Financial Aid

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As of March 23, funds through the seminary's need-based assistance program for the 2007-08 academic year have been exhausted. Stafford loan processing will begin June 1 and continue throughout the academic year.

All applicants, new and returning, must submit a signed copy of their prior year income tax report to the Financial Aid Office. If a student files for an extension, a copy of that form/letter must be turned into the Financial Aid Office by April 15. Once the tax return is filed, a signed copy must be provided. Applications will only be processed after they are complete.  All information is held in the strictest confidence.

To help meet the student’s demonstrated need, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will assign a campus job and make a tuition grant award. The student is expected to seek and report outside sources of aid; these will not affect the Seminary grant unless a student’s demonstrated need is reduced to less than the PTS grant. 

Financial aid funds depend on the generous contributions from individuals, churches, and organizations. At the time the student receives a tuition grant contract, he/she is asked to write a letter of thanks. Students are expected to write these letters as a condition for receiving financial aid and must be received by the Financial Aid Office before aid is credited to the account. Guidelines for such letters are provided.

These policies are subject to change. They are operative for the current year and represent no commitment beyond the current year. The appeal of any decision may be made in writing to the Financial Aid Committee.

Please note: Students are asked to consider that many churches contribute to the Student Financial Assistance Fund at the Seminary. No student may seek financial support from churches other than the home congregation because students who make such appeals jeopardize the churches' gift response to Seminary appeals. Any student who would make such an appeal loses eligibility for financial aid for violation of the Seminary's Solicitation Policy.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); its aid program is based on an honor system of reporting. Any conscious misrepresentation by the applicant/recipient of aid will constitute a breech of the financial aid policy and will result in the loss of aid.

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Academic Eligibility

Only students enrolled for nine or more credits in the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, and Master of Sacred Theology programs at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary are eligible to apply for financial aid. If a student has received financial aid to complete one-degree program, that student is not eligible for financial aid for a second-degree program until three years (nine terms) have passed since the last term they received aid. This would apply to students, for example, who complete the M.Div. program and wish to continue in the S.T.M. or M.A. program. Students enrolled in dual degree programs may receive aid while taking courses at the Seminary. 

The Financial Aid Package is based on the assumption that a student is registered for at least nine credit hours and maintains a 2.5 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). No financial aid will be available to students registered for less than nine credits and to a student whose cumulative GPA has fallen below a 2.5 GPA.

The only exception to the guidelines that require a student to attend full time in order to receive financial aid would be the case of graduating seniors whose enrollment for the final term would be part-time or if the student is enrolled full-time in a Dual Degree Program but only in attendance at the Seminary part-time.  

Transcripts will be reviewed at the end of each academic year; a student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.5 will receive no further financial aid until the following academic year and then only if the cumulative GPA has been raised to 2.5.

Should a student fail a course (s) or withdraw with faculty approval, there will be no financial aid for this course (s) when repeated, or for electives that may be substituted as repeat credits. Should a student withdraw without faculty approval from a class after the official add/drop period, financial aid for this course will be revoked and the student is responsible for one-half of the tuition fee.  

Financial aid will be available to the student for the specified length of the degree program chosen. Financial aid will not be provided to any student beyond the minimum credits required for graduation.

Students who are in a “default status” of their federal educational loans are ineligible for institutional aid. Students who are currently in default are encouraged to contact their lending institutions to seek resolution.

Students registered for summer courses offered by PTS, or those participating in cross‑registration among the 10 theological institutions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and who qualify for financial aid during the following academic year, will have grants extended to include those summer credits. Reminder: PCHE does not permit summer cross‑registration.

Policy Reminder: The Seminary’s Business Office requires all students’ account balances to be paid in full before they can register for the following term. The Business Office may grant exceptions to full-time students with balances up to $500.

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Financial Aid Programs at Pittsburgh Seminary

Work Assistance

The financial aid package is a combination of work assistance and grant. Normally $2,723 is awarded for work assistance; the grant award will vary according to need, up to maximum of tuition.

The first part of financial aid is the assignment of a work assistance job. Payment is made monthly for time worked at $8.25 per hour.  Campus jobs exist in all aspects of seminary life: playroom, library, and dining hall, as well as clerk/typist and custodial duties. The Work Assignment Interest Form is included with the aid application for the convenience of students.

All students on financial aid, except student pastors, (as defined by the Field Education Office), students on academic probation, or single parents with children, are expected to work 10 hours per week (11 weeks per term) at campus employment. Students with Field Education positions will be assigned five hours of work per week. Those excused from job assignments, as listed above, have the option of asking to be assigned a campus job. For medical reasons or for other exceptional circumstances a student may make a written appeal to the Financial Aid Committee to be excluded from a campus job. Money normally allocated under the job category will not be provided in any other form from the Seminary.                                               

Campus jobs are assigned through the Financial Aid Office based on seniority, skills, and/or interest. A student who has had a job may request it for the next year; the supervisor must agree to the reassignment. Students are assigned the job of their choice when possible.

If a job assignment does not provide the number of hours that were assigned, the student may seek, or request the Financial Aid Officer to make an additional assignment. Students must realize that conflicts between a department's need for service and the student's academic or personal schedule may make additional hours impossible.

Tuition Grants

After the work assistance allocation has been deducted, 40 percent of the remaining need will be granted from Seminary funds to students who are members of a church. The maximum grant for all students will be the cost of tuition.

Additional percentages will be awarded if the following conditions apply to the student.

• Students who are members of a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and who are either endorsed by their session or are enrolled as inquirers or candidates Under Care by a PC(USA) presbytery will receive an additional 20 percent in the form of a grant.   Documentation from the pastor/clerk of session will be required to qualify for this additional percentage.

• Racial/ethnic minority students who are members of a church will receive an additional 10 percent in the form of a grant.

• Students with unusual personal/family expenses or individuals, whose income is below 10 percent of the total allowed expenses, may apply by letter to the Financial Aid Officer to have their grant percentage increased by 10 percent, detailing the reasons for the request. Physically challenged students with additional costs over the educational budget established by the institution, should also make these facts known.

Should both husband and wife be students at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and require financial aid, the package will be the base package for a married couple, plus the additional tuition, fees, and books for the spouse.

In light of the uniqueness of policies governing international students, namely, that of being disqualified from seeking employment in this country and borrowing money through the government student loan program, PTS offers international students work assistance assignments and meets their remaining financial need with a grant that is 70 percent of that need. The maximum of tuition still applies.

One‑third of the grant will be made available during each term. The term costs of tuition, fees, rent, and any outstanding Seminary charges will be deducted from the grant by the Business Office and the balance, if any, will be forwarded to the student upon request.

Preliminary financial aid will be posted to students' accounts after the registration period and will not be confirmed until after the add/drop period. Any refund requests are to be made after the add/drop period and at least three days prior to the check processing dates. The Seminary's Business Office processes requests on the15th and 30th of each month. 

Rent Rebate

Students may be eligible for a rent rebate if they are a full‑time student, receiving the maximum grant award, and living in Seminary housing. Students residing in the dormitory will receive a rebate of $225 per term. Apartment dwellers receive a rebate of $375 per term/per apartment. The rebate will be applied to the account at the beginning of each term. Rent rebates are pro-rated in accordance with the number of qualifying occupants per dwelling and are not available during the summer months.

Book Rebate

Honoring a commitment to provide additional financial help to students demonstrating the greatest need, the Seminary, through its Book Rebate Program, will award $480 to those students receiving maximum aid and carrying 36 credits. Students with maximum aid and registered for 27 credits will receive $360. Because the Book Rebate are not refunded until after the add/drop period of each term, students must be prepared to pay for books (or use their Cokesbury Credit Card or the 30-day credit plan with Cokesbury), at the time they make the purchase. Please keep in mind that book rebates are only refunded if the student’s account is current and the book rebate creates a credit balance on the student’s account. Because the Cokesbury Bookstore is a separate entity from the Seminary, book purchases may not be charged to the student's Seminary account. Check with the Bookstore manager for details, further information, and forms.

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Educational Loans

Many students will enter seminary with educational loans, so every effort is made to keep this aid component to a minimum. When a student has exhausted all possibilities for other forms of financial aid and still needs funds, a loan may be the only option. Once students have determined that a student loan is needed to help finance educational costs, they should contact the director of Financial Aid to discuss various loan options.

Federal Stafford Loan Program 

The Subsidized Stafford Loan is awarded based on financial need. The student will not be charged any interest before he/she begins repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government "subsidizes" the interest during these periods. This loan cannot exceed a student's educational costs minus the EFC and other aid.

A student may receive an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, even if there is no demonstrated financial need, but this loan cannot exceed educational costs minus other aid. The student will be charged the interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If the student allows the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized- that is, the interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and additional interest will be based on the higher amount. If the student chooses to pay the interest as it accumulates, less interest will be paid in the long run. 

In some cases, a student may be eligible for a combination of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The student can receive a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan for the same enrollment period. 

Beginning July 1, 2007, graduate students can qualify for up to $20,500 each academic year. Only $8,500 of this amount may be in subsidized Stafford Loans. The amounts given above are the maximum yearly amounts that a graduate student can borrow in both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. A student may receive less than these yearly maximums if he/she receives other financial aid that is used to cover a portion of the cost of attendance.   

Application materials and additional Seminary forms needed to apply for the Federal Stafford Loan is available online or upon request at the Financial Aid Office. Application for a student loan should begin at least 90 days prior to the start of the enrollment period for which you want the loan. Suggested application dates for Terms I, II and III are the 1st of June, September, and December, respectively. If the  application is made for a loan by these dates, it is likely that the checks will arrive at the Seminary in time for payment for the term it is needed.   

Please note: Because federal funds are reserved for expenses that the individual student incurs for his or her education, the Department of Education requires that a standard single budget be used for all students.

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

As a result of changes made by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005, as of July 1, 2006, graduate students maintaining at least a half-time status are eligible for Federal PLUS loans, referred as Graduate PLUS loans.

The maximum Graduate PLUS loan amount that a student may borrow is the cost of attendance minus any other estimated financial assistance for the loan period. If the student receives Stafford loan funds for the same loan period, those funds must be included in estimated financial assistance.

To apply the student must submit the Graduate PLUS loan request form to the Financial Aid Office indicating the requested loan amount for the program in addition to all the required forms needed to certify a Stafford loan. This includes the Verification Worksheet; Declaration of Outside Sources of Aid form; the Student Aid Report generated by FAFSA; and a copy of the student's prior year tax return.

Stanley K. Power Educational Loan Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

The Stanley K. Power Educational Loan Fund was established to enable worthy students to receive a loan to obtain and complete a college education. 

Applicants must:

•  Be an Allegheny County, Pennsylvania resident.

• Demonstrate financial need

• Be recommended by the Director of Financial Aid

This zero percent interest loan is to be repaid within 10 years of graduation. Twenty percent of the total loan is cancelled upon the borrower’s first payment and repayment begins six months after graduation. A payment of $75 per quarter is required during repayment.  Application for the Stanley K. Power Educational Loan can be made through the Financial Aid Office.

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PTS Student Emergency Loan

In order to qualify for this short-term loan, students must maintain at least six credits per term and be participating in a degree-oriented program. Students may be the recipients of these funds if a personal emergency has placed the student under extreme financial hardship.  

The borrower is required to repay this zero interest loan in full within 60 days unless other arrangements are made with the director of Financial Aid. For additional guidelines and to make application for the PTS Student Emergency Loan, students should contact the director of Financial Aid.

Generally students can access this fund once an academic year. The Financial Aid Committee must approve accessing these funds beyond once an academic year.

PC(USA) Denominational Financial Aid Program

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Clergy Spouse Discount

Individuals whose spouses are ordained as Ministers of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are eligible to a tuition reduction of one-third. Applications and verification must be made through the Financial Aid Office each year.

Presbyterian Study Grant

Students who are pursuing their first professional degree and who are registered as an Inquirer or Candidate with their Presbytery at the time of application may qualify for a Presbyterian Study Grant from the Department of Financial Aid for Studies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  This program is restricted to students attending seminaries related to or in the covenant with the PC(USA). 

Applicants must: 

• Be enrolled full-time

• Be US citizens or permanent residents of the United States

• Demonstrate financial need

Separate applications are required and available from the Financial Aid Office. Awards range between $1,000 to $4,000 per academic year. The application requires students to write an essay and to submit recommendations from the student’s pastor, CPM, and Seminary contact person or advisor. Applications are available at http://www.pcusa.org/financialaid/scholarships.htm.

Racial Ethnic Leadership Supplemental Grant

Minority PC(USA) students who identify themselves as members of the African American, Alaska Native, Asian American, Hispanic American or Native American descent may qualify for the Racial Ethnic Leadership Supplemental Grant provided by the Department of Financial Aid for Studies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This program is restricted to students attending seminaries related to or in the covenant with the PC(USA). 

Applicants must have been awarded the Presbyterian Study Grant and still demonstrate financial need.  Awards range between $500 to $1,000 per academic year. 

Loan Program for Theological Studies

Students who are pursuing their first professional degree and who are registered as an Inquirer or Candidate with their Presbytery at the time of application may qualify for the Loan Program for Theological Studies.  

 All theological students who are preparing for professional church occupation must:

• Be enrolled either full or part-time

• Maintain satisfactory academic progress

• Be US citizens or permanent residents of the United States

• Demonstrate financial need and meet the denomination’s financial reliability standard of no educational debt in excess of $38,000

The maximum amount of funding is $6,000 for Inquirers and $15,000 for Candidates. Additional information can be found on the website of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at www.pcusa.org/financialaid.

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Contact Information

Cheryl De Paolis                                   

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

616 North Highland Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA  15206-2596

cdepaolis@pts.edu

Phone 412-441-3304 ext. 2111

Fax 412-363-3260

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Application Materials

2008 – 2009

Student Financial Aid Application

Verification Worksheet

Non-Tax Filer’s Statement

Stafford & Graduate PLUS Loan Policies

Stafford Loan Checklist
(includes: Stafford Request Form & Declaration of Outside Sources)

Graduate PLUS Loan Request Form

Tuition Remission Form
 

2007-2008

Student Financial Aid Application

Stafford Loan Policy

Stafford Loan Packet

Verification Worksheet

Non-Tax Filer's Statement

Tuition Remission Form

Loan Request Form

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