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Financial Aid

Tuition

Please visit the Office of the Bursar website for a current description of IPS tuition and fees. Tuition is $850.00 USD per credit hour. Fees vary according the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled in a given term. Further, different courses are associated with different fees such that the fees charged each term will vary. To illustrate the range of fees, the total amount of fees that a student will pay over time to complete the general track (no “concentration”) of the MA in Pastoral Studies will range from $2,500 to $3,000. Fees assessed each semester vary according to the number of semester hours and classes students enroll.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Students may receive institutional, federal, or external sources of financial aid to help with tuition expenses. Eligible students must meet admission standards, submit all supporting materials, and be admitted to or enrolled in a degree or certificate program.

Tuition

Please visit the Office of the Bursar website for a current description of IPS tuition and fees. Tuition is $850.00 USD per credit hour. Fees vary according the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled in a given term. Further, different courses are associated with different fees such that the fees charged each term will vary. To illustrate the range of fees, the total amount of fees that a student will pay over time to complete the general track (no “concentration”) of the MA in Pastoral Studies will range from $2,500 to $3,000. Fees assessed each semester vary according to the number of semester hours and classes students enroll.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Students may receive institutional, federal, or external sources of financial aid to help with tuition expenses. Eligible students must meet admission standards, submit all supporting materials, and be admitted to or enrolled in a degree or certificate program.

Types of Aid

  • The Institute of Pastoral Studies administers a limited set of scholarship and grant funds. These are gift awards made at the time of admission that do not need to be paid back. IPS awards merit scholarships and ministry grants on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, embodiment of the IPS mission, and commitment to social justice. These IPS scholarships and grants cover a portion of for-credit tuition only (they do not cover zero-credit course fees, administrative student fees, books, supplies, tuition for audited courses, etc.). These scholarships and grants cannot be combined with other scholarship or grants, whether administered by IPS, Loyola University Chicago, or external entities. A student who has received an IPS scholarship or grant upon admission will forfeit that award if other scholarships or grants are later accepted.

  • IPS scholarship and grant funds are limited and consideration is given only to students who meet admission standards and submit the supplemental writing sample and resume (INSTRUCTIONS). Students who submit the writing sample and resume (not required for admission itself) with their application for admission are automatically considered for both IPS merit scholarships and ministry grant. Early submission of your application for admission and materials for scholarship consideration is strongly encouraged.

  • Each IPS scholarship and grant carries maintenance requirements that are detailed in the scholarship/grant offer letter sent to the students who receive an offer. Students who fail to comply with those requirements at any point during their time at IPS forfeit that particular scholarship entirely for all subsequent semesters.

Loyola University Mission Grants: Loyola University Chicago has a long-standing tradition of offering for-credit course tuition assistance grants to qualified religious working in developing countries and to qualified faculty from Loyola’s sister schools. Eligible students include members of religious orders working in developing countries; international Jesuits; faculty, staff, and administrators employed by one of Loyola's sister schools. Keep in mind that recipients of Mission Grants forfeit their eligibility to receive other University-funded scholarships, assistantships, or grants.

  • The Mission Grant policy requires qualified students to pay one-third of their tuition, a sponsoring agent pays another third of the student’s charged tuition, and Loyola University Chicago will cover the remaining third. While the student portion may be paid through student loan borrowing this portion cannot be covered by University-funded scholarships, assistantships, or grants. For more information please review the  Mission Grant Policy. If you qualify and are interested, download the  Mission_Grant_Application and for further assistance contact the Financial Aid Office

IPS Sponsored Matching Grant Program: This program is similar to and complements Loyola’s Mission Grant program. If a parish, school, hospital, diocese, or other non-profit agency not included in Loyola’s Mission Grant policy is willing to pay a portion of a student’s tuition, the Institute of Pastoral Studies will match that amount up to but not more than 1/3 of tuition. This grant applies to tuition only, and does not cover zero credit courses, fees, books, supplies, IPS audits, etc.

  • Students who participate in this Matching Grant Program are not eligible to receive other forms of tuition aid, including other IPS scholarships.
  • Payments must be made by the sponsoring agency and mailed directly to IPS in order for the funds to be matched. If the sponsoring agency would also like to cover any fees the student has assessed, the sponsor may pay these fees but they must be paid in a separate check.
  • Download and submit the Sponsored Matching Grant Application. (Forms must be submitted at least 1 month prior to the semester for which they are to be applied.)
  • NOTE: A Sponsored Matching Grant is figured into a student’s financial package and impacts the dollar amounts eligible for student loans, often decreasing that amount. Students should work with the Financial Aid Office and the Office of the Bursar to coordinate the financing of their IPS education

Archdiocese of Chicago Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program: IPS participates fully in the Archdiocese of Chicago's Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program, which includes the “Together in God’s Service” (TIGS) scholarship". Students must be admitted to the Archdiocesan Lay Ecclesial Formation program and anticipate working for the Archdiocese of Chicago upon completion of their degree program. In this program, as with other Mission Grant programs at Loyola, students pay one-third of the tuition, the Archdiocese of Chicago pays another third, and Loyola pays the remaining third. Additional funds may be available for students who are admitted to the Archdiocesan Lay Ecclesial Formation program who are working to foster lay ecclesial ministry among members of African-American, Asian, Polish, and Hispanic communities. Students are encouraged to contact the Archdiocese of Chicago's Institute for Lay Formation to learn more and apply for this opportunity.

  • Scholarship Connection: The University’s Financial Aid office coordinates a number of scholarship types. Visit the Loyola Scholarship Connection website to access them, a portal through which you may apply to a number of different scholarships. You will also see on that webpage a menu of items to research, including information on grants and loans.
  • JVC MAGIS is a competitive full-tuition scholarship and housing program for any former member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps or Jesuit Volunteer International. To learn more, visit the Greeley Center for Catholic Education, which administers the JVC Magis progam.
  • For more information about scholarship opportunities, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 773.508.7704 or lufinaid@luc.edu.

 

IPS STUDENT WORKERS AND GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

STUDENT WORKERS
 
Student workers provide administrative support to the IPS office, work under the supervision of the IPS Executive Administrative Assistant and are hired on a semester-by-semester basis.
 
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Developing and maintaining IPS database spreadsheets
  • Helping to process paperwork and other documentation.
  • Conducting research as assigned, including organization, editing and data analysis.
  • Assisting with front desk functions, including the greeting of walk-ins and phone answering as needed.
  • Assisting with IPS events.
  • Maintaining bulletin boards and helping with posters and flyers.
  • Scanning, photocopying, binding and shredding.
  • Assisting with other office operations. This includes helping the IPS Administrative Assistant to keep the IPS premises in order through assistance with supplies, storage, and the usage of the IPS common area, kitchen and conference rooms.
  • Performing other duties as assigned by supervisor.

All student workers are limited to 19.5 hours of work per week and must be enrolled for the semester that the student is employed on-campus.

 

Student Workers are paid on an hourly basis. Any time away from the job for whatever reason is considered to be unpaid time. It is important for student workers to communicate with their supervisor well in advance when time off is planned. In case of absence due to emergency or illness, the department should be notified as soon as is possible that the employee will be absent.

 

Loyola University Chicago encourages Student Workers to learn good work habits and work toward excellence and efficiency in job performance. Therefore, the University expects these employees to meet the following standards. These guidelines are not meant to be exhaustive but are merely general requirements for a safe and efficient workplace.
 
  • Fulfill the responsibilities of the job as defined in work instructions given by the supervisor.
  • Carry out reasonable requests and instructions from the supervisor.
  • Observe all posted health, safety, fire prevention, and security rules.
  • Immediately report injuries or accidents.
  • Maintain professional conduct by treating every person with respect and courtesy. Refrain from the use of profane and abusive language, loud and disruptive behavior, and any action which may demean any individual.
  • Be at work, ready to do your job, at the scheduled time. Absence for personal business is allowed only by prior arrangement. Chronic absenteeism or tardiness may result in termination.
  • Immediately report all absences to the supervisor.
  • Carry Loyola identification with you and be prepared to display it when required.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

IPS offers Graduate Research Assistantship (GA) positions in the areas of digital communication, contextual education and scholarly research. Graduate research assistants work under the direction and supervision of a designated faculty member. Administrative aspects of graduate research assistant positions are managed and supervised by the IPS Executive Administrative Assistant.
 
 GAs receive tuition remission and a stipend during the academic year (fall and spring semesters - 9-month assistantship).
 
Tuition Award:
 
Graduate Research Assistantships provides tuition for up to: 
 
  • 9 credit hours for Fall
  • 9 credit hours for Spring
IPS Graduate Research Assistants must be enrolled full-time and remain in good academic standing. Applications for these positions are accepted on an as-needed basis. 
 
  • From students involved in the Army ROTC to veterans who are pursuing higher education, Loyola offers numerous scholarship resources for military students, including Veterans Administration Programs and Benefits, ROTC Scholarships, and Federal Programs for Veterans.
  • Are you a Veteran or concerned about one? The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.

Student loans are available from federal sources and through banks, credit unions, and other private lenders. Loyola University Chicago is a participant in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan (Direct Loan) Program, through which students work with the Financial Aid Office to obtain Federal Stafford Loans, Perkin's Loans, PLUS Loans, and more from the U.S. Department of Education. For information on these and other loans and to access the necessary forms please visit the Loans page on Loyola’s Financial Aid Office website. Graduate students can also contact the Financial Aid Office at gradfinaid@luc.edu or 773-508-2984. 

  • Loyola University’s Financial Aid Office maintains an External Opportunities website, which lists myriad specific opportunities as well as several third-party scholarship search engines. Keep in mind that some of the best resources for scholarships are organizations with which you are a member or volunteer (i.e., ethnic heritage groups, Kiwanis club, nonprofit volunteer organizations, community organizations, and more). Additionally, Loyola’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion maintains a list of external scholarship resources for underrepresented students. You should follow up with local municipalities about opportunities or research these external scholarship opportunities on scholarship search websites.
  • Archdiocese of Chicago Critical Needs Scholarship: The Archdiocese of Chicago has funds available for its employees who are working to address the critical needs of the Archdiocese. This Critical Needs Program offers going assistance to the individual until completion of their course of studies, provided the candidate maintains satisfactory academic achievement and meets other program requirements.  Participants in this program agree to provide three years of service to an Archdiocesan parish, school, or agency following completion of his/her studies. To apply, visit the Archdiocesan Lay Ecclesial Ministry Critical Needs application page.
  • Veterans/Military Programs: From students involved in the Army ROTC to veterans who are pursuing higher education, Loyola offers numerous scholarship resources for military students, including Veterans Administration Programs and Benefits, ROTC Scholarships, and Federal Programs for Veterans.