What types of financial assistance are available?
In order to apply for financial aid, you must first be admitted as a student. Once admitted, submit the financial aid application to apply for any of the following scholarships, and RTS will award the one scholarship that will most greatly benefit you.
One Scholarship Award
From all these available scholarship opportunities, RTS will process your application and award the one scholarship that will most greatly benefit you. RTS does not stack scholarships. Financial aid is determined once for the course of a student’s program. Only new students need to apply.
Time Limits
Most scholarship at RTS is not dependent on full-time status. Instead, scholarships are awarded for a particular time frame based on your degree program.
- For MDiv students: 5 years of continuous study.
- For MA students: 3 years of continuous study.
- For Certificate students: 2 years of continuous study.
The Church Partnership Program does not have a time limit restriction.
Distance Education Cap
Scholarships exceeding 50% tuition will always be capped at 50% when applied to Distance Education.
How to Apply
- Financial Aid Application: In order to apply for financial aid, the student first must be admitted into a program at a particular RTS campus and receive a student ID number.
- Since financial aid is determined once for the course a student’s program, only new students need to apply.
- Your financial aid application is not complete until your references complete and submit all necessary forms. (See Extra Forms below.)
- In the unusual circumstance that you need to resubmit or make corrections to your financial aid application, please contact financialaid@rts.edu to have your application returned to you.
- This application was most recently revised on February 28, 2018.
Deadlines
- Summer New Students: Priority deadline is March 15. Regular deadline is May 15.
- Fall New Students: Priority deadline is May 15. Regular deadline is July 15.
- Winter/Spring New Students: December 1
Church Partnership Program
This program cultivates significant involvement of the student’s home church with the student and with the seminary. The CPP is a matching program which matches dollar for dollar up to 1/3 of the student’s tuition cost. Most commonly this means the student pays for 1/3 of their tuition, the church contributes 1/3 toward the student’s tuition, and RTS contributes 1/3 toward the student’s tuition. The church can pay for more than 1/3 of the student’s tuition which will reduce the amount that the student owes.
The Church Partnership Program will continue as long as the student is enrolled and the church continues to give.
Christian College Alumni Partnerships
Graduates of Covenant College, Gordon College, Grove City College, Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Belhaven University, and Reformation Bible College can qualify by having a professor, chaplain, or administrator complete a partnership recommendation form as part of your financial aid application.
- 50% tuition awards for MDiv students
- 25% tuition awards for MA, Certificate, and Special students
Reformed University Fellowship Partnerships
RUF interns or students who faithfully participated for at least two years can qualify by having their RUF campus minister complete a partnership recommendation form as part of your financial aid application.
Interns:
- 90% tuition awards for MDiv students
- 67% tuition awards for MA, Certificate, and Special students
Student Leaders:
- 50% tuition awards for MDiv students
- 25% tuition awards for MA, Certificate, and Special students
Campus Ministry Staff Partnerships
Current or former staff members of RYM, Campus Outreach, Cru, Young Life, Navigators, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship who have served at least two years can qualify by having their campus ministry leader or supervisor complete a partnership recommendation form as part of your financial aid application.
- 50% tuition awards for MDiv students
- 25% tuition awards for MA, Certificate, and Special students
Missionary Partnerships
Current missionaries on the field, those preparing to go to the field, or internationals working with MTW, Pioneers, and Wycliffe can qualify by having their supervisor complete a partnership recommendation form as part of your financial aid application.
- 50% tuition awards for MDiv students
- 25% tuition awards for MA, Certificate, and Special students
Spouse Partnership
Spouses of full-time students may apply for a 100% tuition award for MDiv, MA, Certificate, and Special Student programs. The scholarship is awarded to the spouse earning the degree with equal or fewer credit hours. If either spouse is enrolled in the MAC programs (Jackson or Orlando) or the MAMFTC program (Jackson), the Spouse Partnership is a 50% tuition award. Recipients may continue to benefit from this award up to 24 months from the graduation of their spouse.
African American Leadership Scholarship
The African American Leadership Scholarship is a 50% tuition scholarship across all programs for African American students who have experience in and a heart for ministry in African American, multiethnic, or urban contexts. Applicants will be required to write an essay on their leadership experience and vision as part of the financial aid application.
- 50% tuition awards for students across all programs
Need-Based Scholarship
Students with a high financial need who do not qualify for another award may apply for tuition assistance through the Need-Based Scholarship. Need-Based Scholarships are only available to MDiv and MA students enrolled at residential campuses; Certificate students and Special Students are not eligible.
In lieu of Need-Based Scholarship, RTS Global students may apply for our 3 + 1 scholarship program which is tailored specifically to the Global student. Unlike other scholarship programs at RTS that limit scholarships awarded for MA students to 3 years, the 3 + 1 Program offered through RTS Global has no time limits.
Hughes Scholarship
A limited number of Hughes Scholarships are awarded to incoming residential Master of Divinity students at six of our MDiv campuses: Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Houston. This full-tuition scholarship is designed to gather the most promising of those called to pastoral ministry and to continue to shape their character through residential life-on-life training to equip the next generation for a ministry of pastoral excellence. The Hughes Scholarship deadline is March 15.
- 100% tuition awards for MDiv students + $1,000-per-year book stipend (up to $3,000)
EPC Jumper Scholarship
The EPC Jumper Scholarship is for incoming residential Master of Divinity students who are members in good standing in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and are under care of an EPC Presbytery. This competitive, full-tuition scholarship is designed for those pursuing ordination in the EPC upon graduation. The deadline for the Jumper Scholarship is March 15.
- 100% tuition awards for MDiv students
Campus-Specific Financial Aid Opportunities
Extra Forms
These forms will be sent automatically to your references when you submit the financial aid application, and you will receive an email notification when the references are submitted on your behalf. However, here are direct links to the following forms.
- Church Statement of Intent Form, to be submitted by a church representative on behalf of students applying for the Church Partnership Program.
- Partnership Recommendation Form, to be submitted by a ministry employee to verify involvement for one of our Christian College Alumni, Campus Ministry, or Missionary Partnerships.
- Hughes Scholarship Pastoral Recommendation Form, to be submitted by the pastor of an MDiv student applying for the Hughes Scholarship.
- EPC Jumper Scholarship Pastoral Recommendation Form, to be submitted by the pastor of an MDiv student applying for the Jumper Scholarship.
How else do students finance seminary?
Over 80% of RTS students graduate without incurring educational debt. Seminary is a season of life where God teaches us to depend on him for our daily bread and stretches our faith in order to shape us for a life of ministry. Where God leads, he will also provide. What does wisdom look like?
- Full-time students usually work up to 20 hours per week (or more).
- Spouses are often employed full-time.
- Severely limit expenses.
- Live as simply as possible.
- Eliminate or defer existing debt before starting.
- Liquidate assets.
- Deploy personal resources and savings.
- Build a financial support network among friends and family.
- Ask your home church (or specific people in your church) for support.
- Avoid bad debt, especially on credit cards.
Part-time jobs are available on some of our campuses and require applications. Normally, these jobs are for 10 hours of work per week with a maximum of 20 hours. Contact the admissions office on the campus you wish to attend for further information.
GI Benefits
The following campuses are able to receive GI and Post 9/11 benefits: Orlando, Charlotte, Global, and Washington, DC.
Questions?
If you have questions about scholarship at RTS contact either your local admissions office or financialaid@rts.edu.