet.

Payment of all accounts in the Business Office and library is required before a degree is awarded.