Skip To Main Content

Scholarships & Awards

Aquinas Institute of Theology is committed to educating the next generation of theologically well-formed ministers to serve the US Church in fulfillment of our mission to "educate men and women to preach, to teach, to minister, and to lead." We know that for most students, the cost of graduate school can seem daunting and out of reach and that incurring significant debt is a hardship. 
We do not want finances to keep you from answering your call to ministry and we are committed to helping you fund your education. 

Aquinas Scholar Award

Established in honor of our patron, St. Thomas Aquinas, this award is offered to lay men and women and provides multiple full tuition scholarship with a housing stipend, book award, and work-study opportunities for two or three years, depending on the student's degree program. 

"Financial aid impacted my decision to attend Aquinas tremendously. Without financial aid it would be a burden to study what I want to study. I think finances are a huge reason to make a decision."   Josh Ostertag, 2022 Aquinas Scholar Award Recipient

What's Included

Full Tuition for
All Required Courses

Housing
Stipend

Books
Stipend

Employment
Opportunities

Eligibility and Requirements

Applications for the Aquinas Scholar Award are evaluated in four key areas. 

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

STRONG RECORD OF SERVICE TO CHURCH AFFILIATED MINISTRIES 

COMMITMENT TO FUTURE MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH

LEADERSHIP CAPACITY 

There is no separate application for this Award. Students who wish to be considered should focus their personal assessment and reflection paper on strengths in these areas.  Applicants should also share these areas of evaluation with those from whom they are requesting letters of recommendation and ask that the letters highlight qualities in these areas especially.

Aquinas Scholars are required to study full-time, as defined by degree program, and live in Saint Louis while a student at Aquinas. 

How to Apply

To be considered for the Aquinas Scholar Award, individuals must apply to their selected degree program for the Fall term by January 28th, the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Start Your Application

Nominate an Aquinas Scholar

Required

Name (of Nominee)required
First Name
Last Name
Your Namerequired
First Name
Last Name
0 / 200
(200 words or less)

Additional Scholarship Award Opportunities

In addition to the Aquinas Scholar Award, Aquinas Institute of Theology has established three merit-based scholarship awards offered to potential full-time lay students and two merit-based scholarship awards for potential part-time students. 

Students applying to one of our three core degree programs (MDiv, MAPS, or MA) will be considered for merit-based awards.  

Taxability of Scholarships and Stipends

If a student receives scholarships and/.or stipends during any calendar year which exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment, the amount that exceeds those costs should be reported by the student as taxable income. Aquinas Institute is required to send information to students and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding scholarship and stipend payments on Form 1098T. Students are responsible for using this information as well as their own records to complete their tax returns. 

Non-U.S. Citizens and non-permanent resident aliens may be subject to U.S. taxation. Any portion of institution granted scholarships/stipends that exceed the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment may be subject to a tax withholding rate of up to 14 percent for students with an F1 visa. 

Students with questions about the taxability of their award should contact our Financial Aid Administrator at 314.256.8807 or finaid@ai.edu