Financial Information

Picture from 2008 PDI

Tuition Costs

Tuition for the Philadelphia Debate Institute is all inclusive and includes tuition, materials, room, and board for the full week of participation, August 17-24, 2008. There are no copying or additional participation fees at PDI. In addition to the tuition, families will be expected to pay a $95 room/key deposit assessed by Drexel University, which will be returned August 24, 2008, at check-out upon satisfactory completion of the program.

Student Type Tuition Apply by: Notification by: Payment due:
City Scholars (New) $ 0 May 1 ASAP May 15
City Scholars (Repeater) $ 75 April 15 April 30 May 15
Novice (Early Bird) $ 400 March 1 * sent * May 15
Novice (Regular) $ 450 April 15 May 1 May 15
Intermediate (Early Bird)
Varsity (Early Bird)
$ 700 March 1 * sent * May 15
Intermediate (Regular)
Varsity (Regular)
$ 750 April 15 May 1 May 15

Application Fee

The application fee can be paid online via PayPal, a leading provider of online purchases. It is a easy, quick, and secure method of paying, and does not require a sign-up. Simply click on the appropriate "Add to Cart" button below, proceed to check out, and click "Continue" in the bottom left hand corner of the page to pay with a credit card or bank account.

Make sure to keep the default shipping option as "Pick-Up" ($ 0).

Fee Type Applicants Fee Amount Payment Button
Waived City Scholars
Financial aid applicants requesting waivers
$0 N/A
Regular Novice, Intermediate & Varsity $25 BUTTON HERE
Late Any student applying after April 15 $75 BUTTON HERE

Financial Aid Application

The Application for Financial Aid is due by the same date as your PDI application. All students seeking financial aid, including City Scholar applicants, must complete the Application for Financial Aid. PDI has one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. In previous years, more than one-third of students have received a full scholarship and attended PDI at zero cost to their families. S cholarships are need-based.

Many common questions about application types (and financial aid generally) are answered on our frequently asked questions page.

Important Notes

Summer Institute