Cost of Attendance for Graduate Students

The cost of attendance for graduate students is based on standard student budgets established each year by the University’s Office of Financial Aid (OFA). The estimated costs on the OFA website are updated annually and can assist you in planning your own budget. It is important to note, however, that the estimates include average tuition for graduate students. Actual tuition will vary by school or college, residency status, and stage of degree (i.e., pre-candidate or candidate).

Tuition and Fees

Current full and part-time tuition and fees for all U-M schools and colleges are available from the Office of the Registrar. To determine your current tuition or estimate future costs, find your school or college in the list and select the option that includes Rackham. The chart will display full term tuition and fees for both Michigan residents and non-residents (residency guidelines are available on the Registrar’s website). Once doctoral students have achieved candidacy, tuition is billed at the candidacy rate regardless of residency status. For those who enroll in fewer than nine credit hours, part-time tuition for the first credit hour and all credit hours thereafter are listed.

Non-Candidate for Degree (NCFD) Students

Persons who are not candidates for a degree may be admitted by Rackham to a program as a non-candidate for degree (NCFD) student. NCFD students may take no more than two courses per term for no more than two terms. Tuition and fees for a three credit-hour course will vary based on school or college and residency. For specific information, follow the procedure outlined in the previous paragraph to view tuition and fees for part-time enrollees.

Funding

The University of Michigan provides many sources of financial assistance to help students meet educational and living expenses. Whether you are a prospective student, a current student, a master’s or doctoral student, we want to make sure you know about the funding available for your graduate education. The nature of funding varies widely. Opportunities highlighted on the funding pages range from large competitive fellowships that pay tuition and stipends, to targeted grants that assist with foreign language study, dissertation research, and conference travel, to emergency grants and awards designed to help students manage student loan debt. For more information, visit the funding section of the Rackham website.

For prospective students and admitted students there are several internal as well as external funding opportunities you can apply for.

Cost of Living

The estimated cost of attendance for graduate students includes housing costs, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses. These costs vary widely depending on your preferences. Current rents for university housing are posted on the U-M Housing website, and the housing section of the Rackham website provides information about various options and includes links to searches that can give you an idea of what it will cost to accommodate your preferences. To find out more about living in Ann Arbor, including transportation and employment, visit Rackham Life.

Financial Planning

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has developed GradSense, a unique online education platform that provides students with financial information about a range of topics including the value of pursuing an advanced degree, paying for your education, estimating cost of living, and preparing a budget for your time in graduate school. Through interactive visualization tools and engaging infographics, students are invited to better understand a variety of issues related to borrowing and spending, potential future earnings, and money management.

U-M Payment Plan

See Student Financial Services for information about your U-M account, eBill, installment payment plans, and FAQs related to payment and student accounts.