Tuition Costs and Fees

2011-2012

The cost of the Master of Arts degree program is the total of course tuition, the non-refundable application fee, the program extension fee or continuation fee (when necessary), and the graduation fee.

Payment of Tuition and Fees
A student becomes liable for the full tuition cost of a course on the date the course begins, therefore payment of course tuition and applicable semester fees are due no later than the first day of classes. Hartford Seminary accepts personal check, money order, MasterCard, VISA or Discover.

All financial obligations to Hartford Seminary must be met before any of the following will be permitted: enrollment in subsequent semesters, the Master of Arts final oral examination, participation in graduation, and requests for transcripts.

Tuition Costs and Fees

Other fees as required:

Payment Plan Option

Hartford Seminary offers an online payment plan option that allows matriculated students to pay tuition in equal monthly installments over the course of the semester. We have partnered with FACTS Management Company to help us manage this process. The fee to cover administration of the plan is $41 per semester or summer session. You may pay your tuition by credit card or by direct withdrawal from your bank account. If you choose to pay by credit card, a 2.5% convenience fee will be added to your charge. To enroll, please access the online payment plan through the billing tab on your student account, and complete the payment plan agreement. All bills for prior semesters must be paid in full prior to entering into the payment plan.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid applications are available at the time of application. Students with special financial concerns or with a change in financial circumstances are encouraged to contact the Executive Assistant to the Dean at 860-509-9553 for more information about applying for financial aid.

Hartford Seminary Financial Aid Options

Need-based Aid: Limited financial aid in the form of grants is available to matriculated students enrolled in Hartford Seminary’s Master of Arts, Cooperative Master of Divinity, Islamic Chaplaincy (full combined Master of Arts/Graduate Certificate program and Graduate Certificate only program), and Doctor of Ministry programs. Eligible students may receive tuition aid up to 60% of annual course tuition.

Please see the Financial Aid section for deadlines and full details.

Students are required to reapply for financial aid each year. Students are not guaranteed financial aid even if they received aid the previous year, and must maintain better than a B- grade point average to maintain eligibility.

To apply for need-based financial aid from Hartford Seminary, visit www.hartsem.edu to read the instructions and access the application form.

Students with special financial concerns or with a change in financial circumstances are encouraged to contact the Executive Assistant to the Dean at 860-509-9553 for more information about applying for financial aid.

Merit scholarships: Students applying for admission to the Master of Arts degree, including the full Islamic Chaplaincy program (combined M.A./G.C.), may submit an application for a merit-based award. Merit scholarships recognize a student’s academic aptitude and potential. Extracurricular activities, publications and other awards/honors also will be considered when determining a student’s eligibility for a merit award.

Only incoming Master of Arts program students who have a 3.5 grade point average (or above) or its equivalent at previous academic institutions are eligible for merit awards. The deadline for merit scholarship applications is February 15.

Awards are intended to cover the duration of a student’s study, but will not exceed three years or 48 credit hours (whichever comes first). In order to keep scholarships, students must maintain better than a 3.5 grade point average.

Ph.D. students, Graduate Certificate students, Special Students, and Auditors are not eligible for merit scholarships.

To apply for a Merit Scholarship, visit www.hartsem.edu to read the instructions and access the application form.

If any of your questions about Hartford Seminary financial aid have not been addressed by the information presented, please contact the Executive Assistant to the Dean at lbrowne@hartsem.edu or 860-509-9553.

Federal Stafford Loans and Other Loan Options

Domestic students who are matriculated in a degree program may apply for Federal Stafford Loans through the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. Students in the following programs may qualify for federal financial aid: Master of Arts, Islamic Chaplaincy Program (full combined Master of Arts/Graduate Certificate program and Graduate Certificate only program), Cooperative Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits per semester in order to qualify for federal loans.

Hartford Seminary is authorized to certify student eligibility for loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. These loans are often called “Stafford” loans. Eligibility depends on the student's/applicant's program, its length, their personal financial circumstances and their previous educational borrowing. Federal Direct loans are subsidized by the US Government and are subject to strict regulation.

Hartford Seminary’s Federal School Code School Code (also known as the OPE id) is G01387.

Federal Direct Stafford Loans

The Federal Direct Stafford Loans that Hartford Seminary can originate fall into different categories:

1. Subsidized Stafford: available to eligible students and on which the interest is paid by the Federal Government during the time the student is studying at least half time, or during a grace or deferment period. This loan is based on financial need as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.
2. Unsubsidized Stafford: available to eligible students and on which interest is charged from the moment the loan is made. This loan is not based on financial need.

Effective from 1st July 2008 the Federal Stafford loan limits for graduate students are as follows:
Subsidized Stafford: $8,500.00 Annual
Unsubsidized Stafford: $12,000.00 Annual
Total Annual: $20,500.00

The loan limits listed above are not indicative of the financial aid award that students will receive. As mentioned previously, eligibility is based on a variety of factors as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.

To apply for federal financial aid, visit www.hartsem.edu to read the instructions.

Other Types of Loans

Graduate PLUS Loans: available to eligible students to cover any shortfalls in the cost of tuition fees alone (i.e. not for living expenses). In order to be eligible for the Federal PLUS Loan, you must first apply for the maximum Federal Stafford Loan following the application process outlined below. These loans are available through Hartford Seminary.

Private/Commercial Loans: available through U.S. lenders not funded by the U.S. Government. These loans can supplement your Stafford Loan up to the cost of attendance at Hartford Seminary. These loans are the applicant’s/student’s responsibility to research and obtain.

If any of your questions about Federal Financial Aid have not been addressed by the information presented, please contact the federal financial aid administrator, at 860-509-9545.