For dependents of church workers in the U.S., changes made at the federal level to the FAFSA have been a boon to families’ bottom line at CUW, putting the average tuition costs paid by church work students on par or lower than other schools in the Concordia University System.
In 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act which set out to streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application process, increase access to Pell Grants, and make it easier, in general, for students and families to apply for federal financial aid. It took three years for the changes to go into effect, but in December 2023, the new FAFSA form was released.
New FAFSA doesn’t factor in housing allowance
One noticeable benefit for CUW applicants? A church worker’s housing allowance no longer counts toward income on the new form, making it more likely for dependents to qualify for Pell and state aid, says Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid Kevin Sheridan.
“On the old FAFSA application, there was the Clergy Housing Allowance that applied to all church workers,” says Sheridan. “Basically, housing for church workers used to go towards income, so it would actually make these families less likely to qualify for the Wisconsin State Grant or Federal Pell Grant. The new form doesn’t even ask about housing.”
The result is that more students than ever are experiencing lower out-of-pocket costs to attend CUW—especially students pursuing church work careers who are coming from families with church workers in them, says Sheridan. In 2024, the first year the new application went into effect, the average price paid for tuition by church work students at CUW was $5,300. For those pursuing a Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD), specifically, the average was around $3,000.
$5,300
Average tuition paid in 2024 by church work students at CUW (under the new FAFSA rules).
~$3,000
Average tuition paid in 2024 by Lutheran Teacher Diploma students at CUW.
The LCMS church work recruitment initiative Set Apart to Serve has published a 2025-26 tuition overview for each of the church work programs offered at the institutions within the Concordia University System. You may access these overviews here.
“The new FAFSA has made a ton of our church worker population Pell eligible, which is aid above and beyond the scholarships they receive from Concordia,” Sheridan says. “We had 15 percent more students qualify for state aid last year totaling more than $500,000. This was more than any year prior and I expect even more students to qualify moving forward.”
How CUW compares
CUW’s approach to financial aid sets it apart from its peers. Unlike other schools in the Concordia University System, CUW does not blend Pell and state aid into its sticker price. Instead, it treats the aid as additional support on top of institutional scholarships and tuition packages.
“This philosophy is part of our commitment to transparency and support,” Sheridan says. “Families can see exactly what they’re getting from us, and they know to what extent any federal or state aid is helping to reduce their costs beyond that.”
| PROGRAM | TUITION (after institutional financial aid and discounts) | AVERAGE TUITION (after state aid and grants) |
| Pre-seminary education | $7,697 | $5,300 |
| Lutheran education | $7,697 | $3,000 |
| Dir. of Church Ministries | $7,697 | $5,300 |
| Dir. of Church (Parish) Music | $7,697 | $5,300 |
Church work programs at CUW
Concordia University Wisconsin’s church work student population is annually among the largest within the Concordia University System. The campus offers four main routes to church-work professions:
Pre-seminary
Is God calling you to teach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments as an LCMS pastor? We encourage pre-seminary students to take a major in Theology with a Pre-seminary concentration and a major or a minor in Theological Languages. However, Pre-seminary students can major in any program at the university, such as Business, Education, Graphic Design, or Biblical Studies, for example. You will take required courses like New Testament, Biblical Theology, and Greek, in order to provide you with a solid foundation before heading off to Seminary. Learn more here.
Lutheran teacher
God has called and equipped you to be an inspiration and impact teacher. You will be prepared to share the Gospel using the gifts and platform God has given you. Earn your Lutheran Teacher Diploma in early childhood, elementary, a dual major of early childhood and elementary, special education, and secondary levels, which include numerous majors. Students can focus on concentrations which have been carefully and creatively designed to meet the needs of students for today and tomorrow. Over the past five years, we’ve placed nearly 100% of our graduates. Learn more here.
Director of Church Ministries (DCM)/Pre-deaconess
Your calling is to serve the Church in evangelism, mission, parish teaching, youth ministry, or even pre-deaconess/social ministry. You’ll be ready to support Bible studies, community outreach, mercy work, and administrative duties. Since no two graduates will have the exact same roles, you’ll take management and leadership courses that will help you adapt to any situation. You’ll get a solid foundation with a theology major, and you’ll diversify your skillset with two minors. The first minor is in church ministries and the second minor is in nonprofit management so that you can understand how operations work at a church or nonprofit organization. Learn more here.
Church music
Church musicians (sometimes called parish musicians) teach the faith through music. Discover the many ways you can serve the Church through music. From learning to direct choirs and instrumental groups, to supporting the structure of the Divine Service, you’ll develop your skills from training with practicing church musicians. As you learn to lead the congregation through music, you’ll have many opportunities to grow in your vocation as a parish musician. Learn more here.
Want in?
The 2025-26 FAFSA is now open. This form is for students planning to attend college between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The deadline to submit is June 30, 2026.
Financial aid is also available to students looking to attend Concordia. Aid is awarded based on financial need, field of study, academic record, underrepresented groups, or your area of residence.