Scholarships

ESM believes that quality Christian education should be affordable to all families. To make this possible, members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and St. Michael Lutheran Church together provide approximately half of the total cost of education for all students enrolled. Despite the fact that the cost of education continues to climb steeply, the support and commitment of our two church congregations helps us provide excellent academic programming at a cost that is still within reach.

For those who need some extra financial help, various forms of scholarships are available. 

Along with the incredible support we get from our partner congregations, our participation in the School Choice program represents our commitment to providing the financial support necessary for families to choose a partnership with ESM. Choice is also available to provide scholarships for a Lutheran high school education! With the significant savings that a Choice Scholarship or SGO award provides at ESM, this allows your family to plan accordingly for Concordia Lutheran High School. What an opportunity for your family to continue with excellence in Lutheran education in the years ahead! For families who need additional support there are a variety of other needs-based and independent scholarships available. Learn more about these programs below.

Scholarship FAQ

Great news!! Last spring, the Indiana State Legislature voted to remove the income eligibility for the Indiana School Choice Scholarship. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, all students who are age 5-21 in grade K-12 and residents of the State of Indiana now qualify. SGO and Independent Scholarships are still available for families who demonstrate need and have a balance due after Choice has been applied to tuition. Review the K-8 Tuition and Fees Estimate Worksheet & Plans carefully as the Plan selections have changed. Application for scholarships is separate from online re-enrollment. Only families that have completed online re-enrollment and paid the $100 family application fee will be considered for scholarships. 

PLAN C TUITION SELECTION (CHOICE) — Indicate your commitment in your student’s online enrollment or re-enrollment application for Plan C. Further instructions will be provided by the ESM Finance Team when they become available from the IDOE. While families will NOT have to complete an ESM Scholarship Application, there will be paperwork that will require you to schedule an appointment with our ESM Finance Team, as in years past, in order for the scholarship to be applied.

If selecting Plan C, there is nothing further that you need to do at this time. More communication to come once we have more information from the IDOE.

PLAN D TUITION SELECTION (CHOICE + SGO/INDEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIPS) - SGO and Independent Scholarships are available for families who demonstrate financial need for remaining tuition balance after Indiana School Choice Scholarship is applied. If you would like to be considered for these scholarships, indicate your Plan D commitment on the re-enrollment application. An ESM Scholarship Application must be completed each year to receive scholarships. Scholarships do not roll over from the previous year. Return the completed ESM Scholarship Application AND a copy of your 2025 Federal Form 1040 to either school office. Completed scholarship applications are due April 15th for priority consideration. Following the priority deadline, applications will be considered based on the remaining funds available. For a secure, online method of signing and returning forms click the link below. For Independent Scholarships, follow the steps outlined by the organization from which you are seeking a scholarship.   

WHAT ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PRESCHOOL? While the Indiana Choice Scholarship continues to be for students in Kindergarten - 12th grade, ESM is blessed with private donations from individuals and businesses to provide scholarships to financially qualifying students. Scholarships vary in value, are based on need, and on funds available. Return the completed ESM Scholarship Application AND a copy of your 2025 Federal Form 1040 to either school office. Completed scholarship applications are due April 15th for priority consideration. Following the priority deadline, applications will be considered based on the remaining funds available. or a secure, online method of signing and returning forms click the link below.

When are scholarship applications due?

Completed scholarship applications are due April 15th for priority consideration. Only families that have completed the online enrollment application, have paid the $100 family application fee, and have been accepted to Emmanuel - St. Michael Lutheran School will be considered. If you have not completed the steps to re-enroll for 2026-27 follow the instructions on the Re-Enrollment Information page of our website. 

When will I know if I have received a scholarship? 

For scholarship applications submitted by April 15th, families will receive an award letter with estimated costs in late May. Award amounts will be reflected on your preliminary statement if you have completed the scholarship application process and met with the ESM finance team to sign the required paperwork. You can always utilize the ESM Tuition and Fees Estimate Worksheet as a guide.

What if I submit my scholarship application after the deadline? 

Scholarships will continue to be accepted after the priority deadline. However, following the priority deadline, applications will be considered based on the remaining funds available.  

For additional help or to receive more information about scholarships, please contact Mrs. Hannah Swor by email below or by phone at 260.422.6712.

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