Financial Aid and       Cost of Attendance

Financial Aid

Tuition for the Joint PhD Program is charged on a per credit basis at the current rate of $1,062/credit for the 2012-2013 academic year.  The Joint Program estimates students will take an average of 9 credits per quarter, or 27 credits per year, which is the assumed basis for financial aid, though any number of credits can be taken.

Currently all students accepted into the Joint PhD Program receive financial aid in the form of non-refundable scholarships and/or tuition waivers.  All awards are merit based (determined at the time of application) and currently range from 70-100% coverage of tuition.  We also offer two full-tuition, plus stipend fellowships to the top merit scholars of each incoming class.  Awards are based on actual registration and are renewed at a similar level through the coursework stage of the program (defined as 82 credit hours earned).*

For example, if a student is awarded an 80% scholarship on tuition, they will receive a “discount” of 80% for all tuition charges for the academic year (actual dollar amounts change based on registration, but the percentage remains the same).  If the student registers for 9 credit hours in a given quarter then their tuition will equal $9,558, so they will receive a scholarship to cover $7,646 in that given quarter; the awarded 80% of tuition. No money is refunded if the student takes less than the estimate, but the student will receive the scholarship to cover their tuition until they reach the 82 credit hours needed to complete coursework.

Since program-awarded scholarship is automatically determined and all students are considered, there is no separate application for financial aid from the Joint Program.

Students in their 2nd and 3rd years will be assigned three Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantship positions each year, for a total of six, as a part of the aid awarded by the Program. Award percentages and overall level of aid does not increase for GTA/GRA work; (the first year is a “freebie”).

The Program currently does not provide financial aid for students in the dissertation stage, but total tuition for this phase normally will not exceed 8 credits and is spread out over the time it takes to complete the dissertation.

Please be aware that the Joint PhD Scholarship does not apply to Summer term.  Students can apply for aid for Summer classes, but funding is limited and your eligibility for such aid will not be evaluated until the Spring term prior to Summer enrollment.

*Financial Aid is based on the program’s budget for that academic year.  Therefore, a similar level of funding in future years cannot be guaranteed, though we make every effort to sustain this level of funding through the coursework phase of the program.

Additional sources of funding such as grants, student employment and financing options may also be obtained.

To be considered for federal loans, or need-based aid, please submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Students submitting the FAFSA should use the University of Denver’s school code of 001371.  Do not send FAFSA information to the Iliff School of Theology.  The priority deadline for incoming students to submit FAFSA information is February 15th, and April 1st for continuing students.

Cost of Attendance

Students may only receive financial aid up to the total cost of attendance, or budget, for any given aid year.  The budget is determined by actual tuition and fee costs and estimated costs of living, and it will only be calculated for the terms a student is actually enrolled.  Below is a sample budget for a student taking a full load of classes (estimated at 9 credits per quarter) during Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Direct costs are those charged to your student account whereas indirect costs are estimates of your expenses during enrollment.

Sample Budget:

Direct Costs:	Tuition		28,674*
	Fees		258
	Subtotal		$28,932
Indirect Costs:	Loan Fees1		48
	Books		1,350
	Room & Board2		10,665
	Health Insurance3		2,420
	Transportation		1,176
	Personal Expenses		1,314
	Total		$45,905**

*Based on a total of 27 credits for the year. Tuition is charged on a per credit basis at the rate of $1,062/credit. Registration of more or less than 27 credits for the year will result in a proportionate increase or decrease of tuition charges.

¹A 1.0% origination fee is taken out at disbursement of Federal Direct unsubsidized loans. The $48 listed above is the average fee for graduate students who borrow these loans. Actual fees will depend on the amount borrowed.

²Room and Board may be direct costs if you live in DU campus housing and sign up for a meal plan through the University.

³Health insurance may be a direct cost if you enroll in the insurance offered through DU.

**Total combined aid (all scholarships plus loans) cannot exceed the budgeted total for a given year

Actual budget figures vary from year to year.  Your Financial Aid Award Notification will have the current budget figures and the determining factors, such as enrollment, upon which your budget and aid are based.

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