Funding Your Studies

Application Guidelines

• The scholarship application is part of the Admissions Application. To apply for all relevant scholarships, complete the questions in the “Additional Questions” section of the online application. You will be asked to supply the following information:
  • Income, partner/spouse’s income, relevant debts, dependents, and other potential sources of funding.
  • Why you are seeking scholarship funds
• For all competitive scholarships requiring an essay, including Bernardin, Pathways@CTU, International Women’s, Ladies of Bethany, Romero and Tolton, please submit your essay to admissions@ctu.edu.

• Scholarship decisions will be awarded within two weeks of an admissions decision. 

Should you have further questions or concerns contact us at admissions@ctu.edu or 773.371.5451.

Pathways @ CTU Living-learning Community
Participants in the Pathways@CTU living-learning Community work with the program director and a staff or faculty mentor to develop assistantship roles around their growing edges, interests, and opportunities in the CTU and wider communities. Assistantships are available to students accepted into the Pathways@CTU program.

Research Assistantship – Bernardin Center
The research assistant for the Bernardin Center will provide support for creation of events and research assistance to faculty on themes related to Bernardin Center priorities. This position is prioritized for Bernardin scholars enrolled full-time at CTU.

Haciendo Camino Fellowships
Hispanic young adults looking to pursue graduate studies in theology and ministry are eligible for fellowships of up to $30,000 to cover additional costs of attendance through the Haciendo Caminos program. Our fellows will also work with CTU and the Chicago community to develop and support formation opportunities for young Hispanic Catholics. Fellowships are prioritized forstudents enrolling full-time at CTU. The application is included in the scholarship section of the admissions application.

Post-graduate Volunteer Benefits

Applicants who have participated in a Catholic Volunteer Network program in the last five years will receive at least a 50% tuition scholarship.

Former post-graduate volunteers also receive priority consideration for the Bernardin Scholarship, Pathways@CTU Living-Learning Community, and the Rev. Donald Senior, CP Endowed Scholarship.

Federal Student Aid
Any student who is enrolled at least half-time in a graduate degree program at CTU, who is in good academic standing with the school, and who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States may be eligible to receive federal student loans. Information on federal direct loans is available from the Federal Student Aid website.

CTU’s financial aid and loan policy reflects our commitment to helping you follow your call to service. Although it may be necessary to borrow money to pursue your education, CTU urges students to do so with great care and only apply for loans that meet your needs when you have a clear strategy for repaying any loans after graduate school. Salaries of ministry graduates are generally modest and may not be enough initially to support a large loan repayment program.

Financial aid and loan decisions are important. Please do not hesitate to contact the admissions office at admissions@ctu.edu to set up a time to speak with a staff member.

In accordance with Federal Guidelines, CTU has adopted a Direct Loan Quality Assurance Policy and Procedure.

To apply for Federal Student Aid:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) here
• Contact admissions@ctu.edu to begin the process, stating that you would like to take out a loan, and would like to begin the Student Initiated Packaging process. 
• The financial aid officer will send you a link to register with our loan servicer, CampusIvy.
• After receiving the link, fill out the forms to create a Student Record.
• At the same time, Financial Aid will contact you regarding the specifics of your loan packaging. Please be prepared with the following information: 
  • Pertinent biographical information – Name, Birthdate, Current Address, Preferred Email, Preferred Phone Number.
  • Credits: How many credits is the student looking to cover? Which semesters will this be applicable to?
  • Needs for living expenses, if applicable.
• Financial Aid will produce a funding estimate. CampusIvy will notify you when this estimate is ready. Sign and agree to the estimate.
• The following additional documentation is needed to complete the loan packaging. Please complete the following:
• Master Promissory Note – available here
• Entrance Counseling, available either through the CampusIvy Portal or directly from FSA itself here
• Once these are all in, any changes to funding needs must be communicated to Financial Aid before disbursement dates for the academic term. Financial Aid will revise your funding estimate to reflect the amount. The dates are, as following: 
  • Fall: September 19, 2023
  • Spring: January 23, 2023
  • May: May 21, 2023
  • Summer. June 30, 2023
• If you have any questions regarding your financial aid, contact Financial Aid at admissions@ctu.edu or contact Justin Glenn at (773) 371-5451.

For Graduating Students

You must complete exit counseling to fulfill the terms of your loan. You can do this through the CampusIvy Student Portal or directly from FSA here.

For Students Enrolling Less than Half Time

You are no longer eligible for student loans for the academic term. If you must, complete exit counseling here or through the CampusIvy Student Portal if you do not enroll more than half time. 

Veteran Funding

Qualifying CTU students may seek funding for their education through the GI Bill®. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Leadership in Ministry Scholarship
Applicants working in full-time ministry who wish to study part-time can be considered for a full-tuition scholarship. Awards are contingent on the availability of funds. Applicants are automatically considered for these funds when available.

Archdiocese of Chicago Cooperative Programs
In addition to the Romero and Tolton Pastoral Scholarship programs, CTU collaborates with the Archdiocese of Chicago to provide financial resources for lay ministers.

The Critical Needs Scholarship provides tuition assistance to lay employees of the Archdiocese of Chicago who are undertaking studies which relate to the critical areas of need in the Archdiocese. For more information, contact the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation program (LEM) supports Chicago-based lay, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies students in Chicago in their studies through formation and a partial scholarship. The scholarship covers 2/3 of the recipient’s tuition – 1/3 from the Archdiocese and 1/3 from CTU.