The College Fix

State officials agree to let residents use financial aid at Atlanta seminary

Georgia will no longer discriminate against a Christian college and bar it from a state financial aid program, following a lawsuit.

Luther Rice College and Seminary can now accept money through a state financial aid program that essentially allows residents to use a voucher at private institutions.

Alliance Defending Freedom announced a settlement on Friday after filing a federal lawsuit in October.

“Georgia officials did the right thing by allowing Luther Rice to participate in student aid programs while still adhering to its religious beliefs, character, and exercise,” ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker stated in a news release. “We’re pleased that Georgia high school students can now receive dual credit by taking classes at Luther Rice and that college students who choose Luther Rice can apply for much-needed financial aid.”

“The state should never limit educational opportunities for students based on their faith,” Tucker stated.

“Divinity” schools or “theology” schools were originally excluded from the program, even if they offered other degrees like psychology.

Under program rules, “no Luther Rice student can receive Georgia student aid for any undergraduate degree or course, not even for a course or degree in the school’s general studies or psychology programs,” the lawsuit stated.

The college’s president thanked the state and ADF for a resolution.

“I commend the state and our partners at Alliance Defending Freedom for swiftly reaching a solution,” President Steven Steinhilber stated in the news release.

A legal scholar previously told The Fix that the college would likely succeed in its lawsuit, based on past court rulings in favor of religious freedom.

“The Supreme Court has been fairly clear that states cannot exclude K-12 schools from voucher programs solely because of their religious character,” South Texas College of Law Professor Josh Blackman told The College Fix for a November article. “The same principle should apply to higher education.”

“I don’t know how common these sorts of programs are, but religious colleges should be entitled to the same sort of funding as [a] secular college.”

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