FAQ | School of Theology

McAfee offers four degrees, seven combined degrees, and one graduate certificate program:

Master of Divinity in Residence, Fully Online, and Hybrid (M.Div.)
- Master of Divinity and M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Divinity and Master of Business Administration
- Master of Divinity and M.S. in Organizational Leadership
- Master of Divinity and M.M. in Church Music
Master of Arts in Christian Ministry in Residence, Fully Online, and Hybrid (M.A.C.M.)
- M.A.C.M. and M.S. in Organizational Leadership
Master of Theological Studies in Residence and Hybrid (M.T.S.)
- M.T.S. and M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- M.T.S. and M.M. in Church Music
Doctor of Ministry in limited residency (D.Min)
Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies in Residence, Fully Online, and Hybrid (G.C.T.S.)

*Learn more about our online learning options here.

Due to the generous contributions from Mercer University, supporting churches and our educational partners, McAfee School of Theology is one of the most affordable options for theological education.  Every student at McAfee receives a grant covering 60% of tuition. Please note: the tuition prices you see listed below are after the 60% tuition grant has been applied.

Merit scholarships are also available to those who qualify. Eligibility is determined by each prospective student’s total admissions application, including potential for leadership in service and ministry. No separate application is required; all admissions applications are reviewed for scholarship eligibility.

Cost of Attendance: 2024-2025 Academic Year

Tuition

McAfee Tuition Rate for M.Div., M.T.S., M.A.C.M., Graduate Certificate, and Non-Degree (for credit): $525/credit hour
D.Min Tuition Rate: $500/credit hour

Additional Fees

Please refer to this link for additional fees: additional fees

Health Insurance

Mercer’s Health Insurance is required unless students show proof of existing coverage.
Visit the Mercer Bursar’s Office for updated information on health insurance costs.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Below are helpful resources for finding ways to cover the cost of your seminary education.

All of our students are eligible to apply for financial assistance. Financial assistance includes federal loans, McAfee Merit scholarships, and external scholarships. Each student is required to fill out a FAFSA every year for consideration of federal loans. McAfee Merit Scholarships are considered when you apply and applicants have potential to receive up to a full tuition scholarship. For priority consideration for McAfee scholarships and our Scholar’s Day please apply by Jan. 15 each year for the following Fall. We also provide a database for external scholarships.

More information can be found on our Scholarship and Financial Aid page.

All School of Theology students must have access to a computer with Microsoft Word (or software that can export as a Word document [.doc or .docx]), presentation software (i.e. PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, etc.), high-speed internet, headphones, microphone (earbuds with a mic or the built-in mic on your laptop or tablet are acceptable), and a webcam (the built-in camera on your laptop, tablet, or smart phone is acceptable) to facilitate video and audio conferencing. Students are required to access, use, and communicate through the following university systems: Mercer email, Canvas, Zoom, and MyMercer. Students are instructed on these systems at new student orientation. Any additional software or equipment requirements will be noted on course schedules and syllabi. For specific computer recommendations, please click here.

Our graduates are working in churches, colleges, seminaries, nonprofit organizations and missions. They serve in every church position imaginable. We have students working on Ph.D.s in top-tier programs around the world and serving as chaplains in hospice, hospitals and the U.S. armed forces. Every student has the opportunity to work with our director of outreach and alumni relations to help students transition from seminary life to their professional ministerial career.

We are affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). The Baptist heritage of both Mercer University and McAfee School of Theology is important to our identity as a school and how we define our mission and founding principles. We also hold associations with many different Baptist organizations and churches. Approximately 45% of our students are affiliated with 10 different Baptist denominations: Alliance of Baptists, American Baptist, Baptist (unaffiliated), Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, BGAV, Full Gospel Baptist, Missionary Baptist, National Baptist, Progressive National Baptist, and SBC. Almost 25% of our students are nondenominational. Additionally, we have diverse denominational affiliations among our students representing over 30 additional denominations including: AME, AME Zion, Assemblies of God, Church of Christ, CME, COGIC, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Inter/Multidenominational, Metropolitan Community Church, PCUSA, Roman Catholic, UCC, and UMC.

Our desire is to create a curriculum that enhances and deepens the knowledge base you’ve established in your undergraduate courses. If you have a B or better in at least two undergraduate courses that fit with any of our foundation courses, we will review your transcript and see if you can take a more advanced class in place of the required foundation course(s).

The Master of Divinity is 78 hours and can be completed in three years in residence and four years when taken online. The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry is 38 hours and can be completed in two years in residence and three years when taken online. The Master of Theological Studies is 48 hours and can be completed in two years. The Doctor of Ministry is 32 hours of course work that can be completed in three to four years.

Our Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Ministry offer completely online programs that only requires attendance to one in-person event: a retreat. All of the core courses for the Master of Theological Studies program are available online, but not all of the Directed Electives.

Courses required for the online MDIV and MACM will be offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays between 5:30pm and 9:30pm (EST). All students, including those living outside of the Eastern Standard Time zone, are required to attend required synchronous sessions on Zoom at the prescribed time and be an active participant in class with their camera on. Students should be aware of differences in time zones when scheduling their courses.

Our Doctor of Ministry program is mainly a distance-learning program that only requires a total of three weeks and four days in residence over the course of the program.

Learn more about our online learning options here.

Our student body is every diverse. In addition to our denominational diversity, we are an ethnically diverse learning community with African American, Hispanic, and international students making up more than 50% of the student body. Women make up more than 50% of the student body, across all degree programs. Students come from congregational, evangelical, and mainline protestant backgrounds and embody a heightened sense of social justice and a holistic view of mission. 

The Doctor of Ministry provides opportunity to hone a specific skill in your ministry and also provides a way to help improve ministry. Having studied at McAfee, you have a community with already established relationships and connections to professors and resources who know you and your work. These connections provide for a great foundation to begin work on a focused area of ministry that you began to explore during your time at McAfee.