We want students at the School of Theology to be focused on prayer, study, and service—not worrying about finances. 

Thanks to the gifts of many generations, Sewanee has substantial resources to support students. We are glad to offer generous financial aid to supplement seminary students’ own resources and the financial support of the parishes and dioceses that send them.

Financial Aid Policy

Financial aid is meant to serve the Church’s mission by:

  • opening the way to excellent theological education to those who otherwise could not afford it,
  • to minimize the burden of additional educational debt carried into ministry,
  • and to limit the drain on personal assets for all students.
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

As one of the first 20 Master of Divinity students admitted and who choose to enroll:
• If your household size is 1-2, you will receive $33,000 in gift aid.
• If your household size is 3+, you will receive $35,000 in gift aid.

Additional students will fall into a need-based aid policy.

Where does that money go?
Financial aid will be deposited into your student account. The University will charge expenses such as tuition, fees, and any other charges you may choose to incur such as rent from University rental housing, a meal plan, University-administered health insurance, etc. to that account.

What is the cost of tuition and fees?
The anticipated tuition & fees for the 2025–2026 academic year will be $20,000.

What about housing?
The University has 124 rental housing units of varying sizes and amenities. If you choose to live in University rental housing, you’ll work with the Office of Rental Housing to find a unit that works best for you and your family. Rent will be charged monthly to your student account. Some students opt for private housing options, which will not be charged to your student account. Click here to learn more about housing options. 

In addition to tuition and fees, we guarantee that your financial aid package will cover the rent for a university rental unit up to two bedrooms.

What about meal plans?
The University also offers an optional meal plan for graduate students. Those who choose to opt into the meal plan will see those charges on their student accounts.

What if I receive more aid than the University charges?
Some students will make decisions about their housing and meal plans that will result in having more financial aid than the University charges. In this case, students are eligible to withdraw additional funding beyond anticipated charges into their personal bank accounts.

What about other support?
Funding a theological education is a responsibility shared between the student, the seminary, the Church, and outside partners. Ordination-track students are expected to contact their parish and diocese and request financial support for their formation. Additionally, they will be required to apply for outside scholarships. Any funding awarded to students may be sent directly to the student or sent to the University; it will then be deposited into the student’s account.

All seminaries calculate financial aid differently. Make sure you ask these questions to anyone you’re discerning a theological education with. If you feel called to Sewanee and wish to become a member of this community of scholars and learners, let us look at any offers you may have received from other seminaries and help you compare funding against costs. We believe with confidence that if you can afford to attend any seminary, you can afford to attend Sewanee.

Forms

You'll find the application for financial aid here.

It is our belief that the Church needs to financially support those it raises up for ministry. Any amount, large or small, will be helpful in creating a positive financial reality for you and your family. Students preparing for ordination will be required to submit the following supplemental forms:

Please note, these forms are required for ordination track students in order to complete an application for financial aid, even if the parish or diocesan support is $0.



Other Funding Opportunities

While it may be possible for students to graduate from the School of Theology debt free, it is our expectation that you are actively seeking to supplement our aid with outside resources. It is the responsibility of all applicants for need-based financial aid to show evidence of submitting applications for scholarships from at least three outside sources in addition to diocese and parish. You’ll find a list of resources here as a place to begin your search. Additionally, it is recommended that you begin soliciting contributions from family, friends, other individuals, the sending parish, and the diocese.

You can read the full financial aid policy here. 

Live Together In Unity

Commitment to Diversity

What does it mean to be the University of the South? The answer to that question changes from one generation to the next and from one individual to the next. Being “of the South” means that we are both the beneficiaries and the critics of a rich tradition. While we are deeply invested in this region, we also engage with other communities, locally and globally. Diversity and variety—of the South and of the world—inform and underpin our institution, and all our community’s citizens must confront this question on some level.

Read Our Commitment to Diversity
Inclusive Language Policy

Language matters. It shapes our sense of reality and is therefore crucial for our understanding of God and others. Through language we forge and maintain our relationships with God and one another.

Read Our Policy
The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation

The Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation at the University of the South is a six-year initiative investigating the university’s historical entanglements with slavery and slavery’s legacies. Our Project’s name memorializes the late Professor of History, Houston Bryan Roberson, who was the first tenured African American faculty member at Sewanee and the first to make African American history and culture the focus of their teaching and scholarship.

About the Project