PTS requires that the academic transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary schools be received directly from the school or in a signed and sealed envelope from the school you attended.
With the exception of doctoral and international applications, all applications are considered on a rolling basis, by the Admissions Committee, beginning in October. The deadlines are:
- December 15th: deadline for all Ph.D applications
- January 18th: deadline for all international masters-level applications
- March 1st: deadline for M.Div., M.A., M.Div./M.A. who are US citizens or permanent residents of the US*
- April 15th: deadline for Th.M applications who are US citizens or permanent residents of the US
*completed applications received after this deadline are considered by the admissions committee on a "space available" basis.
No. Since the catalogue is now available on our web site, we no longer send them by mail. Click to view the catalogue.
At this time all degree program classes are only offered to full-time students on our campus. There are no weekend, evening or distance learning classes offered.
Absolutely! Begin an application online by clicking Apply Online.
Yes. We require that all prerequisite degrees be from one of the following Regional Accreditors:
- Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools Middles States Commission on Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges and Commission on Technical and Career Institutions
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools The Higher Learning Commission
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
Yes, a maximum of 26 credits (1 year) can be accepted in transfer credits. The registrar will make this determination with the admitted M.Div candidate.
Not really. All undergraduate majors are considered. However, we recommend that you have a liberal arts background with at least sixty semester hours of English, philosophy, literature, history, ancient and modern language, and some work in psychology and sociology.
The home pastor usually writes this letter. However, an applicant being mentored by another pastor or college chaplain regarding seminary may have this person complete the endorsement form.
Please Note: the Admissions Committee will not accept letters of reference or the letter of endorsement from family members.
The Master of Divinity is normally completed in three years of full-time study (78 credits), and includes study during at least one of the two included summers. The first year is normally spent on foundational coursework, creating a framework by which more advanced courses may be understood. One summer between the first and final year is spent in the student's field education placement, in either a church or specialized ministry setting.
During the second year, many students have completed most all prerequisite courses and are free to focus on more advanced coursework. In the third year, students complete the degree program and may choose even more elective courses of special interest. M.Div. seniors also have the option of writing a thesis or working on a special project under faculty supervision.
All applicants who are currently registered as permanent residents of the United States must provide the Admissions Committee with documentation of that status.
Additionally, if English is not your native language, the Admissions Committee may require you to complete the TOEFL test as part of your application requirements to Princeton Theological Seminary.
No. Although many of our students pursue calls to ordained pastoral ministry, we have a number who pursue other forms of ministry such as chaplaincy, social work, non-profit work, missions, or teaching.
An undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a regionally accredited institution (see our list of acceptable accrediting agencies below).
Completing our on-line application form with non-refundable application fee of $50. Included in this submission, you will be required to register the three individuals who will be submitting your references and the person you choose to complete your pastoral endorsement. This can be done using our on-line application.
Background Checks are a required part of application to Princeton Seminary – The fee for this is $36.00. The background check will not be considered to have been completed until we receive the results. For your information, this typically takes between two and three busines days.
Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions previously attended. These must be sent to us in a sealed and signed envelope to the following address:
Princeton Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions & Financial Aid
64 Mercer Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
Please remember that the admissions committee requires that all application materials must be received by the stated deadline. This is your responsibility, so please plan accordingly.
An interview is also strongly recommended. Please Note: If you are applying as a Dual Degree applicant, you are required to have an admissions interview.
NOTE:
GRE Scores are not required for Masters-level applicants.
With the exception of internationa applicants, all Masters-level admissions are considered on a rolling basis beginning in October. Applications should be completed by the deadlines listed belowfor the following academic year.
We receive approximately 350 applications a year for this program and we admit approximately 55% of them.
For a more detailed look at the cost of a seminary education click here.
Generally; yes. For more information, please review the financial aid section of our web site or call our office.
The application for admission automatically places you in consideration for scholarships. The committee generally reviews the files of those admitted after the February 1 deadline and determines awards at that time.
For masters-level students, you can learn more about our financial aid in the financial aid section of our web site.
For PhD students click here to learn about scholarship opportunities.
Approximately 90% of our M.Div., M.A. and M.Div./M.A. students receive assistance in the form of a need-based tuition grant or a merit-based scholarship from Princeton Seminary.
For the 2012-2013 academic year the tuition is $11,250.
Yes! The Princeton Theological Seminary Carol Gray Dupree Center for Children is licensed by the State of New Jersey and offers full-day and half-day child care from September through June, and a summer session from July through the third week of August, for children ages three months through pre-kindergarten of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and visitors to the Center of Continuing Education.
The center is located in the Charlotte Newcombe Center at 400 Emmons Drive on the Seminary’s West Windsor Campus.
The school district your children attend depends upon where you live. For persons living in the Princeton area (Tennent Campus residents), visit the Princeton Regional Schools web site. For persons living in West Windsor (the CRW or Witherspoon apartments), visit the West Windsor School District web site. For children living at CRW, the elementary schools are Maurice Hawk and Village. The Junior School is Grover and the high school is High School South.
The Seminary provides a variety of housing options for students, at about half the cost of local non-Seminary housing. Electric and telephone are billed to the student, and all other utilities are supplied without charge. All Seminary housing has telephone and cable jacks, with free high-speed Internet service provided.
Main Campus Housing includes three dormitories for single students: Hodge, Alexander, and Brown Halls. All three dormitories are air-conditioned and fully carpeted, and are furnished with a bed, pillow, desk, chair, chest of drawers, mirror, and bookcase.
Tennent Campus Housing for families includes Tennent and Roberts Halls, and is located two blocks from the main campus and the library. It is a short walk from the restaurants and shops of Nassau Street. The Tennent campus includes a playground. Tennent and Roberts Hall offer one- two- and three bedroom apartments that are fully carpeted and include an electric stove and refrigerator.
The West Windsor Campus Housing includes the Charlotte Rachel Wilson (CRW) Apartments for married students and single students with children, and the Witherspoon Apartments for single students. The West Windsor campus is located three miles from the main campus and includes the Seminary indoor pool, a campus center and the Dupree Center for Children. A frequent shuttle service is provided between the West Windsor campus and the main campus. The CRW Apartments are one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with air-conditioning, parquet wood floors, and a gas stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. Up to two pets are allowed in all CRW apartments. Witherspoon Apartments are one- and two-bedroom apartments with air-conditioning and include an electric stove, refrigerator and dishwasher.
For more information about housing options at Princeton Seminary, please use this link to contact housing.
The Seminary offers students the facilities of Whiteley Gymnasium, featuring a basketball court, racquetball court, and fitness center with weight-training equipment. Fitness classes are also available at the Whiteley Gymnasium. At the West Windsor Campus, the seminary has an indoor pool and outdoor basketball court.
Several intramural sports are available for students and their families to participate in. Such activities include flag football, frisbee, volleyball, basketball, and a host of other team sports.
Yes! As of the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year there were 1,242,483 books and microforms in the Princeton Theological Seminary Library, and new additions are being catalogued every day. In addition, the Theological Commons is a digital library of 76,716 books and journals on theology and religion, including 26,782 volumes from the Princeton Theological Seminary Library. For more information about our world-renowned library please visit our library web site.
Most of the buildings on campus have wireless internet. There is wireless connection available in all of the classrooms.
Mailing Address:
Princeton Theological Seminary
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
P.O. Box 821
Princeton, NJ 08542-0803
Physical Address:
Princeton Theological Seminary
64 Mercer St.
Princeton, NJ 08540
Telephone, Fax, and Email
Phone: 609-497-7805 or 800-622-6767, ext. 7805
Fax: 609-497-7870
Email
Princeton Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The Theological Seminary at Princeton was established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1812. This marked a turning point in American theological education.