Apply Now!

Financial Aid

What We Offer

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.

What We Don’t Offer

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.

When to Apply for Aid

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.

How to Apply for Aid

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.

  • IWS Financial Aid Application completed via Populi
  • IWS Asset Verification Form
  • Tax return information:
    • Americans: Submit a 4506-T form and the first two pages of your most recent 1040 form to IWS.
      We only need you to return the first page of this form but both pages are included for your information. Fill out #1-3 (and #4 if you’ve moved in the last year), then sign and date at the very bottom. Everything else can be left blank.
    • Canadians: Submit your most recent Notice of Assessment to IWS.
    • All other countries: Submit a short description of your occupation, annual income, and regular expenses to IWS.
  • A one-page letter that includes:
    • an explanation of your financial situation;
    • a description of when you approached your church/ministry context for continuing education funds, and what their decision was;
    • an outline of any and all other financial resources you have pursued;

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

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

  • A one-page letter outlining your financial situation and explaining why you are in need of a payment plan. Please indicate whether your church or ministry context is contributing financially toward your studies.
  • Tax return information:
    • Americans: Submit the first two pages of your most recent Form 1040.
    • Canadians: Submit your most recent Notice of Assessment.
    • All other countries: Submit a short description of your occupation, annual income, and regular expenses.
  • Tax return release form (Americans only): Submit a 4506-T form and the first two pages of your most recent 1040 form.
    We only need you to return the first page of this form but both pages are included for your information. Fill out #1-3 (and #4 if you’ve moved in the last year), put IWS’s address in #5, write in “1040” for #6 and check box “a,” then in #9 write the year of the tax return you’re sending to us. Finally, sign and date on the bottom.

All supporting documents are uploaded through the form link above.

For Returning Students

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.

Privacy Statement

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.

Questions?

If this page has not answered your questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Financial Aid Committee.

Rates are subject to change. The Academic Catalog and Student Handbook contain additional information on various fees for Applications, Incompletes, Extensions, Continuations, and Graduation that may be assessed on a per-student basis.