Financial Aid for Doctoral Degrees
Have You Applied for Your Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
Completing your free FAFSA application is the first step in getting financial aid for your LBC doctoral degree. Make sure to use Lancaster Bible College’s federal school code 003285 on the FAFSA application.
FAQs About Scholarships
Q: Who can apply for the LBC scholarships?
- New students only. Returning students are not eligible.
- Full-time students only. Part-time students are not eligible.
You need to be a full-time student (taking 6 credits) to receive scholarships that cover 50% or more of tuition.
Q: Are there time limits on scholarships?
Yes, there are time limits on the scholarships. There are specific timelines for certain scholarships. Look at the specific scholarships below for details on how long the scholarship is good for as well as other stipulations.
If I receive a scholarship my first year, will I be guaranteed a scholarship for subsequent years providing I maintain the necessary requirements articulated in the scholarship? Yes, as long as you maintain the academic requirements for the scholarship. You should note that there is an expiration on scholarships. See individual scholarships for specifics.
Q: Can I apply to more than one scholarship?
You can only apply to one of our scholarships that cover 50% or more of tuition. You are able to combine the Church Matching and Alumni Scholarships.
NOTE: Students should be accepted into a doctoral program before applying for scholarships.
Scholarships moneys can ONLY be applied to tuition costs.
Limited Availability Scholarships
The scholarships below are limited by the number of scholarships the college can award each term. To be considered for any of these scholarships, you will need to complete Doctoral Scholarship Application below. There are deadlines that apply to this application.
Global Church Scholarship
Global Church Scholarship is available each year to one PhD in Leadership student and one PhD in Biblical Studies student.
This scholarship is awarded to a promising international student actively involved in full-time ministry. Its purpose is to invest in a scholar-leader who is impacting his/her country for the gospel. The scholarship covers tuition. One scholarship per year is awarded. It covers the entire four years of the program. It cannot be extended beyond four years.
Application specifics (beyond the normal application):
- 3 Recommendations (1 supervisor/overseer, 1 colleague, 1 personal)
- Essay on Ministry Challenges for the Future in (specific country or context)
- Hope for future ministry endeavors (how will the PhD assist in accomplishing this)
- A statement indicating financial needs and sources of support
- Stipulations on the scholarship
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Good standing
- Full-time status and continuously enrolled
- Cannot be extended beyond 4 years
- Cannot be postponed or delayed (program to be completed in one duration)
Peter W. Teague Scholarship
The Peter W. Teague Scholarship is available each year to one PhD in Leadership student, one PhD in Biblical Studies student, one DMin student and one EdD student.
This scholarship is awarded to a significant ministry leader. Its purpose is to invest in a scholar-leader who is impacting his/her context for the gospel. The scholarship covers tuition. One scholarship per year is awarded. It covers the entire program. It cannot be extended beyond 4 years for PhD programs and 3 years for the EdD and DMin programs.
Application specifics:
- 3 Recommendations (1 supervisor/overseer, 1 colleague, 1 personal)
- Essay on Ministry Challenges for the Future in (specific country or context)
- Hope for future ministry endeavors (how will your doctoral program assist you in accomplishing this)
- A statement indicating financial needs and sources of support
- Stipulations on the scholarship
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Good standing
- Full-time status and continuously enrolled
- Cannot be extended beyond 4 years for PhD programs and 3 years for the EdD and DMin programs
- Cannot be postponed or delayed (program to be completed in one duration)
Promising Leaders Scholarship
The Promising Leader Scholarship is available each year to one PhD in Leadership student, one PhD in Biblical Studies student, one DMin student and one EdD student.
This scholarship is awarded to a promising student actively involved in full-time ministry. Its purpose is to invest in a scholar-leader who is impacting his/her context for the gospel. The scholarship covers 50% of tuition. One scholarship per year is awarded. It covers the entire program. It cannot be extended beyond 4 years for PhD programs and 3 years for the EdD and DMin programs.
Application specifics (beyond the normal application):
- 3 Recommendations (1 supervisor/overseer, 1 colleague, 1 personal)
- Essay on Ministry Challenges for the Future in (specific country or context)
- Hope for future ministry endeavors (how will your doctoral program assist you in accomplishing this)
- A statement indicating financial needs and sources of support
- Stipulations on the scholarship
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Good standing
- Full-time status and continuously enrolled
- Cannot be extended beyond 4 years for PhD programs and 3 years for the EdD and DMin programs
- Cannot be postponed or delayed (program to be completed in one duration)
Resource Challenged Context Scholarship
The Resource Challenged Context Scholarship is available to one DMin student and one EdD student.
This scholarship is awarded to a promising student actively involved in full-time ministry in a resource challenged context. Its purpose is to invest in a promising leader who is impacting his/her context for the gospel, but who lacks resourcing for doctoral education. Scholarship amounts vary (between $1,500-$18,000) based on the number of qualified applicants and size of cohort.
Application specifics (beyond the normal application):
- 3 Recommendations (1 supervisor/overseer, 1 colleague, 1 personal)
- Essay on Ministry Challenges for the Future in (specific country or context)
- Hope for future ministry endeavors (how will your doctoral program assist you in accomplishing this)
- A statement indicating financial needs and sources of support
- Stipulations on the scholarship
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Good standing
- Full-time status and continuously enrolled
- Implemented 1/3 per semester for course portion of program
- Cannot be postponed or delayed (program to be completed in one duration)
Other Available Scholarships
These are only available for incoming students, not second-year or transfer students.
ABHE Academic Scholarship for Faculty & Administrative Leaders
The College is committed to working with ABHE member institutions to assist their full-time faculty and administrative leaders to earn their master’s or doctoral degree through LBC. Two scholarship opportunities are available to accomplish this.
ABHE Matching Scholarship (up to50%)
LBC will provide an academic scholarship for up to 50% of tuition and fees to all full-time faculty and administrative leaders serving at ABHE member institutions. Students must be matriculated into a doctoral, seminary or graduate school program.
The college will match the amount provided by your ABHE institution, up to 50%. That means you could earn your graduate degree with little out-of-pocket expense, provided your ABHE school will fund the other 50% of your educational expenses.
To apply for the ABHE Matching Scholarship, have your school’s Human Resource Administrator send verification on institutional letterhead of your full-time employment as a faculty or administrative leader. The letter should also indicate the level of support that your ABHE school will provide and the expected payment dates. Please have the letter mailed directly from the Human Resource Administrator to the LBC |Financial Aid office at 901 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 17601.
35% ABHE Scholarship
If you do not receive a matching scholarship from your ABHE school, you can apply for the 35% ABHE Scholarship. To apply for the individual scholarship, you must be matriculated into a graduate education program and have a letter of verification of your full-time employment as a faculty or administrative leader on institutional letterhead sent from your Human Resource Administrator to the LBC Financial Aid office.
Alumni Scholarship
A tuition scholarship awarded to LBC graduates. This is a $1,000 per academic year scholarship, not to exceed $4,000. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits in a semester and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students must enroll in a seminary/graduate degree within one year of graduation from the LBC bachelor’s program. Students must enroll in an LBC doctoral program within five years of graduation from a LBC master’s program.
Church Matching
Students must complete the Church Matching Scholarship Application. LBC will provide a matching scholarship up to $500 for each the fall and spring terms. Funds from the church must be submitted by August 1 (for fall term) and December 15 (for spring term) in order to be matched. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be enrolled full-time and be in good standing with the college.
Can my church provide more than $500 as designated in the Church Matching Scholarship?
Yes, your church can provide more than $500 but the matching scholarship is good for up to $500. Contacting your church is a wonderful way to offset tuition. We encourage you approaching your church to ask them to invest in your doctoral education.
Research Assistant
Lancaster Bible Colleg invites applications for a part-time position at the Doctoral Research Assistant Level in the PhD in Leadership, PhD in Biblical Studies or DMin degree programs. Applicant must be enrolled in the program. Responsibilities vary according to the project’s needs, but requires roughly 4 hours per week. The duties of the Doctoral Research Assistant are primarily research related. The Doctoral Research Assistant provides professional-level support related to research and creative activities that contribute to the mission of the department under direct supervision by a faculty member. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule with a work week divided between onsite and remote. Applicants must be able to travel regularly to LBC’s Lancaster campus. $2,000 per semester is applied to the student’s tuition.
Contact your program director for more information and/or to apply.
ScholarLeaders.org
ScholarLeaders is a non-LBC scholarship that is only available for international PhD students. Due November 15 each year.
Find out more at ScholarLeaders International
Student Loan Options for Doctoral Students
Because grants and scholarships are limited, many students must rely on loans to cover at least some portion of college costs. Graduate students may borrow money for education. In fact, approximately 80% of aid recipients borrow educational loans.
The following steps represent borrowing options, beginning with the best value and proceeding to other, less favorable loan options based on interest rates, loan terms and conditions, and repayment options. These loan options may be used alone or in combination with each other.
We are committed to providing students and their families with the best information regarding student borrowing. For that reason, we have adopted a Student Lending Code of Conduct.
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This federal student aid is made available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program to help pay for educational expenses.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Graduate Loans
The interest rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025, is fixed at 8.08%. You are not required to pay the interest on this loan while in school, but we recommend that you do. You will be charged interest, starting at disbursement until the loan is paid in full. If the interest accumulates, it will be added to the principal amount of the loan and increase the amount to be repaid.
Loan Limits
- Annual Unsubsidized Limit for Graduate students is $20,500
- Aggregate Limit for Graduate students is $138,500 (up to $65,500 may be subsidized)
Steps to Apply
- You must complete the FAFSA each year.
To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a degree major for at least six credits per semester and maintain LBC’s satisfactory academic progress standards. - E-sign Your Federal Direct (Subsidized or Unsubsidized) Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
If you are a first-time borrower of the Graduate Federal Direct loan, you will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) before the loan funds can be disbursed. In most cases, you will only need to complete one MPN during your college career. E-sign your federal Direct loan MPN at gov by logging in with your FSA ID (username or email and your password). - Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
If you are a first-time borrower of the Federal Direct Loan, you are required to complete Loan Entrance Counseling before the loan funds can be disburse. To take the counseling, select Entrance Loan Counseling on the gov website. This counseling session provides you with information that will help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a loan borrower, as well as other tools to assist you with managing your loans.
*Please note that this requirement is separate from e-signing the loan MPN.*
Fees
An origination fee of 1.057% will be deducted from the gross amount of the loan borrowed, so take that into consideration when determining the amount you need to borrow.
Receiving Federal Direct Loan Funds
It’s important to know that loan funds will automatically credit to your student account if the Direct Loan Processor has a valid MPN on file for you, and you have completed loan entrance counseling. After you have completed your registration and semester classes begin, your student financial aid will begin to disburse into your student account.
Reduce or Decline a Loan
If you wish to reduce or cancel your loan(s), please go to the LBC Student Portal and choose Financial Aid Awards where you can reduce or cancel your loan.
Student Loan Repayment and Disputes
Students and parents who borrow Federal Direct Loans will repay their loans to a Federal Loan Servicer. Students are required to participate in Entrance Loan Counseling prior to their first disbursement of a federal student loan, and will be notified of the requirement to complete Exit Loan Counseling at the time of withdrawal or graduation. Exit Loan Counseling will inform students of their Federal Loan Servicer. This information is also available to students and parents at any point during their education on the studentaid/gov site. Detailed information about federal student loans, repayment and deferment can be found on the same website and students are also encouraged to contact their LBC Financial Aid Advisor with any questions.
If issues arise during student loan repayment that cannot be resolved with the Federal Loan Servicer, students or parents may contact the FSA Student Loan Ombudsman Group. The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group of the U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to helping resolve disputes related to Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, and Perkins Loans. The Ombudsman Group is a neutral, informal, and confidential resource to help resolve disputes about your federal student loans.
FSA Student Loan Ombudsman Group Contact Information:
FSA website | Phone: 877.557.2575 | Fax: 606.396.4821
Mail: FSA Ombudsman Group
PO Box 1843, Monticello, KY 42633
Federal Direct Loans are available to eligible students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This federal student aid is made available through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program to help pay for educational expenses.
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan
When graduate students need funding beyond the Direct Unsubsidized Graduate Loans, they may need to consider the Grad PLUS Loan. LBC participates in the Direct Lending Program with the U.S. Department of Education. This program graduate students to borrow a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan to help pay for educational expenses.
- Borrow up to the total cost of attendance, minus all other sources of financial aid
- 9.08% fixed interest rate on loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025
- Required net fees of 4.228% deducted from each loan disbursement
- Option to defer repayment while student is enrolled in school
Eligibility
A student must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree major and meet all other eligibility requirements, which includes maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
- Borrower consents to a credit check by the U.S. Department of Education by submitting the Grad PLUS Loan Instructions & Request Form.
- Adverse credit typically results in a denied credit check.
Borrowing Limits
Yearly borrowing limits are equal to a student’s estimated cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and meals, books, transportation and supplies), minus other financial aid. Students can view their estimated cost of attendance through the Student Portal by choosing Financial Aid Awards.
Applying for Grad PLUS Loan
Students can apply on the website gov Grad Plus and will also need to sign the Grad Plus Master Promissory Note (Loan Agreement) on the same website.
Credit Decisions
The U.S. Department of Education will mail the credit check results to the borrower and electronically transmit the results to LBC.
- Approved Grad PLUS Loans with a signed MPN appear in the student’s financial aid report on My Community
Processing and Receipt of Funds
- Once the credit check is approved and a valid MPN is on file, the Grad PLUS loan funds will be applied toward payment of tuition, fees and other LBC charges on the student’s tuition bill.
- Borrowers that apply for a fall/spring combined loan period can expect the loan to be split in two equal installments.
- Loan decreases can be requested by contacting the LBC Financial Aid office at financialaid@lbc.edu or by calling 717.560.8254.
Refunds
If a credit balance remains after all charges are paid in full on the tuition bill, the credit will be refunded to the parent borrower.
Repayment and Deferment
- Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement during the academic year and students have up to 10 years to repay the loan.
- Deferment allows students to delay repayment until after they are no longer enrolled at least half-time.
- Students may request a deferment of each new Grad PLUS Loan by calling the Direct Loan Servicing Center toll-free at 800.848.0979 and may need to provide a copy of their student academic record to the center.