Phillips Theological Seminary Announces New Tuition Rate
Tulsa, Okla., March 27, 2012 – Phillips Theological Seminary is working to make theological education more affordable and equitable for students. Starting with the Fall 2012 semester, students will experience a reduction in tuition for master’s degrees, a new tuition and fee structure for other programs, and a restructured in-house tuition assistance program.
The tuition for master’s students has been reduced from $500.00 to $400.00 per semester hour, a 20% reduction; most students will also be eligible for seminary tuition assistance, the amount of which will be assessed using new criteria. Students not in degree-seeking programs will pay $225.00 per semester hour and a seminary fee of $100.00 per semester, but will not be eligible for seminary tuition assistance. The committee that worked to create the new set of tuition assistance criteria strongly believes this will make theological education at PTS more accessible to a wider group of interested individuals.
The new in-house tuition assistance program will be based primarily on need. Beginning Fall 2012 most incoming master’s students will receive 50% tuition assistance for the first year. Beyond the first year, every student seeking additional seminary tuition assistance will be evaluated using information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form. Once this form is submitted (online) the seminarian’s “estimated family contribution” will provide direction for determining the amount of seminary tuition assistance that is granted. The seminary’s board of trustees approved the new tuition assistance program on February 13, 2012.
“These changes reflect both the economic reality facing our students and their families and the seminary’s need to continue to provide a world-class theological education,” said Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer, Lora Conger. “We speak to students each year about the balance of tuition cost, while maintaining the PTS experience our students have come to expect. Through this new structure nearly every student will qualify for some level of tuition assistance.”
Nearly 80% of all students receive tuition assistance at PTS, and the seminary works diligently to raise money for scholarships and other programs that provides financial assistance to our students while striving to maintain and improve the educational experience.
For more detailed information regarding tuition, fees and seminary tuition assistance, go to www.ptstulsa.edu/financialaid or contact Linda Ford, director of student recruitment, at linda.ford@ptstulsa.edu or 918-270-6463.
About PTS
Established in 1907, Phillips Theological Seminary is a graduate seminary dedicated to preparing women and men for varied Christian ministries in the church and society. Affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Phillips provides an ecumenical education, with students representing more than 20 denominations. PTS is an intimate community of teachers and learners who are seeking to be faithful to God through discipline, reasoned and reflective study of scripture, religious traditions, and human experience. In addition to serving the church’s need for an educated ministry, the seminary also welcomes students who are not pursuing ministerial degrees but who want to explore their faith through courses in the curriculum. www.ptstulsa.edu
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