Financial Aid
Your GW degree is an investment in you! SUPSO wants to help you prepare for life as a graduate student academically, socially and, of course, financially.
COST OF ATTENDANCE
GW announces graduate tuition rates at the start of each summer for the upcoming academic year. You can find the current tuition rate for the College of Professional Studies here: https://studentaccounts.gwu.edu/graduate-tuition
In addition to tuition, students should budget for the following expenses* related to your studies:
Application Fee (one time): $80.00
Matriculation fee (one time for incoming students): $225.00
International student fee (charged each Fall and Spring to students on F-1 or J-1 visas only): $45.00
Textbooks and Materials: approximately $0-$100.00 per class
Registration: $35.00 per semester
Student Association Fee: $3.00 per credit (capped at $45 per semester)
*fees accurate for AY24-25; subject to change
Students receive their bill each semester online via the eBill portal. If you have questions about your bill or setting up a payment plan, please contact the Office of Student Accounts at (202) 994-7350 or sao@gwu.edu.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
GW financial aid services are decentralized at the graduate level. The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) serves as a resources to educate prospective and current graduate students about the financial aid opportunities available at GW. If you have additional questions about the information below, please contact OGSAF at gradfell@gwu.edu or sign up for a virtual consultation here: https://gradfellowships.gwu.edu/contact-us
DEAN'S MERIT AWARD
Students who enter the program with a 3.0 GPA and who are taking at least 5 credits hours will qualify for this scholarship. The Dean's Merit Award will be in the form of tuition remission of approximately 25%. To maintain eligibility, students must be continuously enrolled (summer registration not required), taking at least 5 credit hours per semester, and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Failure to enroll in a semester will result in a discontinuation of the scholarship. Students can petition the Program Director for consideration of reinstatement.
There is no additional application needed for this award. If you qualify, the award will be added to your student account each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer).
CPS EMERGENCY SUPPORT AWARD
The purpose of this award is to support the educational endeavors of undergraduate and graduate students within CPS who are facing financial hardship, including unmet need and financial emergencies. Guidelines and application information can be found HERE. Applications for the spring 2024 semester should be submitted by no later than Monday, February 5, 2024. After the initial deadline, applications will be considered on a rolling basis, but awards will be subject to the availability of funds.
CPS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The purpose of this award is to provide financial support for CPS students seeking to further their academic and professional goals through activities such as conferences, research projects, professional certifications, etc. Guidelines and application information can be found HERE. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but funding is limited so students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
GRAD 2 GRAD
Recent alumni of GW (undergraduate degree) may be eligible to participate in the Grad2Grad program which provides a 10% tuition discount continue graduate study (one master's degree program or graduate certificate program) at GW. Learn more about the Grad2Grad program and apply here: https://gradfellowships.gwu.edu/grad2grad-tuition-discount
ASSISTANTSHIPS
The SUP program does not offer graduate assistantships but SUP students are welcome to inquire about assistantships available in other departments. All assistantships are managed directly by individual departments. Please contact departments you may be interested in working with directly to learn more about their assistantship opportunities. The Sustainability Office regularly offers salary-only assistantships and these opportunities will be advertised to students via email. Assistantships for SUP students are often salary-only rather than a tuition waiver.
EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
We highly recommend students explore funding opportunities outside of GW. The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships offers resources to assist you with your search: https://gradfellowships.gwu.edu/external-fellowships
Urban Planning-Specific External Scholarships
American Planning Association Foundation Diversity Scholarship: application typically open between April-June
APA Division Scholarships: students can become APA members for free and join up to 5 interest divisions. Many of these divisions offer scholarships.
LOAN OPPORTUNITIES
The Office of Student Financial Assistance administers federal financial aid opportunities in the form of loans for graduate study. Students can learn more about loans here: https://financialaid.gwu.edu/loans
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
The University offers a variety of student positions throughout the academic year. Please note that these are not benefits-eligible positions. You can find current student job postings here: https://gwu-studentemployment.peopleadmin.com/
PROFESSIONAL WORK
We encourage all students currently employed or seeking employment to look into any tuition assistance benefits offered by your company. Many companies in the DC area offer this benefit including the Urban Land Institute, federal government and several local governments in VA and MD.
MILITARY EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
The Office of Military and Veteran Services (OMVS) administers educational benefits for military-affliated students. If you have questions about how to use your military benefits, please contact OMVS here: https://military.gwu.edu/
TUITION REMISSION BENEFITS
The University offers GW faculty, staff and research personnel in a benefit-eligible position (both full- and part-time) an outstanding benefit that covers a portion of tuition expenses. The tuition benefit is available to employees enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, as well as non-degree-seeking employees. Learn more about this benefit here: https://hr.gwu.edu/tuition-remission