ELCA Scholarships
Scholarships are available to U.S. and international students called to elevate the church and the world through the faithful pursuit of educational opportunities.
The Path to Academic and Spiritual Growth
Providing funding for students to focus on living their dreams of educational purpose and fulfillment is a powerful investment in the future of the church. The ELCA Fund for Leaders and other generous sources provide valuable scholarships that light the way for students to lead in Christ.
ELCA Fund for Leaders scholarships serve as a major funding source to make education more affordable for new seminary students, federal chaplaincy programs, synod and congregational scholarships, and other options. Applications for scholarships funded through other sources are also available.
The ELCA's International Leaders Program provides scholarships for students sponsored by companion churches around the world participating in short- and long-term academic programs. Students gain practical leadership development training that roots their learning in the global Lutheran context.
Domestic Scholarships
The Dr. George and Emma J. Torrison Scholarship Fund provides grants for men and women who intend to pursue careers in medicine. Applicants must be ELCA members and graduating seniors who have been accepted into a medical school as a first-year student in the fall of the current year of applications.
This program recognizes the need to help ELCA Coaching Ministry participants overcome their financial hurdles to achieving active status, which can be even more difficult for colleagues who serve in historically marginalized communities. As an intentional investment in our coaching leaders and the ministry’s commitment to working to dismantle institutional racism, scholarships are open to coaching leaders affiliated with the Coaching Network. Registration is open from Feb. 26 to Dec. 1.
A generous gift from Dr. Thomas D. Rossing established the Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment, which provides scholarships of up to $10,000 to outstanding students of physics enrolled in an ELCA-related college or university. Applicants must be currently classified by their college or university as a sophomore or junior, must have declared their intention to graduate with a major in physics, and must have taken at least one course in physics at that college or university.
The ELCA Fund for Leaders awards scholarships to students seeking to become ELCA rostered ministers and have begun the candidacy process in their ELCA synod. The program, which awards scholarships for the duration of students’ required seminary work, is open to new students enrolled in the upcoming fall semester or those who have completed no more than one semester.
This scholarship, awarded through ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries, provides funding for students who are attending an ELCA seminary and preparing for ministry as a military, Veterans Affairs or federal prison chaplain. Those receiving Fund for Leaders full-tuition and/or Synod or Congregation scholarships are still eligible to apply.
This scholarship is available, by invitation only, to current students, including Theological Education for Emerging Ministries candidates, identified and nominated by their seminary, in coordination with their synod bishop and director for evangelical mission.
Available to applicants by invite only, the ELCA Fund for Leaders Synod or Congregation Scholarship enables seminary students to receive awards from synods and congregations that have established a scholarship fund through Fund for Leaders. The application deadline is yet to be determined.
Every rostered ministry candidate studying through the Theological Education for Emerging Ministers (TEEM) program can receive scholarships of $3,000 to $5,000. All seminaries with a TEEM program distribute funding equitably each fall. Students do not need to directly apply.
International Leaders
This program provides scholarships to applicants of any gender from ELCA churches in the U.S. or nominated individuals from companion churches pursuing programs of study that last less than 12 months.
Scholarships are available to applicants nominated by companion churches and pursuing programs of study that last more than one year. Funds can be applied to academic programs located in or near the student’s home country or in the U.S.
Women between the ages of 15 to 25 who have been nominated by companion churches and are seeking a bachelor’s degree at an ELCA-affiliated school are eligible to apply.
Funding Scholarship
The ELCA Fund for Leaders provided more than $3 million in the 2024-25 school year to 350 ELCA seminary students.
Scholarships of $3,000 to $5,000 are available for all TEEM program seminary students.
The International Leaders Program provides about 200 scholarships for students from global companion churches.