Financial Info

Making education affordable

A seminary education can be very expensive. Consider, for example, the following comparison of tuition rates in 2008-09 among conservative evangelical seminaries:

* Variation in cost depends upon the number of credit-hours taken per semester.
** Variation in cost represents difference for SBC and non-SBC students.

As the comparison above demonstrates, average tuition rates can range from over $225 to as much as $600 per credit hour. This puts the total amount of tuition for a 90-hour program somewhere between $20,000 and $55,000. As a result, the student is left with a heavy financial burden. To free the student from this financial burden, RBS only charges the student a nominal tuition of $60 per credit hour, along with a yearly enrollment fee of $600, which may be paid in monthly or quarterly installments. Most traditional seminaries require the student to complete the Master of Divinity degree within a five to seven year timeframe. RBS only requires the student to complete a minimum of two courses per year. Here’s what the costs for a theological education through RBS would look like:

91-credit Master of Divinity (M.Div./B.Div.) [Note: we don’t charge tuition for Preaching Practicum and Ministerial Practicum, so it’s technically an 87-hour program.]

1. Finish in 6 years (14.5 credits per year): $3,600 (enrollment) + $5,220 (tuition) = $8,820 (which comes to $102 per credit hour)
2. Finish in 7 years (12.4 credits per year): $4,200 (enrollment) + $5,220 (tuition) = $9,420 (which comes to $108 per credit hour)
3. Finish in 10 years (little over 8 credits per year): $6,000 (enrollment) + $5,220 (tuition) = $11,220 (which comes to $129 per credit hour)
4. Finish in 14 1/2 years (6 credits per year): $8,700 (enrollment) + $5,220 (tuition) = $13,920 (which comes to $160 per credit hour)
5. 5. Finish in 20 years (little over 4 credits per year): $12,000 (enrollment) + $5,220 (tuition) = $17,220 (which comes to $198 per credit hour)

As illustrated in the scenarios outlined above, the more quickly the student is able to complete his degree, the lower his overall expenses. Here are the expense scenarios for our more streamlined Marrow of Theology program:

32-credit Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S./D.T.S.) degree

1. Finish in 3 years (approx. 10.6 credits per year): $1,800 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $3,720 (which comes to $116 per credit hour)
2. Finish in 4 years (8 credits per year): $2,400 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $4,320 (which comes to $135 per credit hour in the end)
3. Finish in 5 1/2 years (approx. 6 credits per year): $3,300 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $5,220 (which comes to $163 per credit hour in the end)
4. Finish in 8 years (4 credits per year): $4,800 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $6,720 (which comes to $210 per credit hour)

One should also note that students whose church supports the seminary for $2,000 or more per year are exempt from tuition expenses. Students (or their home church) are also responsible to purchase the course media and materials for distance learning. In addition, students who attend live modular courses are usually charged a module fee to cover speaker expenses, as well as food and lodging. Nevertheless, the total amount for the student’s divinity program should remain within the range of $10,000 to $20,000 (depending upon the amount of time he takes to complete the coursework, the number of live modules he attends, and the type of media he purchases). We believe this is a reasonable amount of expense for a seminary student to manage. Students who enroll in the 32-credit Marrow of Theology program will only pay roughly a third of the costs given above.