Last Year Free

LYF is a special scholarship program for new and continuing students enrolled in the Master of Theology (ThM) program by the summer 2023 semester. These ThM students are eligible to receive a full tuition scholarship for their final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of the ThM program, whenever they reach that point in their degree program. See “Program Details” (below) for more information about other criteria for utilizing LYF funding.

DTS believes all its degree programs provide a high level of training for various ministry opportunities. Since the ThM is the longest degree program, DTS wants to focus targeted aid to ThM students to complete the program faster by easing the financial burden.

Absolutely not! We believe strongly in the purpose of each DTS degree program and value the students who are enrolled in them. Each degree prepares students for specific and necessary areas of ministry. We are a better school for having the selection of degrees we offer. Since the ThM is nearly double the time and cost of most of the MA programs, we have provided targeted assistance to students enrolled in this program.

No. LYF is available to every new and continuing student enrolled in the Master of Theology (ThM) program by the summer 2023 semester. That said, students who do not have financial need can forego utilizing LYF funding, which allows the Seminary to pass the benefit on to another student.

All students enrolled in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester are eligible for LYF. This includes new, continuing, or returning ThM students. This also includes any Master of Arts (MA) students who reclassify to the ThM. These students must (1) have their reclassification to the ThM program approved no later than June 1, 2023, and (2) enroll by the summer 2023 semester.

No. Currently, LYF applies only for ThM students enrolled by the summer 2023 semester. We hope to offer it again for the 2023-2024 academic year, but this all depends on funding made possible through gifts to the Seminary.

Yes. All students enrolled in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester are eligible to receive the LYF scholarship.

No. LYF is a scholarship for students who are enrolled in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester. MA students would need to reclassify to the ThM. These students must (1) meet with an academic advisor before May 1, 2023 (2) have their reclassification to the ThM program approved by the Admissions Committee no later than June 1, 2023, and (3) enroll by the summer 2023 semester.

Yes. Alumni who wish to pursue the ThM are eligible for LYF if they enroll in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester. Contact the Admissions Office (admissions@dts.edu) for more information about reapplying.

Yes, however, students may be asked to commit to an ambitious degree completion plan. It may be in the students best interest to retain their previous degree but these options will be considered through conversation with the Advising Center upon being admitted for admission into the ThM. Contact the Admissions Office (admissions@dts.edu) for more information about reapplying.

You can reapply for the ThM degree if you are an alumnus of DTS. If you retain your previous degree (excluding the certificate), previously completed courses completed during or after spring 2001 that match ThM requirements will count toward both degrees (i.e., your completed degree and the ThM you are pursuing). Both degrees require a minimum number of total credit hours:

ThM + 2-year MA=150 hours
ThM + 3-year MA=165 hours

Contact the Advising Center (lastyearfree@dts.edu) for more information.

You meet initial eligibility for the LYF program if you submit an admissions application for the ThM and are approved for admissions and enrolled by the summer 2023 semester.

Previous DTS courses (1) required for the ThM program and (2) completed within the last 10-years will count toward the ThM program. If credits are over 10-years then they will be counted in half. Students may be asked to commit to an ambitious degree completion program. Contact the Advising Center for more information.

All eligible ThM students can use the LYF scholarship for the final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of their degree program, regardless of when they reach that point in their program. This includes courses taken in fall, spring, summer, and winter sessions, as long as a student takes at least six or more required  credit hours (i.e., hours that satisfy degree requirements) in live courses on the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campuses per semester.

Thus, eligible students within the final twenty four (24) required hours of the ThM program can utilize the LYF scholarship. For students beginning the ThM program by summer 2023, the LYF scholarship will be waiting for them when they reach that point in their ThM program, even if that's several years down the road.

Students enrolled in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester automatically satisfy initial eligibility. Once eligible students reach the final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of the ThM program, they must:

• Apply for LYF each semester by completing the financial aid application,
• Have and maintain a 2.5 GPA, and
• Be and remain in good standing with the Seminary.

If these criteria are satisfied, the LYF scholarship will cover tuition for the final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of the ThM program, as long as a student takes at least six or more required credit hours (i.e., hours that satisfy degree requirements) in live courses on the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campuses per semester.

No; however, LYF does not cover the cost of tuition for any semester in which a student does not take at least six (6) credit hours. Therefore, it is to the student’s advantage to take at least six (6) credit hours a semester.

LYF will cover tuition for students who need to complete less than six (6) credit hours in their final semester, as long as the courses are live in Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC.

No. LYF only covers tuition when a student takes six or more required credit hours (i.e., hours that satisfy degree requirements) in live courses on the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campuses per semester.

Yes, if the course takes place on the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campus.

Yes. Due to the fact that students often complete the thesis, internship, and/or ministry residency in their final year of study, LYF covers it. However, this does not include any continuation fees. All other courses to which LYF applies must be live courses taken on the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campuses.

No. LYF only covers tuition for the final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of the ThM program. Students are responsible for fees and other costs (e.g., books, etc.).

A student may lose the LYF scholarship if he/she:

• Does not maintain a 2.5 GPA,
• Reclassifies out of the ThM program at any time,
• Withdraws from the ThM program at any time, or
• Does not remain in good standing with the Seminary.

The LYF scholarship only covers tuition once for an eligible course. After that students are responsible to cover the tuition cost for that course.

Students enrolled in the ThM program by the summer 2023 semester automatically satisfy initial eligibility. However, to utilize the LYF scholarship students need to complete a financial aid application by the deadline the semester before they reach the final twenty-four (24) required credit hours of the ThM program. Students must reapply every semester they intend to utilize the scholarship. If students do not apply for LYF, the Committee will presume students do not need the scholarship that semester. Visit the Financial Aid webpage or contact the Financial Aid (financialaid@dts.edu) office for more information on financial aid application deadlines and the application process.

Yes. LYF funding is not automatically applied to a student’s account. DTS will apply all applicable need-based scholarships before applying the LYF scholarship. In order to assess this and a student’s interest in utilizing LYF funding, we need each eligible student to complete a financial aid application by the deadline for each semester they need funding. Contact the Financial Aid office (financialaid@dts.edu) for more information about the application process.

No. Scholarships for MA students will not decrease as a result of the LYF scholarship.

DTS will apply all applicable need-based scholarships before applying the LYF scholarship. In order to assess this and a student’s interest in utilizing LYF funding, we need each eligible student to complete the financial aid application each semester they wish to utilize the LYF scholarship.

Yes; however, satisfactory academic progress (SAP) must be maintained. SAP is satisfied when students take at least sixteen (16) credit hours per academic year.

Contact the Advising Center (lastyearfree@dts.edu) or visit the Advising Center webpage.

Contact the Financial Aid office (financialaid@dts.edu) or visit the Financial Aid page.