Making education affordable

RBS receives financial support from individuals and churches that view the preparation of gospel laborers as a facet of the Great Commission. Consequently, the seminary can provide theological training at a reduced rate. Currently, RBS charges the student a nominal tuition of $60 per credit hour, along with a semester enrollment fee of $425. Moreover, the more quickly the student is able to complete his degree the lower his overall expenses. And students whose church supports the seminary for $2,000 or more per year are exempt from tuition expenses. Here are the expense scenarios for the Marrow and Divinity programs: 

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

1. Finish in 2 years (16 credits per year): $1,700 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $3,620 (which comes to $114 per credit hour)
Approximately 15 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based on an average of 40 hours of study per credit. 

2. Finish in 3 years (10-11 credits per year): $2,550 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $4,470 (which comes to $140 per credit hour in the end)
Approximately 10 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based on an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

3. Finish in 4 years (8 credits per year): $3,400 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $5,320 (which comes to $167 per credit hour in the end)
Approximately 7-8 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based on an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

4. Finish in 5 years (8 credits per year): $4,250 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $6,170 (which comes to $193 per credit hour)
Approximately 6-7 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based on an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

5. Finish in 6 years (5-6 credits per year): $5,100 (enrollment) + $1,920 (tuition) = $7,020 (which comes to $220 per credit hour).
Approximately 5-6 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based on an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

85/93-credit Master of Divinity (M.Div./B.Div.)* 

1. Finish in 4 years (21-24 credits per year): $3,400 (enrollment) + $5,100/$5,580 (tuition) = $8,500/$8,980 (which comes to $97-$100 per credit hour)
Approximately 20-22 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

2. Finish in 6 years (14-15 credits per year): $5,100 (enrollment) + $5,100/$5,580 (tuition) = $10,200/$10,680 (which comes to $113-$119 per credit hour)
Approximately 13-15 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

3. Finish in 8 years (12 credits per year): $6,800 (enrollment) + $5,100/$5,580 (tuition) = $11,900/12,380 (which comes to $131-$139 per credit hour)
Approximately 10-12 hours per week per year (44 weeks) based an average of 40 hours of study per credit.

Students (or their home church) are also responsible to purchase the textbooks, 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 training should remain within the range of $4,000 to $13,000 (depending on the program in which he’s enrolled, 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.