FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

PhD Program

The PhD program  admits four funded (tuition and stipend) full-time students, selected competitively, to the program per year. Admission is for the fall semester only.

Master's Programs

Tuition Scholarships, Assistantships, and Graduate Resident Ministers

Villanova’s graduate tuition is competitive, and there are a number of ways to finance your master's degree. Graduate Studies tuition scholarships cover the cost of tuition, while graduate assistantships cover tuition plus a stipend. To be considered for these funding opportunities, you should apply for fall semester admission and indicate your desire for funding where noted on the application. Applicants for spring admission cannot be considered for these awards. The deadline to apply for consideration for department scholarships and assistantships is March 1.

The Department of Theology and Religious Studies and the Office of Campus Ministry also offer additional forms of funding. These include the Africana Studies Graduate Assistantship, Graduate Resident Ministers (GRMs), including the Sr. Cora Marie Billings GRM position, and a number of other assistantships available through Campus Ministry in the areas of local service programs, liturgical music, social justice immersion experiences, and forms and assessment support. GRMs receive tuition, an annual stipend, and room and board. Priority deadline for GRM funding is February 1.

Other Villanova funding opportunities around campus also offer graduate assistantships. If you apply, you will still be considered for internal department funding. For more information, visit Financing Your Education.

Church Management Certificate Program

Students enrolled in any one of our master's, certificate, or PhD programs, and alumni of those programs, may apply for a non-credit, non-degree Church Management Certificate earned from the Villanova School of Business. The fee for this 12-webinar series is $899, but Theology students and alumni may receive a $600 scholarship made possible through the Lilly Endowment's National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges for Pastoral Leaders. 

Program launch date is in September each year. For questions about deadlines program logistics, and enrollment contact Chesley Turner, Director, Center for Church Management. For questions about the scholarship, contact Jennifer Jackson, ThD, Director of Graduate Programs (master's and certificate). View the scholarship form.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Tuition Reduction for Augustinian Volunteers

Villanova offers a 50% reduction in tuition to Augustinian Volunteers.

Tuition Remission for Teachers

Villanova offers a 20% tuition discount if you teach in a public or private school, and a 40% discount if you teach at a Catholic school.

Travel Grants

The Graduate Studies Office offers grants to attend professional conferences. The funds pay for travel, housing and registration costs. Graduate Studies also offers summer research funding to support travel and other expenses.