Seminary Scholarships and Financial Aid
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Calvin Seminary's financial aid office awards over $2.1 million in scholarships, grants, and subsidies each year, these include awards for women, racial and ethnic minorities, and international students. Although we do not offer full tuition or a full-ride scholarship, Calvin Seminary is proud to provide scholarships that reduce tuition and do not need to be repaid.
At Calvin Seminary, we also made things easier by eliminating the need to complete a separate scholarship application. Instead, you will be automatically evaluated for a scholarship once you apply for our programs.
At the time of your offer of admission to Calvin Seminary, you will receive a package outlining your grant and scholarship awards. Typically, these annual grants and scholarships will remain consistent for the full duration of your study at the seminary. Additionally, our team will work with you to create a payment plan, allowing you to budget for tuition costs over time.
Finally, we are grateful for the network (families and individual donors who care deeply about the mission of Calvin Seminary) that support the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders.
Tuition Costs for 2026-2027 by Program
While Calvin Seminary is committed to keeping the cost of our theological and ministry education low, we are transparent about tuition and other expenses students should keep in mind. Knowing your costs is part of discerning if seminary education is right for you.
All students are charged on a per-credit basis. Below are the per-credit costs for this school year, along with an estimation of tuition costs for full-time students. All numbers USD. Note: Canadian students receive parity and are able to pay the same amount in CAD.
| Program | Tuition per Credit Hour |
|---|---|
| MDIV | $650 |
| MA | $650 |
| MCMHC | $650 |
| MTS | $650 |
| THM | $889 |
| CERT, EPMC, OTHER | $650 |
| Audit | $125 |
| Program | Full Program Tuition |
|---|---|
| DMIN | $20,640 |
| PHD | $22,450 (Years 1-2), $11,225 (Years 3-5) |
Calculating Tuition
To figure out your tuition is easy.
- Find your tuition cost per credit (Use the tuition chart above).
- Determine how many credits you are taking.
- Add up the total number of credits you plan to register for a given semester.
- Add up the total number of credits you plan to register for a given semester.
- Multiply the two together.
- Tuition = (Cost per credit) × (Number of credits for the semester)
Example:
If your program costs $650 per credit and you are taking 9 credits that semester:
$650 × 9 = $5,850 total tuition for that semester.
Estimating Costs
In addition to tuition costs, there are other expenses students should keep in mind. Below are documents to give an idea of what these costs could be. These are estimations and each student should consider their own circumstances.
More Ways Seminary Supports You
A campus tour is just one step in the journey to choosing the seminary that’s right for you. There are other factors to consider when choosing a seminary, such as:
Seminary Housing
For residential students, your on-campus experience is designed with student affordability in mind. Seminary housing is subsidized to keep costs lower than other options in Grand Rapids. All utilities are also bundled into student housing costs to make budgeting easier.
Financial Education Programs
Financial education programming is available to help students make smart financial decisions. Every student has the opportunity to meet with a financial counselor to plan for their costs during seminary.
Food and Clothing Resources on Campus
On-campus resources provide food, clothing, and other items at no cost for qualifying seminary students and their families. Learn more about the innovative Idema Food Pantry and Clothes Closet, hosted right here on campus.
External Financial Resources
Many prospective students are surprised to find that their local church has money in their budget for members to pursue theological education. Even if a budget line doesn't exist, it never hurts to ask! Besides the local church, often denominations or groups of regional churches (classes, presbyteries, etc) have funds for ministry-focused education.
If you are a church or classis looking to support a student from your region, more information can be found on the church resources page.
Though not included in financial aid packages, there is part-time work available for a limited number of residential students at Calvin Seminary, and in and around Grand Rapids. Residential students may find opportunities to serve in the admissions or development office. In addition, there are often preaching opportunities available to eligible students. For distance hybrid and fully online students, programs are designed to fit into your lifestyle, and work around your current job.
Besides Calvin Seminary scholarships, many church and ministry organizations award scholarships to aspiring and current seminary students. Past students have found these funds in a variety of ways, mostly through word-of-mouth, publications, and internet searches. Keep your eyes open for these opportunities.
Stipulations regarding fines, penalties, late fees, and denial of services for students receiving military benefits:
As stipulated by law, Calvin Theological Seminary will not impose any type of fine, penalty, late fee, or denial of services due solely to a delayed payment process at the federal level for any student receiving military benefits.
A student planning to receive military benefits must have submitted the proper documentation to the Calvin Theological Seminary financial aid office before we will suspend or remove any applied penalties, late fees, etc. This policy applies to any student receiving educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Chapter 33, or Post 9/11 GI Bill* benefits. Additional information is available on the Title 38 United States Code Sections 3679(e) School Compliance Form.
If the student has remaining obligations to Calvin Seminary after the application of any/all military benefits, the student is responsible for making satisfactory arrangements for any/all remaining obligations within the proposed time frame applicable to Calvin Seminary students.
*“GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
80% of first-level master degree students graduate without any new federal loan debt, and 60% incur no new debt of any kind. However, the financial aid office also supports students through the distribution of loan funds. These options are for U.S. and Canadian students only, and often help bridge the gap for students as they look to make the numbers work.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Calvin Seminary’s financial aid from grants and scholarships does not need to be paid back. Unlike other schools, Calvin Seminary does not package loans with financial aid packages. We encourage personal budget adjustments and opportunities to explore other alternatives for funding before considering loan opportunities.
No, yet we strive to serve every student well so that their tuition is affordable and that they can still make a personal investment in their education.
Yes. Please reach out to the Financial Office at semfso@calvinseminary.edu for more information.
Get in Touch with Our Financial Aid Office
One of Calvin Seminary’s biggest differentiators from other schools is our personal attention to each student.
We are available to take your questions via email!