Financial Aid for Master's Degree Students - Princeton Theological Seminary

Financial Aid for Master's Degree Students

No additional application (such as an institutional aid application or FAFSA) is required to be considered for our scholarship assistance – just complete all your admissions application materials by our deadline. Interviews, while not required, are highly recommended for top scholarship consideration.

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Scholarships

Full cost of tuition plus $15,000 per academic year

The Servant Leadership Award is a scholarship, which is awarded to a select number of outstanding incoming full-time students each year who have shown the highest levels of scholarship, leadership and promise for the future of the church and/or academia. This highly competitive and prestigious award typically covers the majority of Seminary expenses. Full-time enrollment is required.

Full cost of tuition plus $15,000 per academic year

Awarded after admission to outstanding full-time students who are descendants of enslaved people or from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to African, Latino/a, Asian-Pacific Islander or First Nations descent. (Note: Current federal nondiscrimination guidelines and case law permit educational institutions to focus but not limit scholarships to particular racial/ethnic groups. Within the context of the Seminary’s complete financial aid program, the Grimke scholarship will focus on African American students to the extent permitted by these guidelines.) This scholarship covers the majority of Seminary expenses. Full-time enrollment is required.

Full tuition plus $7,500 per academic year

The Covenant Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and leadership. Full-time enrollment is required.

This scholarship varies but can cover anywhere from 50% of tuition to full tuition per academic year

The Hope Scholarship is a scholarship awarded to students who have demonstrated high-quality academic achievement and promise for current or future ministry. Full-time enrollment is required.

This additional scholarship is awarded to several admitted students already offered a merit scholarship and provides additional financial support. These can be awarded at the time of admission, or later if funding is available. Promise for Ministry Scholarships vary in value but can be anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per academic year.

$5,000 scholarship awarded to select domestic ThM students who show exceptional promise for advanced theological research.

Note: International ThM applicants are eligible for the other scholarships listed above.

Fellowships

Yearly fellowship up to $5,000 awarded to outstanding incoming or current full-time residential Master’s-level students who serve as ambassadors and representatives of the Seminary community.

President’s Fellows are typically selected from admitted students each spring through a separate nomination, application, and interview process initiated by the Office of the President. Eligible candidates will be notified of their nomination and invited to participate in the interview process after admission.

President’s Fellows participate in various events throughout the academic year, both within Springdale (the president’s residence) and across campus. This initiative affords students a chance to gain valuable leadership experience, professional development opportunities, leadership training, and networking connections. These connections will provide valuable occasions for mentorship and career advancement.

For 2024-25, all required field education placements, including CPE placements and summer/academic year placements, receive a $3,600 Seminary-funded fellowship or a site-funded stipend of $3,600. Learn More.

Reduced Tuition

MAT students are charged a lower rate of tuition in order to keep this program more affordable. These students are charged $595 per credit. Federal Loans are also available in semesters of 4.5 credits or greater registration.

Other Types of Assistance

$2,000–$4,000/year

This need-based program helps our M.Div, MACEF, MTS, MTE and Dual degree candidates by providing eligible candidates who currently owe over $20,000 in federal student loans with additional grant aid to assist them in meeting their educational costs. Contact sfs@ptsem.edu for more information.

Gillespie Grant Application (pdf)

$4,000/year

The Seminary offers eligible full-time PC(USA) students a low interest loan that has the potential to be forgiven if the recipient serves as an ordained minister in the PC(USA).

Presbyterian Loan Application (pdf)

The Seminary participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan Program, the Graduate PLUS Loan Program and the Federal Work Study Program. These programs can be used to cover unmet financial need for students registered at least half-time.