10.07.11 
Southeastern Announces New Pastoral Scholarships Beginning in 2012

By Southeastern University

Southeastern University has been training ministers since its founding as a Bible college in 1935.

The university has grown dramatically since then, but church ministry training continues to be one of the hallmarks of Southeastern. Practical theology is the most popular major on campus, and one-quarter of declared majors are in the College of Christian Ministries & Religion.

To further those efforts and to acknowledge the vital role that support from churches plays in the life of Southeastern, the university has announced new financial aid options for pastors and their families. Four new scholarship programs will be available beginning this spring.

According to President Kent Ingle, the new scholarships show Southeastern's commitment to churches and pastors.

"Southeastern University is proud of its tradition of raising up church and ministry leaders and of the relationships we have with churches around the country," Dr. Ingle said. "These new scholarships will only strengthen those relationships."

Roy Rowland, vice president for enrollment management, said the university has already received an overwhelmingly positive response as news of the scholarships has started to reach churches. He added that the new financial aid options meet a need.

"In tough economic times, we want to do everything we can to make our university accessible to students, especially those from families who are leading and ministering in local churches across the country," Rowland said.

The new scholarships will be available for new incoming students in the spring semester of 2012. To be eligible for any of the programs, recipients must be enrolled as a full-time student at Southeastern and have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Here are details on each of the new scholarship programs:

Assemblies of God Tuition Credit: A 15% to 50% reduction in undergraduate tuition based on need. Spouse or dependents of full-time Assemblies of God ministers or chaplains are eligible, as are full-time administrators of a K-12 Assemblies of God school and their spouses or dependents.

Pastors Dependent Scholarship: Available to dependent children of a licensed or ordained minister who works full-time for a church (does not have to be Assemblies of God). The scholarship will cover between 15% and 50% percent of undergraduate tuition.

Pastors Degree Completion Scholarship: This scholarship provides a 10% discount in tuition. Any licensed or ordained ministers working full-time at a church and who want to complete their bachelor's degree through an evening or online program at Southeastern are eligible.

Church Matching Scholarship: Southeastern will match up to $2,000 a church's contribution toward its pastor's graduate degree at SEU. Any licensed or ordained minister who is working full-time at any church is eligible.

For more information about financial aid options at Southeastern University or the admission process, interested pastors and their families can contact the university by calling 800.500.8760 or e-mailing admission@seu.edu. For a PDF outlining the new pastoral scholarships, click here.