Scholarships and Grants for Graduate Students

As our mission at PLU encourages service and care, we truly care about making the PLU graduate studies affordable for anyone desiring financial aid. Each of our graduate programs offers unique scholarships with varying monetary awards. Please take a look at the sites listed below for possible scholarships and grants that could apply to you.

Applicants for graduate admission can apply for the following scholarships if available for the program they are applying for.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a crucial part of any college program. Helping you to succeed in your classes without financial stress is one of our ultimate goals. Take advantage of factors that weigh the scholarships in your favor, including university specific, degree specific, ethnic background, geographic area, financial need and merit-based scholarships.

Graduate Assistantship

The Graduate Assistantship program offers graduate students an opportunity to participate in academic and administrative activities that will enhance their graduate education experience, as well as provide financial assistance. Amount: Varied

Graduate Fellowships

The Graduate Fellowship program offers graduate students financial support to assist with covering costs associated with his/her own research and graduate study. This award will be incorporated into the student’s financial aid package. Amount: Varied

PLU Alumni Tuition Discount

The PLU Grant provides a 10 percent discount on tuition for PLU graduates who enroll in a PLU master’s level degree or approved master’s level certificate program. Restrictions apply to those students who are also PLU employees. The discount begins immediately upon admission.

Other Financial Aid Opportunities

Scholarships for PLU Specific Programs

Master of Business Administration

  • Dean’s Excellence Graduate Scholarship
  • Emilie “Lee” Zulauf MBA Scholarship
  • Gundar King MBA Scholarship
  • Gladys M. Knutzen Memorial MBA Scholarship
  • Murray-Danielson Management Award Scholarship
  • PLU Business Network Scholarship

MBA Scholarships

Master of Science in Marketing Analytics

  • The Dean’s Excellence Graduate Scholarship
  • Graduate Assistantship
  • Murray-Danielson Management Award Scholarship
  • PLU Business Network Scholarship

MSMA Scholarships

Master of Science in Kinesiology

  • Faculty Excellence in Kinesiology Scholarship
  • Emerging Leader in Kinesiology Scholarship
  • Kinesiology Achievement Scholarship
  • Graduate Assistantship

MSK Scholarships

Master of Arts in Education

  • Excellence in Education Graduate Scholarship
  • The Martinez Foundation Scholarship for New Teachers
  • Shereen Paff Special Education Scholarhsip
  • Graduate Assistantship

MAE Scholarships

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

  • The Charles D. York and Cheryl L. Storm Graduate Scholarships
  • The MFT Graduate Assistantship

MFT Scholarships

Master of Fine Arts – Creative Writing

  • The Linda Bierds and Carol Houck Smith Graduate Scholarships
  • The Jack Cady Promise Scholarship
  • Graduate Assistantship

MFA Scholarships

Master of Science in Nursing

  • The Dean’s Excellence in Nursing Leadership Graduate Scholarships

MSN Scholarships

Doctor of Nursing Practice

  • The Dean’s Excellence in Nursing Leadership DNP Scholarship
  • Graduate Fellowships

DNP Scholarships

PLU Alumni Grant

The PLU Grant provides a 10 percent discount on tuition for graduate applicants who receive a bachelor’s degree from PLU and enroll in a PLU graduate-level degree or approved master’s level certificate program. Restrictions apply to those students who are also PLU employees. The discount begins immediately upon admission.

International Student Grants

The following grants are awarded to eligible international students automatically upon admission, application is not required.

Nordic Grant

The Nordic Grant is for degree-seeking AND citizens of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

Amount:  $10,000 for first year; $5,000 for second year (only for 2-year program option)

Nordic Opportunity Grant

The Nordic Opportunity Grant for visiting students 1-Semester is awarded to non-degree seeking AND citizens of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.

Amount:  $5000 (first semester only). Not applicable for summer semester.

America’s Grant On-Campus

America’s Grant On-Campus is for degree-seeking AND citizens of Canada, Central America or South America.

Amount:  $7,500/year (living on campus), or $4,000/year (living off campus)

International Grant

The International Grant is awarded for degree-seeking International students who do not otherwise qualify for the Nordic or America’s grant.

Amount:  $7,000 for first year; $3,500 for second year (only for 2-year program option)

Service Scholarships for Graduate Students

Criteria

Applicants to Pacific Lutheran University’s graduate programs are eligible to apply for the Service Scholarship.

Recipients of the scholarship receive a total award up to $10,000 toward tuition, which is distributed over the course of the student’s academic program.

Eligible applicants must have successfully completed at least one full term of volunteer service with a recognized organization within the last five years prior to their first term in their graduate program.

This scholarship can be awarded in addition to a graduate assistantship and alumni tuition discount for which you may be eligible. However, it cannot be used with other PLU scholarships, International Grant, Nordic Grant, and other international student grants.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must have completed the specified full term of voluntary service with one of the following organizations:

    • AmeriCorps – One year of full-time service
    • Peace Corps – Two years of full-time service
    • Lutheran Volunteer Corps – One year of full-time service

2. The service must be completed within the last five years prior to the first term in the admitted graduate program.
3. Newly admitted graduate students for Summer 2021 or after.
4. Must be enrolled full-time or part-time for a degree program (a master’s or doctorate degree).

Procedure

  1. Fill out the Service Scholarship Verification Form.
  2. Submit documents from the organization to verify the length and completion of service.

Awarding

  1. This scholarship is awarded to help reduce the student’s out-of-pocket cost of their tuition for their entire degree program; up to $10,000, not exceed the program tuition.
  2. A portion of the scholarship will be awarded each term, based on the number of credits for which they register as a percentage of the credits required for their degree program (e.g. If enrolling for 8 credits in the 36 credit MBA, the scholarship for the term will be $2,222 (8/36 = 22.2% X $10,000 = $2,222).
  3. Students will receive a portion of their $10,000 award each term until the $10,000 has been fully expended. After the $10,000 has been fully spent, scholarship funding will not be available for any additional coursework.
  4. This scholarship is not available if 100% of the student’s tuition cost is being covered by any single governmental benefit