Scholarships & Tuition

• Tuition and Term Fees: $2680
• Seminary Dean’s Scholarship: $500
• Church/Denominational Support: $500
• Total per Term Cost: $1680
• Payment Plan: $420 (four payments)

• Tuition and Term Fees: $2680
• Seminary President’s Scholarship: $1000
• Church/Denominational Support: $500
• Total per Term Cost: $1180
• Payment Plan: $295 (four payments)

• Tuition and Term Fees: $1465
• Church/Denominational Support: $250
• Total per Term Cost: $1215
• Payment Plan: $304 (four payments)

Students can apply for scholarships and grants offered through Central Seminary and outside organizations. At Central Seminary, you can apply for three types: denominational, endowed, and need-based scholarships. Denominational scholarships are available to seminarians who are members of the Central Region of the American Baptist Churches or the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Endowed scholarships are funded by individuals and faith organizations who support our spiritual mission. Need-based scholarships are reserved for students who are experiencing extremely difficult financial circumstances.

Outside organizations also offer scholarships and grants for seminary students. Be sure to check with your church to see if they have resources available for you to review. Your local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star is another organization that supports individuals seeking to become ministry leaders. Many non-faith companies and organizations offer tuition assistance for their employees, including seminary degree programs. If your employer offers this benefit, speak with them about the approval process for the program at Central Seminary that interests you.

Online resources to check for additional scholarships include:

• Order of the Eastern Star (search for your local chapter)
• Fastweb
• Scholarship America
• Scholarships (theology)
• Student Scholarships

Some students rely on private student loans for some or all of their tuition costs. When you talk to us about financing your education, we can help direct you towards options that offer competitive interest rates and low fees. When you apply for private loans, make sure you understand what the repayment terms will be after the 6-month deferment period, as well as the anticipated income after completing the program.

A private student loan is a non-governmental loan made from a private lender to an individual for the purpose of paying educational expenses such as tuition, room and board and other school-related costs. Traditionally, private student loans are used to cover unmet needs or the “gap” (costs not covered by scholarships or financial aid offered by your school and/or other agencies). The interest rate is determined by your credit history and your co-signer’s credit history should you apply with a co-borrower. Interest begins at disbursement, while in school and during the six-month separation or grace period. When students enter repayment, unpaid interest will be added to the student’s current principal.

Students are encouraged to evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments and their expected future earnings before considering a private student loan. Students must be a U. S. citizen or a permanent resident or a non-U.S. citizen borrower with a credit worthy co-signer (who must be a U. S. citizen or permanent resident)

Cost of attendance (COA) at Central Baptist Theological Seminary includes tuition, books, fees, room and board and miscellaneous expenses that students deal with during their degree program. The COA for students attending CBTS during the 2022-23 academic year is $29,947. This is based on full-time enrollment. Students attending less than full-time will have the COA adjusted by the Financial Aid Administrator after the application is submitted and course registration is reviewed.

The total loan amount the private lender approves may differ from the amount for which the student is eligible (COA minus all other student aid). In this case, the amount that is certified will not be the amount the lender approves.

ACADEMIC YEAR DATES

The 2022-23 academic year consists of the following terms:

• Fall – August 22 – December 12, 2022
• Ordinary – August 29 – November 21, 2022
• Lent – January 9 – April 3, 2023
• Spring – January 23 – May 12, 2023
• Easter – May 8 – July 31, 202

Typically, funds will be available to the student during the first two weeks of the term and will arrive at Central Seminary in two equal disbursements for students enrolled in two semester programs and three equal disbursements for students enrolled in trimester programs.

Students who apply for the private loan at SallieMae.com will find most of their questions answered during the application process. Other questions may be sent to Stephen Guinn.  For more information about SallieMae Graduate Loans, including borrower responsibility, click here.

At Central Seminary, we value the service of our students who are veterans. If you are a veteran, we can process your tuition benefits through the VA online system once you’ve submitted your certificate of eligibility (COE) to the Registrar’s office. This makes it seamless for veterans who have been approved for tuition assistance through the VA to enroll at Central Seminary.

Central knows that pursuing education can be expensive so we do everything we can to make our programs affordable. 100% of degree seeking students are eligible for scholarships and we offer individualized payment plans for students to pay their balance over time. We invite you to compare the cost, benefits, and overall experience we offer at Central Seminary to other ATS-accredited theological seminaries, and we think you will see the incredible value that Central is.

Yes! 100% of degree-seeking students are eligible for scholarships. Talk to your admissions counselor about all scholarship opportunities.

In many cases, Central’s tuition is a fraction of the cost of tuition at other ATS-accredited theological seminaries. This commitment to affordability is made possible in part by the many generous donors that support the seminary and our students. Their contributions help pay for operating costs and scholarships which helps bring the cost of tuition down. To learn more about our donors go here.

Central’s donors are just like you. They are individuals who care about theological education, ministry, the church and all God’s people and creation. They may be alumni, friends, partners, denominations, churches, businesses and foundations.

Yes! Central offers individualized payment plans for all students that request one.

Central intentionally keeps its tuition costs low to help students avoid the burden of educational loans. Instead of debt that makes it harder for graduates to stay in ministry, our priority is on finding the right balance of personal funds, scholarships, and payment plans to meet a student’s financial obligations to the school.

The seminary does participate in the Veterans Affairs educational benefits programs. After admission, veterans should provide a copy of their certificate of eligibility to the Student Success office to start the process.

New students can start the seminary scholarship application with their admission application.  Returning students need to apply for scholarships every summer. The seminary scholarship form is available online through Populi, our student information system.

Scholarships from outside organizations are a big help for students. There are many options for seminary students. The first place to start is your church, denomination, or place of work. After that, you can explore organizations related to religion and education, such as Eastern Star.

For federal income tax filings, some students may inquire about Form 1098/1098-T. Form 1098/1098T are forms only required to be generated and provided by schools that participate in Title IV federal student financial aid programs. Since Central does not participate in a Title IV federal student financial aid programs, we do not generate or provide these forms.

A student can access all student invoices and tuition payments under the History tab in their Populi account. Please note, the “Aid Payment” amount listed on your account is either a discount or scholarship from Central Seminary, not a federal financial aid program, and does not fall under the Title IV student federal financial aid program.

This information does not constitute tax or legal advice. Every tax situation could be different depending on numerous individual factors. Check with a certified tax advisor for details.