Costs, Housing and Funding
| Tuition and Fees | Living Expenses and Housing | Funding Your Graduate Education |
Tuition and fees at The George Washington University are comparable to the national average for U.S. private universities. These costs, set by the GW Board of Trustees, generally increase from year to year and may vary by program and location.
2009-2010 Tuition and Fees - Foggy Bottom campus
2009-10 Tuition and Fees - Other locations and Online
Living Expenses
Although actual living expenses vary considerably, depending on students' housing and lifestyle preferences, the following is an estimate of the minimum costs for graduate students in the Washington metropolitan area (excluding tuition and fees):
|
$18,060.00 |
housing, meals, transportation, and personal expenses |
|
$880.00 |
books and supplies |
|
$1614.00 |
health insurance |
Funding Your Graduate Education
Graduate students can fund their education in various ways and often utilize multiple resources. Brief descriptions of the general types of funding available are described below. For more detailed information, please visit the following Web sites:
The Graduate Section of our Costs and Financial Planning Web site describes types of funding and assistance, including department based support.
The Office of Student Financial Assistance offers need-based and alternative loans for admitted students.
GW Career Center has information about Federal Work-Study, part-time jobs, internships and cooperative education.
Fellowships and Assistantships
Most merit-based assistance (graduate teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships) is awarded through the schools or programs. Applicants who would like to be considered for assistantships and fellowships should consult the appropriate program’s Web site for further information. If you are applying for a fellowship/assistantship, answer “yes” to this question on the online application for graduate admission and, if required by your school or program, submit a separate fellowship/assistantship application and other materials that may be required.
PLEASE NOTE that the application for fellowships and assistantships is Jan 15 for the fall semester and Sept 1 for the spring semester. All admission materials are due by this deadline, even if this is earlier than the stated deadline for your program of interest. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for these awards only if funds remain available.
Loan Assistance
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OFSA) oversees the processing of all need-based and alternative loans for students who have been admitted to a GW graduate degree or approved graduate certificate program. Federal loan programs require U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status and at least half-time attendance.
Credit-based consumer loans are available to supplement other sources of aid, and OSFA can provide school certification for any alternative program you choose. You should compare rates, fees and repayment options when choosing among the programs available.
Instructions for applying for these different types of loans are provided at online. To have a loan processed before classes begin, all application materials must be on file in the Office of Student Financial Assistance by:
| Fall Semester | May 1 |
| Spring Semester | October 1 |
| Summer Semester | March 1 |
Employment Opportunities
Many graduate students obtain employment to help fund their studies, often using the following resources:
- Information on full-time, part-time, internship, cooperative education, temporary and summer positions are available on GW Career Center's Web site.
- The Jobs at GW Web site, maintained by the Division of Human Resource Services, provides information about full-time and regular part-time positions. After a three-month waiting period, new GW employees, as well as the spouses and children of full-time employees, may receive educational benefits. (Note: Graduate students employed full- or part-time on a research grant may use their tuition benefits immediately if they begin their employment before the first day of classes.
- The Federal Work-Study Program, available to U.S. citizens, provides jobs for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.
International students with F-1 or J-1 visa status may be able to supplement their classroom experiences and personal funds through employment, co-operative education or internships, but proper employment authorization must be obtained BEFORE beginning work.For more information, contact the International Services Office.
The GW Experience
Students
All in the Family
Greg and Heather Hachenburg talk about their undergraduate experience at GW, one of many sibling pairs to share in the Colonials legacy.
Creating Next Generation Leaders
GW program helps female students connect with leading women across a variety of fields and develop their roles as future women in leadership.
Where the City is a Classroom
Freshman volunteers experience life beyond Foggy Bottom...
Faculty
Fighting Neglected Diseases
GW professor works to eradicate diseases that affect the health, education and economic development of the world's poorest people.
Building the Super Computer
Pioneering lab puts GW at the forefront of high-speed computing and offers GW students unprecedented access to science and skills of the future.
Blast From the Past
Students map an ancient—and dramatic—eruption as part of a geological research program in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
Alumni
Giving Back to the District of Columbia
D.C. public health director calls GW education the foundation of his career.
GW Opens Doors
A chance encounter with a GW alumna helped give one GW undergraduate, an aspiring broadcast journalist from Texas, his big break.
The Legend Lives On
The $2 million bequest commitment caps a lifetime of philanthropy and service to GW, establishing the Elyse B. and Donald R. Lehman Endowed Professorship in Theoretical Physics.