Candler School of Theology has recently expanded its already robust scholarship offerings, underscoring the school’s continued commitment to making a top-tier theological education affordable for the next generation of seminarians.
This latest expansion in the school’s scholarship program is designed to make a Candler degree accessible to more people through increases in both the number of scholarships and the monetary value of the awards. The plan also incorporates a variety of new opportunities related to students’ interests beyond degree programs, including additional funding for specific areas of study, academic certificates, and fellowships.
Candler Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Samuel Martinez says that the expanded program represents the biggest scholarship budget in the school’s history.
“More money than ever is available to help students pursue the next step of their calling at Candler,” he says. “Thanks to our generous donors, we have nearly $8 million allocated for scholarships for the coming academic year, which will help make a transformative Candler education a reality for our incoming students.”
Highlights of the scholarship plan for the 2025-2026 academic year include:
- More full-tuition scholarships for qualified students admitted to the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program: Candler will continue to offer full-tuition scholarships to all MDiv students who are certified candidates for ordination in The United Methodist Church. Plus, all MDiv applicants who apply by the priority deadline are automatically considered for a range of scholarships up to full tuition plus a stipend. And for 2025-2026, a number of new scholarships will be available to qualified admits pursuing ministry in historically Black churches, racial justice and healing work, Latine studies, or Pentecostal studies.
- Up to full-tuition scholarships for the strongest applicants in certain certificate programs: Applicants who plan to pursue academic certificates in chaplaincy, Catholic studies, and Episcopal/Anglican studies will be considered for the entire range of scholarships in their degree program (MDiv, MARL, or MTS), including a number of full-tuition awards specific to their proposed certificate program.
- New scholarships, research fellowships for qualified Master of Theological Studies (MTS) students: Applicants admitted to the MTS program are considered for a range of scholarships, including multiple awards of full tuition and full tuition plus a stipend. New this year: the MTS Fellowship program, which allows MTS admits to apply for a stipendiary fellowship with The Candler Foundry (Candler’s public theological education initiative), Pitts Theology Library, or Candler’s Office of Digital Learning.
- Scholarship offerings in every degree program: This year, scholarship money will be available to qualified admitted students in all of Candler’s six degree programs: Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Religion and Leadership (MARL), Master of Religion and Public Life (MRPL), Master of Theology (ThM), and Doctor of Ministry (DMin). Visit the degree program overview page on Candler’s website for more information on these degrees.
- Most Candler scholarships are awarded for the duration of the recipient’s degree program. If you are in a two-year program like the MTS or MARL, you will receive your scholarship funding both years; for the three-year MDiv program, you will receive your scholarship for all three years, as long as you meet the requirements outlined in your scholarship letter. Only a small percentage of Candler scholarships are one-time awards.
Martinez points out that one of the best things about scholarships at Candler is that it is incredibly easy to be considered, because the application for admission doubles as an application for scholarships—the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the only additional paperwork required.
He also has a helpful tip for those who wish to receive scholarship funding. “Those who apply by their degree program’s priority deadline will have the best chance of receiving support. Apply early!”
The priority deadline for MDiv, MARL, and MTS applicants is January 15. Other priority deadlines are February 15 for ThM, March 1 for DMin, and July 1 for MRPL.
For more information on Candler’s degree programs or scholarships, please contact our Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at candleradmissions@emory.eduor (404)727-6352.