Despite the rising cost of higher education, Brite Divinity School seeks to make the highest quality theological education affordable. In keeping with this commitment, Brite offers a strong financial aid program to support students throughout their programs of study. Brite’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, along with the TCU Office of Financial Aid assists prospective and current students in identifying ways to finance their theological education. The following is some helpful information to help your financial planning.
Although a number of variables influence a student’s cost of attendance, including whether you work while in school, enroll full-time or part-time, have dependents or are single, live on or off campus, here are some approximate costs that will give you a better idea of what to expect.
Tuition and fees for a full-time student enrolled in nine credit hours in both the fall and spring semesters total $14,090 for the 2008-2009 academic year. Although housing costs vary widely, a single student living on campus can expect to pay approximately $9720 for a one-bedroom apartment. Many students are able to significantly reduce their housing costs by sharing a one or two bedroom apartment. In addition, students can expect to incur approximately $850-$900 in costs related to books and supplies.
Daunting as these costs may be for some, there are many significant sources of funding to offset your expenses. Brite tuition grants represent a primary means of support for nearly every Brite student. Although availability of grants depend on a number of factors, many cover at least 70 percent of tuition, reducing tuition costs by $8600 or more for those enrolled in at least 9 credit hours in both the fall and spring semesters. Many students also receive support from their denominations and churches. In addition, students commonly find funding through private scholarship foundations, including: The Fund for Theological Education, The Hispanic Theological Initiative, and The Eastern Star Training Awards. A reliable internet search engine for locating these opportunities is www.finaid.com.
Most Brite students also obtain support through money earned in Field Education settings. In fact, Brite’s students will earn more than two million dollars this year through their work in churches, hospitals, agencies and other field settings, making this as significant a method for financing theological education as Brite’s scholarship program.
Finally, students may elect to obtain student loans. The most common of these are Federal Stafford Loans, which can provide graduate students up to $18,500 per year. Average salaries of clergy nationwide suggest that students could manage repayments of $23,000 in loans without significantly affecting their standard of living. Thus, a conservative approach to borrowing can be a realistic way to finance a significant portion of your theological education when other financing options are unavailable or exhausted.
Basic Expenses for Academic Year: 2008-2009 (9-months)
Tuition (Masters, DMin, PhD): $690 per credit hour: $12,240 (18 credit hours)
Fees : $825
per semester (9 or more hours) or $96 per credit hour
Student Government Fee: $10
Room and Board: $10,855 (1 bedroom for 12 months)
Books and Supplies: $850
Total Full-time Expenses: $25,615
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