Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
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Tuition  Information

At BKSM, we  keep tuition as affordable as possible. As such, your tuition dollars only cover the direct costs for course offerings: faculty stipend/travel, food, and overnight accommodations.

Further,  the cost of tuition should never be a barrier to following a call to ministry in the Church, whether you are pursuing an ordination or lay track.  Scholarships are readily available for students from our six partner dioceses to support students throughout their academic formation. As you we make that application process as simple as possible.


2025-26 Tuition (per course) for Students from Our Six Partner Dioceses
  • In person: $240
  • Last-minute change to Zoom: $207
  • Zoom: $165
  • Audit: $100

2025-26 Tuition for Students from Other Dioceses of the Episcopal Church
  • In-Person $240
  • Last-minute change to Zoom: $207
  • Zoom $165
  • The sending diocese will pay $400 per student per academic year for those on a certificate track.

Tuition for Students  outside the Episcopal Church
  • In Person $435
  • Last-minute change to Zoom: $???
  • Zoom $300
  • Denominational authorities (e.g., synods) will pay $400 per student per academic year for those on a certificate track.

The cost of books and other materials, which averages $50-$75 per month, is not included in the cost of tuition.

For students on an ordination track, it is suggested that the  tuition costs be shared among the student, their parish, and the sending diocese. However, each student is responsible for determining his or her level of diocesan and/or parish support.

The cost to audit a class is $100 per class whether you take the class in person or on line. Auditing means that you will prepare for the class ahead of time (by completing the reading assignments) and attend the focus weekend, but you do not need to complete any of the writing assignments.


Applying for a BKSM Scholarship

 BKSM scholarships are funded, in part, through donations from alumni/-ae and friends of the seminary. Through their generous support, we can offer financial assistance to students in need, whether for a class or for more significant portion  of annual tuition.    

Scholarships are available to any BKSM student from our six partner dioceses on an ordination or lay license track. There is also a one-time $100 Jim Upton scholarship for any lay person taking a class for personal enrichment.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship of any amount, please submit the brief Scholarship Form. The leadership team will review your application and respond to you within 14 days. Please email the Rev. Fran Wheeler at [email protected] if you have any questions.

If you wish to make a donation to support Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, you may make a donation by cash, check or Paypal through the Diocese of West Missouri.

Other Scholarships

Past students have received outside scholarships through ECW, Eastern Star and other organizations that support ministry formation.
Apply for a Scholarship
Address:
Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
701 SW 8th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603

Address for Tuition Payments/Donations:
The Rev, Fran Wheeler
14519 S. Kaw Dr.

Olathe, KS 66062


The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry is a collaborative venture of the Episcopal Dioceses of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.
BKSM also partners with the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
BKSM offers classes and programs to educate people for church leadership in both lay and ordained vocations.