The complete operating policy for Lucent University's Church Match Program. Please review before applying so students, churches, and our team are aligned from the start.
The Church Match Program is a tuition partnership designed to make Lucent University's ministry training affordable for students answering their calling while keeping their local church at the center of that journey. Tuition is shared three ways: one-third from the student, one-third from the student's local church, and one-third matched by Lucent University. The program reduces a student's out-of-pocket cost by 66% and is open as long as the church continues to participate and the student remains in good academic standing.
Lucent University is a nonprofit evangelical institution accredited by ASIC with Premier Status and recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The Church Match Program is offered alongside our existing Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) pricing, which adjusts tuition automatically based on the student's country. There are no hidden fees, no enrollment fees, and all books and digital materials are included.
Eligible students: Any applicant admitted to a Lucent University degree, certificate, or extension program (Certificate in Theology, Associate in Theology, Associate in Ministry, Bachelor in Theology and Ministry, Master in Ministry, Master in Divinity, Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Greek New Testament, Hebrew Old Testament). The student must be a member or regular attender of the participating church for at least six (6) months prior to the term start, must remain actively involved in that church during their studies, and must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Eligible churches: Any recognized Christian congregation. No denomination is required and there is no minimum church size. The church's authorized representative — pastor, elder, treasurer, or board member — completes the Church Match Intent Form on behalf of the church.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): The student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and a course completion rate of at least 67%. Loss of SAP suspends the match until the student is restored to good standing.
Anti-fraud separation: The student cannot serve as the church representative who completes the Intent Form. The student or their immediate family cannot fund the church's one-third by giving designated to the student.
The PPP discount is applied first to gross tuition based on the student's country. The 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 split is then calculated against the PPP-adjusted price. This means students in lower-PPP countries pay even less out of pocket — and so do their churches.
Example (Master of Divinity, US student): Gross tuition $290/month × 36 months = $10,440. Under the Church Match Program, the student pays approximately $3,480, the church pays approximately $3,480, and Lucent matches the remaining $3,480.
Example (Certificate in Theology, student in a Tier 3 PPP country): If PPP reduces monthly tuition from $130 to $60, total program cost becomes $1,440 ($60 × 24 months). The student pays approximately $480, the church pays approximately $480, and Lucent matches $480.
The Church Match Program is awarded in lieu of other Lucent scholarships. External scholarships (employer, foundation, mission agency) may apply to the remaining student portion.
Step 1 — Admission: The student applies and is admitted to a Lucent University program.
Step 2 — Pastor Letter: The student uses the Church Match Letter Generator on our website to produce a personalized letter for their pastor or church board. This letter explains the partnership, lists the program cost breakdown, and invites the church into the conversation.
Step 3 — Church Intent Form: An authorized church representative (pastor, elder, treasurer, or board member) completes the Church Match Intent Form online at least thirty (30) days before the student's intended start term. The form confirms the church's contribution amount and the chosen payment method.
Step 4 — Confirmation and Start: Lucent confirms the partnership in writing to both the student and the church representative. Lucent applies the matching one-third to the student's account. The student begins the program on the agreed term.
The church may choose any of three payment cadences. Whichever cadence is chosen, the church's payment for a term must reach Lucent at least seven (7) days before the term begins so that the match can be activated in time for the student's first class.
Option A — Monthly autopay by credit card: The church places a card on file and Lucent charges the church's one-third each month at the same time the student is billed. This is the most flexible option for churches that want to budget in small increments.
Option B — Full term in advance: The church pays the entire term's one-third in a single payment, by credit card or by bank transfer (ACH or international wire). Most churches choose this option.
Option C — Full year in advance: The church pays one calendar year of the student's program in a single payment. The church may receive a small administrative discount on top of the match; please contact Lucent's Bursar's Office for current rates.
Payment instructions, an itemized invoice, and a receipt are issued to the church for every term.
If a student withdraws during the refund window: The standard Lucent refund schedule applies (typically 100% before the first week of a term, prorated thereafter, and no refund after the published cutoff). Any refunded amount from the church's contribution is returned directly to the church, not to the student. Lucent's matching contribution is simply reversed; there is no clawback against the student.
If a student withdraws after the refund window: No refund is due. The term's contributions remain applied to the student's account and to Lucent's matched portion.
If a church pauses or ends participation: The church may submit a new Intent Form at any time to update its contribution amount or to pause its participation for a future term. Already-paid contributions for the current term are not refunded simply because the church chooses not to participate in a future term.
If a student transfers between Lucent programs: The partnership continues into the new program automatically. The church will be notified of any change in the term cost.
Each year on May 31, Lucent reconciles all Church Match accounts for our fiscal year. If, for any reason, Lucent's matched contribution exceeds the church's actual paid contributions for the year, the excess is reversed from Lucent's portion. The church and the student both receive a copy of the reconciliation statement.
Either the church or the student may request a reconciliation statement at any time outside the annual cycle by contacting the Bursar's Office.
Tax treatment of church contributions to a specific student's tuition varies by country and by the structure of the contribution. Lucent is not a tax advisor. The church should consult its own tax advisor regarding the deductibility of contributions designated for a specific student.
Lucent will provide payment receipts to the church for its own records and accounting. Lucent will not issue individual tax-deductible donor receipts to congregants who give through the church's general fund toward a designated student. The church's tax advisor is best positioned to guide its accounting practices and any donor receipts the church may choose to issue.
Per general guidance: contributions cannot be made in exchange for services rendered by the student. A church cannot, for example, treat tuition contributions as a substitute for compensation for ministry work the student performs.
By enrolling in the Church Match Program, the student consents to Lucent sharing the following information with the church representative listed on the Intent Form: enrollment status, current program, term start and end dates, term cost, current account balance, and Satisfactory Academic Progress status (good standing or under review). Lucent will not share grades, course content, or sensitive personal data with the church without the student's separate written consent.
Lucent will not share church financial or payment information with the student.
All data is handled according to Lucent University's Privacy Policy.
Any dispute regarding contributions, refunds, or reconciliation should first be raised with the Bursar's Office. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, it will be referred to the Office of the President. The church and the student will both be included in any resolution.
Lucent University reserves the right to update this policy at any time. The current version is always available at lucent.university/church-match-policy.html. Material changes will be communicated by email to active participants at least thirty (30) days before they take effect.
The Bursar's Office is happy to walk a student or a pastor through any of the above. Reach us by phone at +1 (806) 808-4040 or use the form on our Church Match Program page. We can also connect directly with a pastor or finance committee on a video call to answer questions about payment, refunds, or the church's participation.