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Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance

LESA Tuition Assistance

LESA’s tuition assistance program offers need-based financial aid to children who attend LESA member Lutheran elementary schools in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Since 2004, LESA has awarded more than $8.2 million in tuition assistance to over 4,600 individual students. At LESA, our goal is to give meaningful financial aid to all who complete an application and qualify under LESA’s eligibility criteria.

Families are eligible for tuition assistance from LESA or the Missouri District Scholarship Program (available to students in K-8 at a Missouri District LCMS school) if at least 10% of their income (taxable and non-taxable), as reported for the previous tax year, is used to cover the cost of their child’s/children’s K-8th grade Lutheran school net tuition (provided by the school). Families expending less than 10% of their income on K-8th grade Lutheran elementary school tuition will be considered on a case-by-case basis where extenuating circumstances exist. Students must be enrolled at a Lutheran elementary school in order for the award committee to review applications. Families must apply each year as tuition assistance is not guaranteed, but awards are granted based on total income and net tuition.

The Impact of Your Generosity

LESA Auction 2025

Missouri District LC-MS Scholarships

The Missouri District Scholarship Program is committed to helping families provide a Christ-centered education for their children attending K-8th grade at Lutheran schools throughout Missouri. This program is designed to assist families with the cost of tuition.

Who is eligible?

  • Children in Kindergarten – 8th grade 
  • Children enrolled in a Lutheran School in Missouri

Qualification Criteria

To be considered for this scholarship, families must meet the following requirement:

  • The net tuition cost (after other financial aid is applied) must be 10% or more of the family’s total income from the most recent tax year.
  • Students must be enrolled at a Lutheran school by May 1
  • Application must be submitted by April 10
  • Application must be complete/verified in FACTS by April 30. (all documents must be submitted by April 10 to allow FACTS time to review)

Important Note

The Missouri District Scholarship Program is not the same as the MO Scholars Program (via Missouri District). While both programs use the same FACTS application and aim to support students and families with need-based tuition assistance, they are administered separately and have different eligibility requirements.

Questions?

Contact:

Maureen Gersman, email or call the LESA office 314-200-0790

Director of Scholarships & Operations

Lutheran Elementary School Association (LESA)

How To Apply

Application Procedure for 2025/2026 LESA and Missouri District tuition-assistance programs

To apply for assistance, families must submit an online application.  

Tuition assistance does not renew automatically. Families seeking assistance with the cost of K-8th grade tuition through the LESA or Missouri District programs must apply for funding each year, as available funding varies from year-to-year based on funds available and the number of students qualifying for assistance varies each year.

In addition to completing the application and paying the application fee, families must provide 2024 federal income tax documents and other documents requested by FACTS in the application verification process to substantiate financial need.

Students must be enrolled in K -8th grade at a Lutheran elementary school in order for the application to be reviewed

What to expect when completing the application?  Watch a FACTS Video

Tips on Uploading Documents to the LESA Scholarship Application

Scholarship Application Deadline – April 10 • Application complete/verified – April 30

Deadlines & Submissions

Scholarship Application Deadline – April 10 • Application complete/verified – April 30

All documents must be submitted by April 10 in order for FACTS representatives to review them and mark your application as complete by April 30

1. All applications will be submitted ONLINE through FACTS

2. To submit an application, each applicant family is required to pay a $40 fee. If parents of the student(s) are divorced, each household must submit an application.

3. Once your online application has been submitted, remember to immediately submit required income documentation to FACTS (2024 W-2’s and 2024 federal income tax form, as well as any other information the FACTS auditors request to confirm information submitted on the application) , following the instructions on the application screen. Income documents may be uploaded to your application using a scanner or mobile device.

4. Only applications submitted online by April 10 and are verified as “complete” by FACTS by April 30th will be considered for an award during the May 2025 award committee meeting.

5. If you have questions on the LESA or Missouri District Scholarship programs, please email Maureen Gersman or call 314-200-0790.

6. FACTS service representatives are available to answer questions on the FACTS online application or required documentation.  They may be reached at 866-315-9262 Monday – Thursday from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM or Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

7. Upon completion of application review and award determinations by the scholarship awards committees, school administrators and families will be notified of LESA and Missouri District Scholarship award decisions by May 31 directly by the LESA office.

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