Financial Aid & Scholarships

Starr King annually provides Institutional Tuition Scholarship Awards (ITSAs) to assist students with the cost of tuition. These scholarships are awarded through an internal process by the Starr King Scholarship Committee. The Scholarship Committee considers the financial need of each applicant as well as the school’s commitment to educating to counter oppressions and our desire to manifest a just, multiracial, multicultural learning community.

Starr King’s scholarship application is built into Populi (both our learning management software and student accounts management software). Current students applying for the next academic year and prospective students (who have completed their applications for the next academic year) will need to apply through this system to be considered for institutional scholarships.

The scholarship application will open on February 15 and will close on April 1. Returning students must apply every year for Institutional Scholarships during the Spring semester to receive assistance for the following academic year. Returning students may only apply once per year – during this timeframe. Students that do not apply will not be considered for scholarships for the academic year. Apply before April 1st to be considered for scholarships for the following Academic Year.

Those who apply for admission between April 2 and June 1 will remain eligible for other forms of financial aid. Applicants may continue to apply for admission for Fall until June 1 but may not be eligible for scholarships.

Review the list of named scholarships and the criteria.

​How to Apply for SKSM Institutional Tuition Scholarships

1.  File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the federal processor online at fafsa.gov. Please note the following:

• The SKSM federal school code is G04080
• For financial aid for the 2025-2026 Academic Year, submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA using 2023 tax records if you have not yet filed a federal tax return for 2024. Update the information once you complete your taxes.
• You can submit your FAFSA from October 1 through June 30.

2.  Complete the Starr King Institutional Tuition Scholarship Application between February 15 and April 1.

Expected Timeline for the Starr King Institutional Scholarships

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FUNDING DEADLINE FOR THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR IS APRIL 1. Any scholarships awarded may not be released until a signed acceptance letter and “thank you note or card” is received by Starr King.

Other Types of Financial Aid (i.e., Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work Study)

The Business Office partners with Financial Aid Solutions (FA Solutions) for all processes related to Federal Financial Aid. FA Solutions stands ready to assist you in any way necessary. For more information about the federal financial aid application process, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (510) 902-3989 or send an email: financialaid@sksm.edu.

UUA Scholarships for Unitarian Universalist Seminarians

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) provides scholarships directly to students who are preparing for Unitarian Universalist ministry. Scholarship aid is for seminarians who have achieved aspirant or candidate status for UU ministry, but some forms of assistance are occasionally available for entering students.

After graduation from seminary, the UUA provides debt-reduction assistance for those who enter the ministry. Rev Darrick Jackson is the Director of Ministerial Credentialing at the UUA and can answer any questions you may have: djackson@uua.org.

Please note the various application deadlines at the link below. Note that the application requires several letters of reference. Be sure to start early to submit your application. Current information and application instructions are available at www.uua.org/careers/ministers/becoming/scholarships.

Other scholarships funded by UU organizations

St. Lawrence Foundation CPE Grants

The St. Lawrence Foundation for Theological Education seeks to aid students in aspirant or candidate status with the Unitarian Universalist Association by offering stipends to pay up to $750 tuition for the UUA required one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at an accredited CPE center. The Foundation will send the tuition payment directly to the CPE Center. Therefore, students who submit this application must be committed to taking CPE at the center named and, in the timeframe, specified. A postgrant report will be required from the student. The Foundation needs to use limited funds to meet the needs of many students. Please do not apply for this scholarship if you have other sources of funding for CPE tuition or if you are able to cover the expense yourself. To access the application form, click here.

The Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Scholarship

Offered by the UU Women’s Federation, this program provides direct financial support to aspirants or candidates to UU ministry, or candidates in the UUA religious education or music leadership programs, who identify as women of color, Latina, or Hispanic. Applicants must complete an online form. There are two funding cycles per year, with deadlines of March 1 and October 1. More information can be found here.

UUA Program Assistance Grant for Career Assessment

Aspirants with financial needs may request a $1000 Program Assistance Grant from the UUA Ministerial Credentialing Office (MCO) to offset the costs related to the career assessment. Please contact the UUA Ministerial Credentialing Office when an assessment has been scheduled so that the MCO can arrange to send the grant directly to the career center.

Other Outside Scholarships

In addition to the types of aid listed above, students are advised to seek financial support from outside sources, such as savings, support from friends and family, aid from churches or denominations, and grants or scholarships from outside organizations.

Non-Tuition Student Aid

Current students should consult the Student Handbook regarding opportunities to receive financial aid for non-tuition expenses.

***Please note that SKSM Institutional Scholarships (ITSAs) are for tuition only and scholarships of any form are not guaranteed or promised.