Financial Aid Application
2016 – 2017
PTS Need-Based Assistance includes:
Tuition Grant
Housing Grant
Work-Support Opportunity
To fulfill our mission of preparing pastor-theologians, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary provides financial support to students of all denominations who qualify. In order to qualify, full-time, master-degree seeking students must demonstrate need and apply each year.
BEGINNING on February 22st, the Financial Aid Office will begin to accept complete Financial Aid Packets. All applications are processed on a “first come – first served” basis until funds are exhausted. Incomplete packets will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
PTS FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE includes:
1. PTS Financial Aid Application
2. FAFSA using IRS Data Retrieval Tool or FAFSA and Tax Transcript
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HOW TO COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID PACKET:
1. File a Federal 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ with the IRS.
2. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line at www.fafsa.gov
□ PTS Federal School Code: G03356
□ Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR) in the financial section
3. If choosing NOT to use the FAFSA’s IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR), submit an IRS Tax Transcript. To request a Tax Transcript:
□ Call the IRS at 800-908-9946 or
□ Visit http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript
□ Submit to the Financial Aid Office.
4. Submit the “PTS Financial Aid Application”
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Beginning on February 22, 2015, submit to:
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Financial Aid Office
616 North Highland Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-924-1784, fax,
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON HOW TO FILE THE FAFSA:
□ File a Federal 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ with the IRS.
□ Wait for the IRS to process the Federal 1040; allow up to 2 weeks if filing electronically, 6 weeks if filing by mail.
□ Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, at www.fafsa.gov (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary School Code: G03356)
While completing the FAFSA, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR) to transfer tax information into the FAFSA.
· Under student “Financial Information”
· When you answer “none of the above” to the filing questions, you will be asked if you would like to link to the IRS
· Click on Link To IRS
· You will be transferred to the IRS
· On the IRS Web site, enter the requested personal information. Match the address exact to address appearing on IRS 1040.
· Once the IRS has validated your identification, your IRS tax information will display and ask if you wish to transfer your information from the IRS into the FAFSA.
· Once your transfer is complete, questions that are populated with tax information are marked “Transferred from the IRS.” In the FAFSA
□ OR Submit a Tax Transcript (NOT an Account Transcript):
□ Students who do not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR) are required to contact the IRS to request a hard-copy of his/her Tax Transcript (Form 4506T)
· Call the IRS at 800-908-9946 or
· Order on-line at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript
IF THE IRS DELAYS PROCESSING YOUR 1040 & YOU CAN’T USE THE DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL:
If you filed your tax return electronically, it takes about 2-3 weeks before the tax transcript will be available. Submit your taxes early because you must have the retrieval complete to submit a PTS application.
The only exception is if a student owes money to the IRS. The IRS will not process the return until May so the transcript will not be available until mid-May. PTS will not penalize filers who owe due to IRS policy.
For students who owe money: You must submit the PTS Financial Aid Application and FAFSA (with estimated numbers) to reserve funding beginning on February 22th. The Financial Aid Office will grant only these students an extension until June 1 to go back into the FAFSA to download from the IRS. If the IRS DRT or Tax Transcript is not updated by June 1, the student will be placed at the bottom of the Wait List and considered for aid when the requirement is met.
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
2016 - 2017
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Name PTS Mailbox Number
Mailing Address
Telephone Number (day) E-mail
Social Security Number Date of Birth
Enrollment Information
Degree Program: □ MDiv □ MA, MATM, MATS, ThM □ Dual Degree
Level in Program (Fall 2016): □ Junior □ Middler □ Senior
Estimated number of credit hours you plan to take each term: (Full-time 9-15 credits)
Summer _____ Term I (fall) ____ Term II (winter) _____ Term III (spring) _____
Church Affiliation
Denomination Affiliation: ______
Home Church: ______
Home Church City & State: ______
If PC (USA): Name of Presbytery ______Synod______
If PC (USA): Are you endorsed by your session, an inquirer or candidate? □ No □ Yes
If UMC, are you planning to enroll in Wesley classes? □ No □ Yes______
# of credits
List the People in Your Household that You Provide over 50% of Their Support
You – the student / self / Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Household Child Support Received and/or Paid (Do not include Foster Care Payments, Adoption payments or any amount that was court-ordered but not received.)
Name of Child / Monthly Amount ofChild Support Paid / Monthly Amount of
Child Support Received
FAFSA & IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR) Check all that apply:
□ I completed the FAFSA by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR).
□ I completed the FAFSA without the IRS Data Retrieval Tool; the Tax Transcript is attached.
□ I will not file and am not required to file a 2015 US Income Tax Form.
Attach a statement of how you support yourself, include 2015 income documentation.
□ I have filed an extension with the IRS.
Submit a copy of your extension, IRS Form 4868, the IRS confirmation of receipt and 2014’s Federal 1040.
□ I was not able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at this time; due to:
□ I owe money to IRS and they have not processed my return (If approved, you will have an extension to file the IRS Data Retrieval by June 1.)
□ I file “married, filing separate”. Submit Tax Transcripts for you and your spouse.
□ Other ______
Annual Income
Student’s Gross Earning $ ______
Present Employer______
Will you continue to work for this employer during the school year? □ Yes □ No
Spouse’s Gross Earning $ ______
Present Employer______
Will he/she continue to work for this employer during the school year? □ Yes □ No
Housing Allowance/Parsonage $ ______
Work Support; (ex: the amount that appears in Box 7 on your PTS W2) $ ______
Tax Deferred Pension & Retirement; ex ;Box 12a-12d, codes D,E,F,G,H,S on W2 $ ______
Veterans Education Benefit $______
Monthly Income
Alimony $ ______
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) $ ______
SNAP (Food Stamps) $ ______
Social Security $ ______
Veteran’s Non-education Benefits $ ______
Monthly Income (Do NOT include funds sent directly to the Seminary)
Interest/Dividend Income (including tax exempt) $ ______
Church Support $ ______
Unemployment Compensation $ ______
Retirement, Untaxed Pension and/or Worker’s Compensation $ ______
Rental Income $ ______
Trust Fund Income or other liquid asset income $ ______
Other Income or Benefits______$ ______
SIGN THIS APPLICATION
By signing this application, I certify that all information reported on this worksheet is complete and correct. This information is used to verify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If I purposely give false or misleading information on this application, I may be fined, be sentenced to jail, or both.
______Student Signature Date