The Institute for Worship Studies offers limited financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our students who have served in the armed forces, including active duty service members, may receive a 50% tuition discount.
IWS does not participate in Title IV federal funding at this time, so we will not appear on FAFSA forms and we cannot offer loans or loan deferments. While the Financial Aid Committee works hard to give aid to deserving students who display genuine need, it is exceedingly rare for a student to have all of their tuition expenses covered through IWS.
After a student has submitted an application for admission to either the DWS or MWS degree program and received a letter of acceptance from the Admissions Department, the student may then apply for financial aid.
Financial aid applications must be submitted no later than November 7 (for the January session) or April 28 (for the June session). The Financial Aid Committee will then convene to review all applications, and determinations will be made within a few weeks of the application deadline. Students will be given 10 days to accept or reject their financial aid package.
To be considered for financial aid, a student must submit the following items by the deadline. Supporting documentation should all be submitted through Populi. Note: Students who wish to apply ONLY for a payment plan should scroll down to the next section.
Failure to submit any of these items in their entirety may result in an applicant’s request being denied, so please double-check all documents before submitting.
Any financial aid awarded from IWS will be credited solely toward the student’s tuition balance. All fees (meals fee, orientation fee, etc.) and any additional expenses (textbooks, travel, etc.) must be covered by the student and/or the student’s ministry context. Please note: Financial aid resources at IWS are limited, and the Financial Aid Committee endeavors to distribute these resources equitably to the greatest number of students possible. To this end, the Committee expects all applicants to request an amount that reflects their true need. All requests for full tuition will be returned unless the applicant can demonstrate that full tuition is their true need.
Payment plans are available for a $50 fee and with the approval of the Financial Aid Committee. Payment plans require one payment towards tuition– as well as all fees– to be made prior to the on-campus session. In most cases, the remaining balance is then split into monthly payments for the remainder of the semester, with payments due by the 15th of the month. Late payments will result in a $10 late fee. The student’s balance must be paid in full before the student can enroll in their next class.
Students who wish to apply for a payment plan ONLY (i.e., with no additional request for aid) must complete this Financial Aid Application Form through Populi. If you specify that you are only requesting a Payment Plan, the form will ask you fewer questions. Applicants will also need to submit
All supporting documents are uploaded through the form link above.
Please note that unless you have been awarded a merit scholarship, your financial aid award or payment plan will not automatically renew. Returning students must reapply for financial aid each semester by submitting new copies of all the forms outlined in the above “How to Apply for Aid” section, as the Financial Aid Committee does not retain tax documents from prior submissions.
IWS ensures the confidentiality of student records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment. Your family’s financial information, as well as the type and amount of aid awarded, are held in the strictest confidence.
If this page has not answered your questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Financial Aid Committee.