Financial Aid | Hartford Seminary

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

2010-2011

Hartford Seminary currently offers financial assistance to students based on either need or merit. Hartford Seminary also distributes federal student loans to those students who qualify. Please read below for detailed information about each type of aid we offer.

Hartford Seminary Financial Aid Options

1) Need-based Aid:

Limited financial aid in the form of grants is available to matriculated students enrolled in Hartford Seminary Master of Arts, Cooperative Master of Divinity, Islamic Chaplaincy (full combined Master of Arts/Graduate Certificate program and Graduate Certificate only program), and Doctor of Ministry degree programs. Eligible students may receive tuition aid up to 60% of annual course tuition.

The deadline for first round consideration for financial aid for the academic year, which begins with the fall semester, is:

February 15 - Merit Applicants (see description and eligibility requirements below), including those applying for need-based aid

April 1 - Master of Arts, Cooperative Master of Divinity and Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy Students (New and Continuing)

June 1 – Doctor of Ministry Students (New and Continuing)

After June 1 – All funds awarded on an as available basis

Financial aid applications received after June 1 will be considered if funds are available. Students who are admitted to eligible programs mid-year also may apply for funds.

Students are required to reapply for financial aid each year. Students are not guaranteed financial aid even if they received aid the previous year, and must maintain better than a B- grade point average to maintain eligibility.

To apply for need-based financial aid from Hartford Seminary, read these instructions and fill out the form at the links here:

Instructions: http://www.hartsem.edu/new_forms/Finanical_Aid_Instructions.doc

Application: http://www.hartsem.edu/new_forms/Financial_Aid_Application.doc

Students with special financial concerns or with a change in financial circumstances are encouraged to contact the Executive Assistant to the Dean at 860-509-9553 for more information about applying for financial aid.

2) Merit scholarships:

Students applying for admission to the Master of Arts degree, including the Cooperative Master of Divinity track and the full Islamic Chaplaincy program (combined M.A./G.C.), may submit an application for a merit-based award. Merit scholarships recognize a student’s academic aptitude and potential. Extracurricular activities, publications and other awards/honors also will be considered when determining a student’s eligibility for a merit award.

Only incoming M.A. program students who have a 3.5 grade point average (or above) or its equivalent at previous academic institutions are eligible for merit awards. The deadline for merit scholarship applications is February 15.

Awards are intended to cover the duration of a student’s study, but will not exceed three years or 48 credit hours (whichever comes first). In order to keep scholarships, students must maintain better than a 3.5 grade point average.

Ph.D. students, Doctor of Ministry students, Graduate Certificate students, Special Students, and Auditors are not eligible for merit scholarships.

To apply for a Merit Scholarship read the guidelines and fill out the application at these links:

Guidelines: http://www.hartsem.edu/new_forms/Merit_Scholarship_Guiding_Principles.doc

Application: http://www.hartsem.edu/new_forms/Merit_Scholarship_Application.doc

If any of your questions about Hartford Seminary financial aid have not been addressed by the information presented, please contact the Executive Assistant to the Dean at lbrowne@hartsem.edu or 860-509-9553.

Federal Stafford Loans and Other Loan Options

Domestic students who are matriculated in a degree program may apply for Federal Stafford Loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Students in the following programs may qualify for federal financial aid: Master of Arts, Islamic Chaplaincy Program (full combined Master of Arts/Graduate Certificate program and Graduate Certificate only program), Cooperative Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits per semester in order to qualify for federal loans.

Federal Loans are also available for those students registered full-time in the International PhD program. If you are a full-time PhD student and want to apply for federal aid, please note that your loans will be dispersed by the University of Exeter. All federal loan applications for PhD students must be processed through following the University of Exeter’s instructions. Click on this link to learn more and apply: PhD Federal Aid

Graduate Certificate students (other than those in Islamic Chaplaincy), Special Students and Auditors are not eligible for Federal Loans.

Hartford Seminary is authorized to certify student eligibility for loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. These loans are often called “Stafford” loans. Eligibility depends on the student's/applicant's course, its length, their personal financial circumstances and their previous educational borrowing. Federal Direct loans are subsidized by the US Government and are subject to strict regulation.

Hartford Seminary’s Federal School Code School Code (also known as the OPE id) is G01387.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans

The Federal Direct Stafford Loans that Hartford Seminary can originate fall into different categories:

Subsidized Stafford: available to eligible students and on which the interest is paid by the Federal Government during the time the student is studying at least half time, or during a grace or deferment period. This loan is based on financial need as determined by the Department of Education.

Unsubsidized Stafford: available to eligible students and on which interest is charged from the moment the loan is made. This loan is not based on financial need.

Effective from 1st July 2008 the Federal Stafford Loan Limits for Graduate students are as follows:

Subsidized Stafford: $8,500.00 Annual
Unsubsidized Stafford: $12,000.00 Annual
Total Annual: $20,500.00

The loan limits listed above are not indicative of the Financial Aid Award that students will receive. As mentioned previously, eligibility is based on a variety of factors as determined by the US Department of Education.