Finance and Student Debt

The Educational Debt of Theological Students

The rising costs of a seminary education and increasing amounts of student indebtedness are serious issues that impact theological schools and the students they serve.

The Gathering Storm
By Anthony Ruger, Sharon L. Miller and Kim Maphis Early
September 2005

In this Issue:
• In the last decade, the percentage of students who have
   debt has increased, and the average amount of debt has
   increased dramatically.
• What are the ways that graduates, theological schools and
   denominations have found to avoid debt or minimize
   educational debt?

RESOURCES FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING

Resources for Financial Aid Officers

Here are some resources for you and your colleagues to use to raise the financial awareness of your students and counsel them as they make decisions on financial matters.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on financial planning.

Are you Mortgaging your Ministry? Student Loans and Seminary Cost
A 30-minute video introduces five recent seminary graduates, some of the financial challenges they faced and decisions they made. Two experienced seminary administrators also offer advice on how to manage finances while in school.

Financial Planning Worksheets

Click here for Excel worksheets to help you plan and manage your finances while in theological school:

• Monthly Budget Schedule
• Spending Worksheet
• Debt Affordability Calculator
• Debt Repayment Plan
• Post-Graduation Budget

Manna From Heaven? Theological and Rabbinical Student Debt
By Anthony Ruger and Barbara G. Wheeler
April 1995

In this Issue:
• How prevalent is educational debt among theological students and are the amounts
borrowed reasonable, or too high?
• How dependent are schools on funds that students obtain through loans?
• What effect does debt have on graduates and their careers?

Background Reports are on following page

Single Page