How To Apply

If you need additional time to submit your application due to COVID-19, please contact admissions@sksm.edu to arrange a submission date based on your circumstances.

Apply To Starr King

Welcome!  We are excited about your interest in our professional and scholastic degree programs. Congratulations on getting to this place in your spiritual discernment process. You may apply to the MDiv, MASC, or The Chaplaincy Institute (Chi) Joint Programs for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Direction using the appropriate steps provided below.

We encourage early applications to allow time for admission committee review, financial aid, scholarship applications, and other planning. We use a rolling admissions process, with deadlines at the first of each month with a priority deadline and a final deadline. Your application fee is waived when you apply before the priority deadline. If applying for a scholarship, your application has priority consideration based on the earliest application received (Scholarship Applications are built into the Admissions Application).

Application Steps: Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) & Masters of Arts in Social Change (MASC)

Application Deadlines Fall 2021 Regular: March 15, 2021 Final: May 15, 2021 *Only applications received before March 15 will receive consideration for scholarships for the 2021-22 Academic Year

1. Apply Please complete the online application. The application fee of $65.00 is required with your submission. The application includes three sections:
   • Personal Information: Complete the personal Information section as completely as possible. Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
   • References: Input complete contact information for three references, including a religious community leader, an educator/adviser, and a personal reference.
   • Essay Uploads: Complete your Personal Essay Statements and an Autobiographical Statement and attach them to the space provided on your application. Please attach them in PDF format. We encourage you to review the questions asked in the Personal Essay.
2. Request Official Transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended. We can admit a small percentage of students without a Bachelor’s Degree.
   • Please send official electronic transcripts to the following email address: admissions@sksm.edu
   • Please send official transcripts by regular mail to:
     Starr King School for the Ministry
     Attn: Admissions
     5000 MacArthur Blvd. PMB #9937
     Oakland, CA 94613
3. Applicant Interview Once your application is complete the Admissions Office will schedule an Applicant Interview with you. The meeting is typically an hour. If you are local we recommend an in-person meeting on campus. If you are not local, we can arrange a Zoom or Skype meeting with you. During the meeting, we will have the opportunity to get to know each other, discuss your motivations for applying to your program, and your commitment to Starr King’s Core Values.
4. Apply for Financial Aid Financial Aid is awarded to those who qualify and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. The SKSM federal school code is G04080. To find out more about financial aid, please click here.
5. Submit Deposit and Intent to Start Submit $200 non-refundable deposit and intent to start
   • Please complete the intent to start via SurveyMonkey link that will be provided to you.
   • Please send check or money order to:
     Starr King School for the Ministry
     Attn: Admissions
     5000 MacArthur Blvd. PMB #9937
     Oakland, CA 94613

If you have questions or need technical support completing the application please contact us at admissions@sksm.edu or call us at 510-430-3335.

You will receive an email within 3 business days confirming that your submission is complete. If you do not receive this confirmation, please contact us at admissions@sksm.edu.

Once the Admissions and Recruitment Office has all of these materials, your application will be considered complete, and it will be considered by the Admissions and Scholarship Committee. You will be notified by email when your application process is complete.

Starr King is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

Admittance to the M.Div. and M.A.S.C. programs may be for the Fall or Spring semesters. You must attend New Student Orientation in Berkeley before you begin your degree program. Please see the Academic Calendar for Orientation dates.

Stay Connected!

Before you make contact or after we’ve begun to engage, there are several ways that we recommend to stay in touch with Starr King:

1. The Starr King Snapshot and Message from the President newsletters, sign up and conveniently receive them in your inbox;
2. If you are on Facebook, like and follow our Starr King Facebook Page for real-time updates and opportunities;
3. The next time you are watching your favorite video, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for direct access to our latest viewable media;
4. Right here at sksm.edu, listen to our audio podcasts and visit our News & Events page for exciting developments in a variety of formats.

As always, feel free to email admissions@sksm.edu as frequently as necessary with your questions.