Costs and Funding for your Graduate Degree

All full-time PhD students receive full financial support, which includes tuition and health fee remission, and monthly living expense support. Most offers of financial support are guaranteed as long as the student is making progress toward completion of the degree.

Master’s students are expected to be self-supporting. See below for federal, institutional and external funding opportunities.

Full-time status for Master’s Students is defined as: Enrolled in 9 or more units OR Enrolled in any “EGS 7883” placeholder course (Masters Continuing Student Status)

Full-time status for PhD Students is defined as: Enrolled in 9 or more units OR Enrolled in any "EGS 9XXX" placeholder course. PhD students are required to maintain full-time status.

• Tuition is based on the number of enrolled course units. When a student takes 9 or more units, a flat-rate tuition is applied. A per unit rate is applied if a student is enrolled in 8 or fewer units.
• Tuition for full-time students is determined by each student’s academic unit, not by the academic unit that teaches the course. Students should check with their department before enrolling in courses outside their academic unit.
• International graduate students are not permitted to register for fewer than 9 units without special permission from the Office of International Students and Scholars.

• Students can view their current balance due in Workday. The McKelvey School of Engineering does not charge late fees to its graduate students. However, payment for the current semester must be received in full before registering for an upcoming semester. If a balance remains at the time of registration, Student Accounting will put a hold on the account to prevent registration.
  
  
• Please see Student Accounting for payment options.

The WashU Graduate Center provides a searchable funding database designed to help students identify external scholarships, stipends, research grants, and other funding opportunities. This resource can be especially helpful for students seeking to supplement their graduate education funding through external sources.

Search the database

Students can also visit the U.S. Department of Labor website, which offers a free search.

For these funding sources, students must attend at least half-time in a degree-seeking program and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year. Half-time is defined as 4.5 units in the fall and spring semesters and 3 units in the summer. Please include Washington University's School Code (002520). Both the FAFSA and Graduate PLUS loan application can be completed at StudentAid.gov.

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  This loan is typically available to graduate students who complete the FAFSA. The annual maximum a student can borrow is $20,500. Interest accrues from the date of disbursement and students have the choice to pay the interest while in school or defer it. If the interest is deferred, it will be capitalized to the loan principal. Repayment of the principal begins six months after graduation, leaving school or falling below half-time enrollment. The lender charges an origination fee on each disbursement.
  
  
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
  This loan requires a separate application in addition to completing the FAFSA. It is a credit-based loan that the student must apply for and receive approval before the loan can be awarded. If the student's credit is denied, it is possible to secure the loan with a credit worthy endorser. The annual loan limit is the student's cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received. Like the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, interest can be paid while in school or deferred, and repayment begins six months after graduation, leaving school or falling below half-time enrollment. The Graduate PLUS loan also has an origination fee.
  

  Please note: the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan will no longer be available as of July 1, 2026. For more info, please visit StudentAid.gov. 

  For current interest rates, please visit StudentAid.gov.

• Federal Work-Study (FWS)
  FWS provides part-time jobs for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Students can read more about the program on the FWS page and link to the Center for Career Engagement to view available jobs. If interested in utilizing FWS funding, please first contact Engineering Graduate Financial Aid to determine eligibility.

• Private Loans
  Some students choose to utilize credit-based student loans through private lenders, either instead of federal loans, or in addition to them. Due to the regulations on federal loans, students might also borrow through private lenders because some offer loans for certificate programs, in support of less than half-time enrollment, or to international student applicants. When borrowing a private loan, students work directly with the lender of their choice. ELMSelect is a lender comparison tool, which can be helpful for students, but please note that it is not an exhaustive list of options. For a brief summary of some differences between federal and private loans, please visit StudentAid.gov.
  
  
• Yellow Ribbon Program
  To view the Basic Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit amount, please visit the VA website. Actual tuition and fees may exceed this amount. Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA choose the amount they will contribute to net tuition and fees above the Basic benefit. VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the institution. Washington University entered into a Yellow Ribbon Agreement with VA and currently, the McKelvey School of Engineering covers full tuition and fees above the Basic benefit and VA will match that amount.
  
  Please remember that students must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% rate to be considered for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Engineering's participation level is reviewed each academic year, so eligible students are not guaranteed the same award from one academic year to the next. For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar.