Grants and Loans

Grants

Reformed Presbyterian Student Aid Fund

Because of a significant endowment given for the educational needs of Reformed Presbyterian pastors, church planters, and missionaries, all Reformed Presbyterian students under the care of a presbytery who demonstrate financial need are eligible for tuition grants. Conditions for obtaining such grants may be obtained from the Admissions Office.

Church Match Grant

The Seminary encourages your home congregation to help support you through your theological training. There is much benefit to have the encouragement and accountability of your church and it serves to lessen the burden or threat of debt that can often hamper your ministerial aspirations. To encourage your church to participate in such a role, RPTS has established a Church/Seminary Match Grant. This Grant allows your church to pay part of your tuition bills while RPTS matches it up to one third, dollar for dollar. So this effectively removes two-thirds of the tuition cost from your shoulders and it is our hope that this might reduce your need to incur debt while in Seminary. If you would like to participate in the Church Match Grant program, you must complete the application process, be accepted into a program, and submit your Church Match Grant application prior to the beginning of classes. You may download the 2011-12 form here.

NAPARC Students

Students from Churches which are members of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) and who maintain full-time status at RPTS are encouraged to apply for grants which would equal those awards offered to them by seminaries of other NAPARC denominations. Contact the Admissions Office for details.

Urban Student Grants

Through special endowed funds given for the educational needs of urban pastors and church workers, the Seminary provides substantial assistance to a select group of urban students who maintain full-time status and demonstrate financial need. Contact the Admissions Office for details.

International Students

Under certain circumstances, RPTS provides partial tuition grants to international students who demonstrate potential for church leadership in other countries. Contact the Admissions Office for details. International Students will need to demonstrate an ability to pay for their education at RPTS; to do this, you will need to supply the Seminary with a letter from your bank stating that you have sufficient funds to study and live abroad. The Seminary can assist with figuring the cost of attendance for you.

Student Spouse Grant

Spouses of full-time students may take courses for credit at half of the tuition price, or they may audit courses for free of charge. Spouses of part-time students may audit the same courses taken by his/her spouse free of charge.

Other

Students with financial need who do not qualify for the grants listed above may also receive limited financial aid. Contact the Admissions Office for details.

Loans

Stafford Loans (Federal and State Aid)

Low-interest educational loans from local banks are available to seminary students in a state-sponsored program. While these funds may be used for tuition, books, travel to school, and living expenses, it is recommended that such loans be kept to the absolute minimum. To better understand the burdens presented by the accumulation of debts prior to or during your time at RPTS, please use this Student Loan Repayment Calculator to see what your monthly payback will look like and to see what percentage of your estimated income will go to repay your student loans. Students planning to secure such loans must follow the steps outlined HERE.

Addison H. Gibson Foundation Loans

Low-interest loans are available through the Gibson Foundation for full-time returning students who have been long time residents of Western Pennsylvania. For more information on this opportunity please click here.