FAQs | Grace College & Seminary

Grace’s tuition rates are very competitive. This coupled with the low cost of living in the Winona Lake area makes Grace one of the best values in the conservative evangelical seminary market. While the federal government does not offer grants or scholarship for masters work, Grace Seminary is able to offer several scholarship options. They include the: GTS Sparks Endowment Scholarship; Church Matching-Partners in Education Award; and annual Glimpse of Grace Scholarships awarded each spring.

2. Do I need to already have taken Bible or theology classes in college?

No, seminary is considered a first professional degree which means programs are designed to serve those who will be taking their first formal theological class as well as those who have already completed a theological degree. You do not need to have an undergraduate degree in Bible, ministry, or theology in order to enter seminary.

3. If I completed a Bible or theology degree as an undergrad, can some of those classes count towards seminary?

While you do not need to have an undergraduate degree in Bible or ministry to enter seminary, it can be to your advantage if you do. We do accept your previous work as advanced standing credit. If course credit is granted then there will not be any need to take an equivalent class or replace the credit for these courses. There are limits to the amount of advanced standing that will be granted. A maximum of 15 hours will be granted for MDIV applicants and 9 for the 48 credit hour MA programs. Please discuss this with the Seminary Admission Office during your application process.

4. If I graduated from a Bible college and received a theology degree, why should I go to seminary?

If you have already taken multiple Bible or ministry classes, a seminary education will provide you with additional tools to effectively serve Christ. Grace will provide you with excellent advanced training that will allow you to study Scripture and ministry in depth so that you are fully prepared as you enter your ministry field.

5. Should I visit the campus before making a decision to attend?

Yes! A campus visit will offer you an excellent opportunity to meet with Grace faculty members and to get acquainted with the academic programs. If you come during the school year we recommend that you attend a seminary class. The best day to visit is on Thursday as we will arrange for you to attend graduate chapel, sit in on a class, and go to lunch with a professor or staff member. Other good days to visit are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday as few classes are held on Friday. But if Friday is the only day that you can make it here we will still be able to arrange a high quality visit.If you would like to schedule a campus visit, simply email Grace Seminary Admissions or call the Seminary Recruitment office at 1-800-54-GRACE (800-544-7223), ext. 6435.

6. Where is Winona Lake, Indiana?

Winona Lake is right next to Warsaw and is 100 miles north of Indianapolis, 110 miles east/southeast of Chicago, 230 miles southwest of Detroit, 30 miles west of Fort Wayne, and 50 miles southeast of South Bend. Map and driving directions.

7. Could seminary actually hinder my spiritual life?

It is certainly possible that you can focus so much on your studies and your grades that you miss out on the growth God wants to initiate in your life. But Grace intentionally provides many opportunities that will contribute towards your spiritual growth. From weekly Chapels, to Day of Worship, to required Mentoring Groups, as well as courses in Spiritual Formaion and Prayer, students at GTS will find their educational experience to be spiritually transforming as well as academically challenging.

8. How will seminary affect my family?

Seminary is a time to prepare for ministry. You and your spouse both need to understand and agree that life is going to be “different” during your time in school. That is not to say that you shouldn’t try to find a good balance between family, school, work, and local church involvement. The faculty at Grace is very sensitive to the pressures that your studies put on you and your family and are more than willing to work with you should unique situations occur. We are very excited about being able to offer family support through our S.W.I.F.T. ministry. All seminary wives are encouraged to participate in the weekly and monthly gatherings that are designed to help wives prepare for ministry and handle their current situations.

9. Do many seminary students work at the same time that they are taking classes?

Yes, many students work part time and a few even work full time while attending seminary.

10. What degrees are available in the seminary?

Grace Theological Seminary offers certificates for those that don't have an undergraduate degree; MA programs; MDIV programs; and D.Min programs.

11. Are there any restaurants near the campus or coffee shops to grab something between and after classes?

Yes, Grace has a full-service dining hall on campus called Alpha Dining Commons that makes available breakfast, lunch and dinner for a nominal per-semester fee on a meal plan or individual meals can be purchased by paying at the door. Grace also provides a coffee shop in the center of the main campus called Jazzman's, and a sub shop called Subconnection. The campus bookstore, called the Tree of Life, also houses a coffee shop and is located on the edge of campus.

12. What is the Grace Brethren fellowship? Is it a denomination, and is it similar to Baptist denominations?

The Fellowship of Grace Brethren is a voluntary group of churches sharing common doctrinal beliefs in a voluntary association of churches in the USA, Canada, and around the world.Grace is technically not a denomination in that it does not operate under a hierarchal structure and attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds, both Calvinistic and Arminian.The worldwide Grace Brethren movement includes over 1300 churches, with a heavy concentration in central Africa. Although the Grace Brethren doctrinal beliefs are very similar to conservative Baptist denominations, Grace has several ordinances that make them unique because of their Brethren/Pietistic background.

When you examine Grace's doctrinal statement you will discover the following elements:

Calvinistic theology that is non-charismatic
Pietistic, with emphasis on a living faith and holy lifestyle
Anabaptist, where only professing believers partake of baptism
Dispensational
Pre-millennial
Pre-tribulational

History of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

13. How many credit hours per semester do I have to take in order to be considered a full-time student?

Students taking at least 8 semester hours are considered full time and anything less than that is part time. This is important because certain student loan programs may require you to attend full time in order to be eligible for deferment. Also, if you are receiving state unemployment you may not be able to attend full time.

14. Are you accredited and by which organization?

Grace Theological Seminary is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Grace Seminary is also a member of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), having received full accreditation in the summer of 2010. This status does apply retroactively to all current and former seminary students.

15. What if I only want to take one or two seminary classes without going through the whole application process?

Students that only desire to begin take a few seminary courses without completing the entire application process may do so simply by completing the unclassified student form. This process allows students to take up to four seminary classes before they apply and are accepted to the program. Unclassified students cannot take part in the GTS scholarship program. The unclassified student process was designed for those students that desired to only take a few seminary courses, or for those that were late in applying to attend the seminary and plan to complete their application later.

16. What if I did not complete my college degree?

In some cases, if completing a bachelor's degree is unrealistic, the Admissions Committee may grant "bachelor's equivalency" to students who’ve completed approximately a junior's level of college credit. Grace Seminary also recognizes that some students desire advanced theological training but have not completed a bachelor's degree. For those individuals, we offer two programs to meet these students' special needs: Diploma in Theology and the Certificate in Biblical Studies. The Certificate in Biblical Studies is also available in online format.

Questions?

Email Admissions or call 877-607-0012.