Financial Aid

Following a decision of the Board of Directors, the Seminary adjusted its pricing structure in 2024, resulting in a significant increase in charges for students enrolling thereafter. To aid in the transition, a special Tuition Relief Program is offered to all students starting a program in the years 2025 and 2026. The Tuition Relief Program draws from the Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary Scholarship Fund.

Those wishing to apply for any of the Seminary-sponsored scholarships listed on this website or to learn of the requirements and restrictions should contact the Seminary Registrar, Gabrielle Asgarian, at: registrar0@*spotsl.$edu. The Application for Financial Aid may be downloaded by clicking here.

Scholarships

On account of the generosity of its donors and benefactors, the Seminary maintains several scholarship funds to assist qualified applicants demonstrating genuine financial need or meeting the criteria outlined for merit-based awards. Deep gratitude is owed to all who support our mission to ensure that any qualified student be afforded the opportunity to attend the Seminary.

Seminary applicants and enrolled students may be eligible for third-party scholarships. All students who receive financial aid will be required to show evidence that they have attempted to obtain financial support from other sources, including third-party scholarships. Students should be aware that, although it is an accredited institution and therefore eligible to enroll, the Seminary has declined Title IV funding at this time. For this reason students applying to the Seminary are not eligible for federal financial aid programs.

View a full list of our Scholarship Funds.

Financial Aid Parameters

As summarized in the table above:

Tuition Relief is offered to all students who enroll in the years 2025 and 2026.

Students who are enrolled full-time and are seeking a degree receive tuition relief in a lump-sum each term (half of the annual amount per term) against their full-time tuition. If a degree-seeking student maintains full-time status and good standing with the institution, they receive tuition relief every term according to the offer provided in their first enrollment year.

Students who are either enrolled part-time or who are not seeking a degree receive tuition relief on a per-credit basis according to the rate for that academic year. Their tuition relief offer expires at the end of the academic year.

Examples:

Full-Time Tuition Relief: Niko enrolls in the Bachelor of Theology beginning in 2025. As long as he maintains his eligibility, Niko will receive $25,000 tuition relief each year of his program, ending with his graduation in 2029. His tuition, room, and board will cost him approximately $12,500/yr for each of the four years of his program.

Part-Time Tuition Relief + Need-Based Aid: Kyriake enrolls in the Iconography Certificate Program (a part-time program) in the year 2026. She receives $450/credit tuition relief in 2026, but starting in 2027 she will be charged full tuition per credit. Kyriake applies for need-based financial aid and is awarded scholarship which reduces her tuition to an affordable cost.

Interrupted Relief Package: Andrew enrolls in the Bachelor of Theology as a full-time student beginning in 2025. He receives $25,000 tuition relief for the 2025-2026 academic year. Andrew decides to take a year off to travel; therefore, by failing to maintain full-time status, he is no longer eligible for the special 2025 full-time tuition relief rate. Andrew returns in 2027 to complete his degree, but the tuition relief program has ended. If he and his family cannot afford full tuition, they can apply for need-based aid.