Understanding Tuition and Costs at The Master's University

The Master's University (TMU) strives to provide a Christ-centered education that is financially accessible to all. The university endeavors to keep costs as low as possible, making its tuition among the most economical for a private university. This article breaks down the tuition, fees, and other costs associated with attending TMU, as well as available financial aid options.

Tuition and Fees

The Master's University and Seminary's tuition is $32,870. Compared with the national average cost of tuition of $47,890, The Master's University and Seminary is cheaper. This figure represents the sticker price, which includes both tuition and fees. Fees may cover various services and resources, such as library access, student gym facilities, student centers, technology resources, and campus health centers.

Total Cost of Attendance

When comparing the costs of different institutions, it's important to consider the total cost, which includes the sticker price plus expenses like food and housing, books and supplies, transportation, and personal spending money. While these amounts vary with each student, it can raise the total cost of education above the published tuition and room and board amounts.

Housing and Meal Plans

TMU offers several on-campus housing options:

On-Campus Dormitory: Standard dorms include essential amenities and accommodation. Freshmen students are required to live in standard dorms. The cost is $4,000 per semester.
Canyon Homes: Canyon Homes include premium amenities & accommodations and are generally only available to upperclassmen. The cost is $4,800 per semester.

Meal plan options include:

Unlimited Plan: The new unlimited plan offers all-day premium dining at Cafe Bon Apetit, with unlimited entries included for $3,550 per semester (includes $150 Flex).
TMU Apartment Flex Bucks: Required for TMU Apartment with a minimum requirement of $300 Flex.
Board for Canyon Homes, Flex Only: Required for Canyon Homes with a minimum requirement of $1,200 Flex per semester.

Flex Bucks can be used to buy meals at various locations on campus, including the University Exchange (UE), Trophy Coffee, The Trough, and the Mustang Grill. Purchases made with Flex Bucks are exempt from sales tax.

For students living in on-campus dorms, the cost is $4,200/semester, and a required meal plan is $3,725/semester, totaling $7,925/semester for room and meals. For Canyon Homes, the cost is $5,040/semester, with a required flex bucks allocation of $650/semester, along with the Canyon Home Utility Fee of $220.

Additional Fees

Tuition Deposit: A $200 Tuition Deposit, which is applied against tuition, is required of all new students to receive course selection materials.
Course-Specific Fees: Some courses have specific fees noted on the course schedule.
Notebook Computer: All full-time students are required to have a notebook computer that meets minimum configuration specifications.
Medical Insurance: All registered traditional undergraduate students are required to have adequate medical insurance coverage. Students will be automatically enrolled in the TMUS-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan unless they complete an approved insurance waiver.
Off-Campus Fee: A per semester charge of $250 will be charged for students taking six units or more and living off-campus.
On-Campus Fee: A per semester charge of $195 will be charged for students taking classes on campus. This fee covers Wi-Fi across campus and support from our help desk and IT services.
Parking Fee: A per-semester fee is charged to any registered student who drives and parks a vehicle on campus. The fee is typically $125, but the price may vary depending on the type of student.

Financial Aid Opportunities

The Master’s University realizes the difficulties that many families encounter when determining how to finance a private, Christian university education. That’s why we work hard to make your TMU education as affordable as possible. 98% of students receive financial aid, significantly lowering tuition and total costs.

TMU offers academic scholarships, need-based aid, as well as scholarships for some musicians and athletes. In the cases of non-athletes, students may “stack,” or combine, various TMU scholarships.

Types of Aid

Financial aid comes in several forms:

Scholarships: Scholarships are a type of funding that you don’t need to pay back. Need-based scholarships take a student’s financial status into account. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students for academic or athletic achievement. You might also qualify for a scholarship based on your community service involvement, unique hobbies or traits, your personal background, or a parent’s employer or military affiliation.
Grants: Grants are free money.
Loans: Students generally start repaying loans only after they graduate and are usually employed. Most loans are federal programs which allow students to borrow money at very low interest rates. Need-based self-help aid includes federal loans and work-study.
Work-Study: Work-study programs and campus jobs are available to students looking to earn money in their free time. Some institutions match students with work-study positions, while others require them apply to the positions, like they would for any other job.

Student Loan Debt

How much student loan debt you accumulate can affect your financial life long after college ends. Ideally, your total student loan debt should fall below your anticipated starting salary once you graduate.

At The Master's University and Seminary, the median federal loan debt among borrowers who completed their undergraduate degree is $20,500. The median monthly federal loan payment (if it were repaid over 10 years at 5.05% interest) for student federal loan borrowers who graduated is $217.

Additional Financial Assistance Programs

G.I. Bill: Institution is G.I. Bill certified.
Yellow Ribbon Program: Institution participates in Yellow Ribbon Program.

Scholarships for the M.A. in Biblical Counseling (MABC) Program

Tuition for the M.A. in Biblical Counseling program is charged by unit/credit and based on what format the class is offered in. There are 34 units/credits in the MABC program. Audit fees are payed using a separate Audit Payment Form.

Scholarships for the MABC program are provided through the Graduate Studies department directly, not through our Financial Aid office. Scholarships are awarded semester by semester. Any active MABC student who wants a scholarship must apply each semester. Because scholarship funds are provided directly from our department they are limited.

Scholarship applications are due to be submitted by the first day of the semester to which they will apply. Scholarship notifications will be provided by the beginning of the third week of the semester. The application form is currently closed for the Fall 2025 semester and will reopen for the Spring 2026 semesters on November 1, 2025. You must be an active MABC student before you can apply for a scholarship.

While scholarships are exclusively provided through the Graduate Bible Counseling department, financial aid and government loans can be sought through the Office of Financial Aid. If you would like to pursue government aid or loans, you may correspond with their office. They will help you pursue the best course of action for your financial situation.

Withdrawals from classes are based on the week the withdrawal form is signed by the Registrar, the Dean, and Student Accounts. Tuition prorations are calculated from the official withdraw date provided by the Registrar’s Office.

Important Considerations

Net Price Calculator: The net price calculator will only give you an estimate of your net price and aid eligibility and does not represent a final determination or actual offer of financial assistance. The cost of attendance and financial aid availability may change.
Tuition Increases: Tuition typically increases by a small percentage (3-4%) in most academic years to compensate for inflation, the cost of living, salary increases, and the costs of operating the campus.

TMU's Unique Value Proposition

Like many private and public institutions, The Master’s University offers accredited academics, a vibrant student life, competitive athletics, a beautiful campus and amenities, and top-ranked faculty. However, other aspects of the higher education experience can only be found at TMU.

TMU believes in educating the whole student, both mind and heart, inside and outside the classroom. Our intentionally small student body allows an unparalleled level of mentorship and discipleship in all areas of campus, including student life, academics, and athletics.

Biblical Foundation

We teach that the Bible’s 66 books are the inspired Word of God, absolutely free from error in the original documents, infallible and God-breathed. We teach that the Bible is the only completely trustworthy source for instruction in faith and practice and that the truths of Scripture remain completely unchanged and fully authoritative from generation to generation.

TMU does not endorse old-Earth creationism, theistic evolution, or any other twisting of the biblical creation story. All of TMU’s faculty and staff affirm a literal six-day creation, and this view is taught in our classrooms. All of our faculty, staff, administrators, and board members fully affirm TMU’s doctrinal statement, which has remained essentially unchanged since the inception of the institution in 1927.

TMU is one of the few schools in the country to require a statement of faith in Jesus Christ and a pastor’s recommendation for admission. This contrasts with “open enrollment,” which allows students of any faith or no faith to attend.

TMU teaches a distinctively biblical approach to counseling, in contrast to psychological or integrational models. Our faculty features respected members of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, including Dr. John Street.

Academic and Spiritual Integration

As part of general education at TMU, we require our undergraduate students (except for some transfer students) to take a series of six Bible classes: Old Testament Survey I & II, New Testament Survey I & II, and Christian Theology I & II.

The Israel Bible Extension (IBEX) is TMU’s study abroad program in Israel. It allows students to spend an entire semester studying the Bible in the land of the Bible.

Every summer, TMU sends out several teams of students for short-term mission trips around the globe. These Global Outreach teams support TMU alumni who are serving as long-term missionaries. Students return with a global mindset and lived experience of the needs on the mission field.

TMU Italy is a study abroad program that allows a small cohort of students to spend six weeks studying intellectual history with humanities professors in the home of the European Renaissance. Students live in a historic villa in Florence, Italy, and earn nine undergraduate credits in various courses while being immersed in Italian culture and Renaissance history. The courses are taught through the lens of a biblical worldview by faculty who have committed their academic careers to studying the humanities. Students also take trips to Rome and Venice.

Affiliations and Partnerships

TMU is interwoven with The Master’s Seminary, Grace To You, Grace Community Church, and The Master’s Academy International - all ministries or organizations under the leadership of Dr. John MacArthur. TMU offers special scholarships to affiliates of these organizations and a 5-year B.A./M.Div.

Dr. John MacArthur, the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church and voice of Grace to You media ministry, became president of The Master’s University in 1985. He was the school’s longest-serving president before transitioning to the role of chancellor in 2019.

TMU partners with over 300 affiliated churches and invests in students who further the mission of the University.

Conclusion

The Master's University offers a comprehensive educational experience rooted in biblical truth, with a commitment to affordability. By understanding the various costs associated with attending TMU and exploring the available financial aid options, students and their families can make informed decisions about financing their education. With over 400 graduates each year across 20+ undergraduate majors, 150+ program options, and graduate programs like the MBA and MABC, alumni are sought after by many organizations and companies due to the students’ excellent reputation.

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