Total Program Cost
The total cost covers your tuition and all Rockbridge fees. The total cost does not include books or program extension charge (doctoral program only). The Board of Trustees reserves the right to increase tuition and fees.
The Diploma in Ministry Studies (DMS) is a 39-credit-hour program requiring a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years for completion.
The Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) is a 52-credit-hour program requiring a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 7 years for completion. Of these 52 hours, 48 are billable as tuition. The remaining 4 credit hours are awarded for the Ministry Proficiency Portfolio and not charged to the student as tuition—you pay only the Portfolio Review Fee.
The Master of Divinity (MDIV) is a 76-credit-hour program requiring a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 8 years for completion. Of these 76 hours, 72 are billable as tuition. The remaining 4 credit hours are awarded for the Ministry Proficiency Portfolio and not charged to the student as tuition—you pay only the Portfolio Review Fee.
The Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership (DMIN) is a 39-credit-hour program requiring a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 9 years for completion.
Total program cost includes the cost per course, proctored exams, the graduation fee, and the portfolio review fee (MML and MDIV only). Proctoring Exams – The seminary uses a third-party vendor for selected exams. The MML and MDIV programs have ten proctored exams at $17.50/exam. The DMIN program has one proctored exam at $17.50/exam. The proctoring fee is paid by the student to ProctorU.
The total cost does not include textbooks or resources.
| Program | Credit Hours | Total Cost |
| Diploma in Ministry Studies (DMS) | 39 | $ 4,377.00 |
| Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) | 52 | $11,213.00 |
| Master of Divinity (MDIV) | 76 | $16,607.00 |
| Doctor of Ministry (DMIN) | 39 | $11,215.50 |
Academic credits earned at another institution and accepted for transfer by Rockbridge Seminary will reduce total program cost. See the Transfer of Credit from Another Institution section of the Catalog for transfer credit standards.
List of Fees
The following fees are associated with being a Rockbridge Seminary student. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to increase tuition and fees.
Fee Amount
Application Fee $ 25
Portfolio Review Fee (MML and MDIV) $150
DMIN Project Continuation Fee $150*
Graduation Fee (All Programs) $100
*Fee is per term after the first year of registration when taking the R7500 Applied Research Project (Capstone) course.
Cost Per Course
You pay your tuition in full at the time of registration for a course. Most of your courses will be either 3, 4, or 6 semester credit hours, depending upon your academic program. You pay for tuition via Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.
| Program | Cost Per Credit | Cost Per Course |
| Diploma in Ministry Studies (DMS) | $110 | $ 329 |
| Master of Ministry Leadership (MML) | $225 | $ 899 |
| Master of Divinity (MDIV) | $225 | $ 899 |
| Doctor of Ministry 1 hr Course (DMIN) | $282 | $ 282 |
| Doctor of Ministry 6 hr Seminar (DMIN) | $282 | $1692 |
Cost of Textbooks and Resources
The following costs in addition to tuition should be expected.
- Textbooks – estimated to be approximately $35 – $100 per course
- Lewis Pastoral Leadership Inventory (LPLI) – $59 in the Capstone course
Refund Policy
A student has five (5) calendar days after signing an enrollment agreement to cancel enrollment and receive a full refund of all monies paid to the institution under that agreement. This refund includes the application fee. To cancel enrollment from a program of study, email academics@rockbridge.edu.
A student has until the first day courses open in the given term to drop a course and receive a full tuition refund. To drop a course a student should email academics@rockbridge.edu. Tuition will be refunded as determined by the appropriate refund schedule below for the course or seminar enrolled. Any money due a student is refunded within 30 days of a final determination of withdrawal.
You may withdraw from your program at any time without any additional financial obligation.
8-Week Course Refund Schedule
| Week Dropped | Refund | DMS | MML MDIV | DMIN |
| Before Week 1 | 100% | $329.00 | $899.00 | $282.00 |
| During Week 1 (Tue-Mon) | 90% | $296.10 | $809.10 | $253.80 |
| During Week 2 (Tue-Mon) | 80% | $263.20 | $719.20 | $225.60 |
| During Week 3 (Tue-Mon) | 60% | $197.40 | $539.40 | $169.20 |
| During Week 4 (Tue-Mon) | 40% | $131.60 | $359.60 | $112.80 |
| After Week 4 | No Refund | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Sample refund calculation
You pay $899 in tuition for a master’s course. If you drop the course during Week 1, you will receive a refund of $809.10 (90%). For a one-hour doctoral course, you pay $282 in tuition. If you drop the course during Week 2, you will receive a refund of $225.60 (80%). For a three-hour Diploma in Ministry course, you pay $329. If you drop the course during Week 3, you will receive $197.40. If you withdraw from your program of study within five days of signing the enrollment agreement, all monies including tuition and application fee are refunded.
16-Week Doctoral Seminar Refund Schedule
| Week Dropped | Refund | Amount |
| Before Week 1 | 100% | $1692.00 |
| During Week 1 (Tue-Mon) | 90% | $1522.80 |
| During Week 2 (Tue-Mon) | 80% | $1353.60 |
| During Week 3 (Tue-Mon) | 70% | $1184.40 |
| During Week 4 (Tue-Mon) | 60% | $1015.20 |
| During Week 5 (Tue-Mon) | 50% | $ 846.00 |
| During Week 6 (Tue-Mon) | 40% | $ 676.80 |
| During Week 7 (Tue-Mon) | 30% | $ 507.60 |
| During Week 8 (Tue-Mon) | 20% | $ 338.40 |
| During Week 9 (Tue-Mon) | 10% | $ 169.20 |
| After Week 9 | No Refund | $ 0.00 |
Sample refund calculation
You pay $1692 in tuition for a doctoral seminar. If you choose to drop the seminar during Week 1, you will receive a refund of $1522.80 (90%). If you drop the seminar during Week 2, you will receive a refund of $1353.60 (80%). If you withdraw from your program of study within five days of signing the enrollment agreement, all monies including tuition and application fee are refunded.
Financial Assistance
Rockbridge Seminary does not participate in Title IV federal aid assistance, nor are there any scholarship programs or tuition discounts available at this time.
Use of Veteran Benefits
If you are a veteran, the following benefits, registration, and tuition standards are followed in conformity with VA policy.
Veterans Educational Benefits
The Seminary permits any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33.
The Seminary will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 recipient borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans Registration, Tuition, and Refund Process
Students who are eligible for VA educational benefits register directly through academic services and do not pay any tuition upfront. After the course census (the beginning of Week 2), the Seminary will certify the student’s enrollment through VAOnce. If the student drops the course after enrollment is certified, the Seminary will notify the VA through VAOnce. Tuition will be refunded to the VA according to the Seminary refund schedule.
Rockbridge Satisfaction Promise
If you are not completely satisfied with the online seminary learning experience during your first course, Rockbridge Seminary will refund your tuition for that course in full. You must request the refund by emailing academics@rockbridge.edu, including in the request you will not be continuing in your academic studies through Rockbridge.