Burnham Application Process

Dates: Sep 2025 -May 2026

Applications are accepted in the Spring for cohorts beginning the following Fall. The next cohort will run from September 2025 to May 2026. There will be a Meet & Greet cookout in late August to get to know your cohort. The program begins with our first retreat at the end of September.

Fellows will be selected who best demonstrate 1) commitment to the city, 2) spiritual maturity, and 3) ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the program. Participants must be able to meet in the Loop for our weekly cohort meetings.

We meet on Friday mornings before work or Sunday afternoons (TBD based on the availability of applicants - you can note this in your application). Applications open on April 1 for the next year’s cohort. You can expect to hear from us by early June. At that time, we may request an interview and/or follow up with your references.

Cost: $1800

The Fellows Tuition fee covers all program materials including: eight months of seminary-level weekly teachings, 17 books, 3 retreats + meals, several lunches and snacks!

Tuition is $1800* and can be paid in installments throughout the year. Applications will open April 1, with an Early Bird deadline of May 1. Those who apply by May 1 and are accepted into the program will receive a $200 early-bird discount. The regular application deadline is June 1. Applications will be accepted after June 1 on a rolling basis as space permits, with a late application fee of $100.

We are seeking donors who would enable us to provide financial aid as needed. A limited number of scholarships are available, please submit this form along with your application if you need to apply for financial help.

Applications open for the 25/26 Cohort on April 1st

Early Bird Tuition (Apply by 5/1)
$1600

Right on Time (Apply by 6/1)
$1800

Late Tuition (Apply after 6/1)
$1900

*While the program fee is not an insignificant amount, for perspective, it may be helpful to consider that the average tuition for one seminary class is $2,000, one 3-hour credit MBA class is $3,500, and a typical executive-level leadership development course costs from $3,500 to $7,000 for a five-day program.

FAQs

  • We accept applications through June 1 for the next fall cohort. On occasion we can extend the deadline, please reach out to us

  • Nope! We’ve had fellows from over 20 churches across Chicagoland participate in the program since 2016. Roughly half of our participants come from other churches and we love having that kind of diversity

  • It all depends on the interest and availability of the participants any given year. We offer the option of Friday morning (approx 6-8am) and/or Sunday afternoon (approx 2-4pm). There are also 3 retreats and 5 Saturday sessions over the course of our 9 months together.

  • You will do approximately 2 hours of outside reading and/or projects per week. We read ~100 pages a week, so it depends on the speed at which you read. Don’t let this intimidate you!

A Taste of Burnham

Not quite sure if you’re ready to apply yet? We’d love to invite you to an info session over lunch coming up this spring. Click below to learn more from our alumni and register for lunch!