Student Financial Services

817-921-8525 | sfs@swbts.edu | Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm

The Office of Student Financial Services at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is located in Fleming Hall, suite 203. We seek to provide students with the tools and resources they need to manage their financial obligations and achieve their academic goals.

Billing and Payment Information

How to View your Bill

To view your bill, simply log on to your Self-Service account and click on "Student Finance". On your account overview, you will be able to see the breakdown of charges by term. Click on the current term to see a detailed list of charges. To save or print your bill, click "View Statement."

How to Pay

The Office of Student Financial Services offers the following payment options:

  • In Person – You may make payments by cash, check, or credit card at the Cashier’s Office located in Scarborough Hall, suite 103.
  • Online – Online credit card or bank draft payments can be made through Self-Service.
    • There is a convenience fee of 2.5% for credit card transactions OR $2.50 for electronic check. A $20.00 fee will be charged for each returned electronic check.
  • By Mail – Mail a check with your name, student ID, and the purpose for which the payment is being made (tuition, rent, etc.).

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
ATTN: Business Office
P.O. Box 22480
Fort Worth, TX 76122-0480

Please allow 7-10 business days for mail to reach us (payments will be considered late if not received by date due).

Overpayment Policy

SWBTS and TBC may only accept funds on a per term basis to cover charges billed each term, with overpayments on student accounts not to exceed $2,000 over billed charges.* Payments that are more than $2,000 over charges billed to your student account may not be accepted.

*Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary does not meet the criteria to be considered a financial institution (as defined in 31. U.S. Code § 5312) so we cannot accept payments for charges other than what is billed to the student account. Some designated aid from third-party donors, loans, and scholarships disbursed through the student account are not subject to this policy.

Payment Deadlines

Students must pay their tuition in full or initiate a payment plan by the payment dates listed below. Students who do not make payment arrangements by the corresponding due dates will be automatically placed on a manual payment plan by the SFS office and charged a $180 payment plan setup fee. Southwestern currently does not offer a payment plan for the winter or summer term. The amount for the winter and summer term will be due in full by the date listed below.

  • August 13 – Fall Term
  • January 12 – Winter Term
  • January 15 – Spring Term
  • July 28 – Summer Term

Students who have not paid their balance in full by the above-referenced dates will have a block placed on their student account preventing further registration, access to student records, and/or access to campus and online student services.

Proxy Access

Proxy Access allows students to designate an individual (such as a parent, friend, or sponsor) to have access to some of their student account information within Self Service. Proxy access is granted by the student through their Self Service account, and access can be given to any or all of the following pages within Self Service:

  • Account Activity
  • Account Summary
  • Make a Payment*

*Please keep in mind that while students may grant access to another individual to make payments on their behalf, the student is still primarily responsible for ensuring that all their accounts are paid on time and in full according to the payment deadlines stated on our website.

Payment Plans

The Office of Student Financial Services graciously offers two 4-month payment plan options for students who wish to pay incrementally towards their tuition term balances rather than paying in full by the payment deadline. Students who do not make payment arrangements by the corresponding due dates will be placed on a manual payment plan by the SFS office and charged a $180 payment plan setup fee. Payment plans are subject to change with the adding/dropping of classes or by adjustments in financial aid.

For details and comparison between the payment plan options, please see the

2023-2024 Academic Year Payment Plan Schedule.

Manual Payment Plan

To enroll in a manual payment plan, log on to Self-Service and select “Student Finance”. Next, click “Make a Payment” then “Create Payment Plan.” Select the tuition amount listed under the term balances, click “continue”, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

Students can pay each month toward their manual payment plan by logging on to their Self-Service account and clicking “Make a Payment.” Students can then choose the installment(s) to pay and continue with the payment process.

A $30 non-refundable enrollment fee will be charged toward the first payment plan installment. A $50 late fee will be charged for any late or missed payments.

Please note, this plan requires students to initiate a payment each month by the due date and does not automatically draft from a credit/debit card or bank account.

Nelnet Payment Plan

To enroll in an auto draft payment plan, log on to Self-Service and select “Student Finance.” At the top of this page, select “Student Finance” to bring up a drop-down menu. Select “Auto Draft Payment Plan” and click “Proceed to Processor.” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your auto-draft payment plan through our third-party payment processor, Nelnet.

The monthly installment will automatically be drafted from your bank account or credit/debit card. A $25 non-refundable enrollment fee will be charged at payment plan setup.

Payments are processed monthly according to the schedule below.

Spring 2024 Payment Plan Schedule

  • January 16, 2024

  • February 16, 2024

  • March 16, 2024

  • April 16, 2024

Payment Plan Availability

Students wishing to participate in a payment plan must sign up for a new payment plan each semester. Availability of the payment plan is determined by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Please be aware the Institution may elect not to have the payment plan available during specific times and dates during registration.

Refund Policy

Tuition refunds or credit toward balance owed, less a $50 drop fee per course, are available for students who drop a course within a certain time frame each term.

Fall and Spring Terms

A 100% tuition refund is available to students who drop their course before the start date of the term through the first week of the term.

A 50% tuition refund is available for students who drop their course within weeks two and three of the term.

8 Week Terms

A 100% tuition refund is available to students who drop their course before the start date of the term through the third day of the term.

A 50% tuition refund is available for students who drop their course by the tenth day of the term.

Summer and Winter Terms

A 100% tuition refund is available to students who drop their course before the start date of the class.

A 50% tuition refund is available to students who drop their course on the first day of the class.*
*This applies to one-week courses. The refund policy will vary for courses meeting shorter/longer than one week as the policy varies depending on course length. Please contact SFS@swbts.edu for specific questions regarding drops in the summer and winter terms.

For specific date information for each term, please see the Academic Calendar.

A Refund Petition Committee will consider written appeals of the above refund policy for matters involving extreme medical emergencies and/or death in the immediate family. All petitions or requests for refunds must be submitted within 60 days of the term ending. Please email the Office of Student Financial Services at SFS@swbts.edu for further information.

1098-T

Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, is furnished by Southwestern to students each year. It indicates the amount you paid for qualified tuition expenses in the calendar year for which the form is issued. The form is distributed to inform you that you may be eligible to claim an education credit or deduction on your income tax return. If you have questions regarding your eligibility to claim the tax credit or deduction, please consult a tax professional.

The dollar amounts reported on your Form 1098-T may assist you in completing IRS Form 8863 – the form used for calculating the education tax credits that a taxpayer may claim as part of your tax return. (You can find detailed information about claiming education tax credits in IRS Publication 970, page 9.)

The Business Office sends 1098-T forms out to students by January 31st of each year.

Electronic Delivery:

Students who have opted into electronic receipt of the 1098-T form in Self-Service will receive an email notifying them when their 1098-T form is ready to view and print in Self-Service.

Mail Delivery:

A paper copy of the 1098-T form is completed and mailed on or before January 31st for students who did not opt for electronic delivery. The 1098-T form is mailed to the student at the current address listed on Self-Service.

If you have not received your Form 1098-T, it was likely returned to us as undeliverable by the post office. The most common cause of this is an incorrect address. Please confirm your address on Self-Service.

If your question is not answered here, please email 1098T@swbts.edu.

Got Questions?

For questions regarding your student account, please complete and submit the inquiry form.