How to Pay for Seminary
November 14, 2022 2024-04-22 16:48How to Pay for Seminary
How to Pay for Seminary
Pillar Seminary is affordable and provides flexible options for funding your seminary journey.
1. Affordable Student Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are low and set each year. The per-semester tuition rate for the 2024-2025 academic year is $500 per credit hour for students taking 5 credit hours or less, and $3,000 for students taking 6-9 credit hours. Students taking 10 or more credit hours are charged $3,000 + $500 per additional credit hour. The student fee for the 2024-2025 academic year is $175 per semester.
2. Generous Need-based Financial Aid
In general, Pillar students pay less than half of the true cost of their education thanks to the generous support of our donors as well as different trusts and foundations. In addition, donor support enables Pillar to award need-based financial aid to support our students and keep tuition affordable.
Our students have the opportunity to request need-based financial aid every semester. These requests are evaluated by the financial aid committee and students are notified of their remaining balance at least one month prior to the payment deadline.
Financial aid recipients must
- demonstrate financial need
- enroll in 6 credit hours or more (exception: first semester students)
- maintain a GPA of 3.0 (a “B” average)
- complete a donor thank you form prior to the payment deadline each semester
3. Flexible Payment Plans
Students may pay their balance in full each semester by the payment deadline using ACH (checking or savings direct transfer), credit card, or physical check. Student account balances can be viewed and paid via the student portal. Students may also set up a payment plan serviced by TFC Payment Solutions by completing this form. Payment plans are typically spread over five installments, or a student may choose to spread the payment plan out over the course of an entire year for a full academic year’s tuition (12 installments).
Next Steps
- Apply for Admission
If you have not already done so, please apply for admission here. If you have any questions about the admissions process, please contact admissions@pillarseminary.org. Deadlines for admission to the Seminary can be viewed here. - Register for Classes
If the admissions committee approves your application, you will receive an email prompting you to register for classes each semester. Class registration requires students to agree to the following statement:
I agree to abide by the policies and procedures of the Seminary as described in the academic catalog, along with any other relevant codes of conduct and policies as determined applicable by Seminary administration. This includes making timely arrangements for payment of tuition and fees in accordance with published deadlines.
Registration deadlines can be viewed here. - Apply for Need-based Financial Aid
Each semester, students have the opportunity to request need-based financial aid according to published deadlines. Pay attention to the monthly student newsletter and email announcements to make sure you do not miss out on this opportunity. These requests are evaluated by the financial aid committee and students are notified of their remaining balance at least one month prior to the payment deadline. Financial aid recipients must demonstrate financial need, enroll in 6 credit hours or more (exception: first semester students), maintain a GPA of 3.0 (a “B” average), complete a donor thank you form prior to the payment deadline each semester.
- Make payment arrangements
After logging into your student portal here, review your student account balance.- One-time payment
If you are paying your balance in one lump sum, enter the appropriate credit card or ACH account information and “make payment.” You should receive an email receipt in your pillarseminary.org email account once the payment goes through. Unless other arrangements are confirmed, all one-time payments are due by the posted payment deadline here. - Payment plans
In order to be financially cleared each semester, payment plan students must sign up for a payment plan and make the first payment by the payment deadline.
If you would like to pay your balance in installments, you may choose to set up a payment plan by completing this form. Once your payment plan request is processed, you will receive a payment plan contract from TFC Payment Solutions (the Seminary’s payment plan servicer) via email. Students on payment plans will be charged a Payment Plan Administration Fee of $75 and a Payment Plan Service Fee of 4% the total amount owed. TFC Payment Solutions submits monthly reports to Pillar and credit bureaus regarding payment plan progress. If you are worried you will fall behind on your payment plan, please contact finance@pillarseminary.org for advice and assistance.
Payments to TFC may be made via ACH (checking or saving account transfer), credit card, or paper checks, mailed to TFC. Note: this is a change from previous practice, in which Pillar Finance would run these charges on your behalf. Students on payment plans must make timely payments to TFC. Payments must be made each month in accordance with the payment schedule approved by the student when the TFC contract is signed. Students may elect to make five payments over the course of a semester or 12 payments over the course of an academic year (12-month payment plans are available for Fall starts only).
- One-time payment
If you have any questions about applying for admission to the Seminary, please contact admissions@pillarseminary.org. If you are a current student and would like more information about how to pay for your education at Pillar, please contact finance@pillarseminary.org.
Designed For
Non-Traditional Students
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