Graduate school is an investment in your future and we understand the process of funding your education can often be challenging. There are several options to help pay for graduate school, including departmental scholarship, student loans, and working as a graduate student.
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Tuition and Fees
The following outline of the estimated tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year is offered as a general guide for planning purposes only and is based on University-approved allowances for living expenses incurred during the academic year.
The University of Virginia’s budget for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the 2026-2027 academic year is set by the Board of Visitors in December 2025.
| Cost of Attendance | In-State | Out-of-State & International |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $45,000 | $51,750 |
| University Fee | $3,722 | $4,404 |
| Commerce Activity Fee | $100 | $100 |
| Student Activity Fee | $58 | $58 |
| Books and Supplies | $968 | $968 |
| Charlottesville Living Expenses* | $12,642 | $12,642 |
| Berlin Living Expenses | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| SIP Living Expenses | $2,600 | $2,600 |
| Insurance** | $1,630 | $1,630 |
| Travel (airfare, visa, etc.) | $2,000-$2,500 | $2,000-$2,500 |
*Estimated for the 2025-2026 academic year and subject to change. Rent and utility figures are calculated for a single student sharing a two-bedroom apartment. (Global House is one housing option for M.S. in Global Students in Charlottesville, at a cost of $4,600 per semester for double occupancy and $6,000 per semester for single occupancy.) This budget does not include allowances for car payments, undergraduate debt, or consumer and other types of personal debt. The typical living costs budget is expected to increase by approximately 3% for 2026-2027.
**Estimated 2025-2026 cost if insurance was purchased through the University of Virginia. Students may be covered under a parent’s policy or a personal policy. If this coverage meets minimum requirements, then the UVA policy may be waived in July. The final 2025-2026 insurance rates will be available in late summer.
Funding Your Degree
We encourage you to investigate all available financial aid options.
Departmental Scholarships
McIntire provides scholarships to incoming students who show exceptional academic promise, come from a unique background, offer a different perspective, have shown leadership or potential for leadership despite a disadvantage, or demonstrate financial need. Typically one-fourth of the class receives a scholarship, and awards range from $2,500 to $10,000.
If you would like to be considered for a departmental scholarship, please apply through your program application. Priority will be given to those who apply by the Feb. 1 deadline; requests for scholarship received after the deadline will be considered if funding remains available.
Working as a Graduate Student
Many students apply to work as graduate interns at McIntire or across the University. Positions are posted through Handshake, the UVA job database, over the summer and are paid on average $13 an hour. Students typically work anywhere from 5 to 15 hours per week. Opportunities may include working with a professor (research, tutoring, or assisting with a class) or department.
University Resources
UVA Student Financial Services offers a range of services to assist you in meeting your financial obligations.
- Federal financial aid programs
- Loans: need-based and other
Graduate students are considered independent and submit the FAFSA on their own. To apply for federal financial aid for the start of your program, you must complete:
- The FAFSA (online completion and submission are preferred) and
- The UVA Financial Aid Application (UFAA) (the UFAA will be posted to your Student Information System (SIS) account once the FAFSA is received.)
We encourage you to complete it early to ensure adequate processing time. Further information can be found on the UVA Financial Aid website or by calling 434-982-6000 or 1-866-391-0063 (toll free).
Veterans Benefits
The Office of the University Registrar is the liaison between students and the Department of Veterans Affairs for matters concerning education benefits available to veterans, service members, and their families. This office provides information and furnishes application forms on request. For questions, please contact veteransbenefits@virginia.edu.
Private Loans
The Office of Student Financial Services can assist families in understanding basic terms of various programs and how the process works and can identify private programs most often used by other families. However, the office does not make any recommendations; families must make their own decisions based on their financial situation and personal needs.
Tuition Payment Plan
The University of Virginia offers an optional interest-free semester based payment plan. More information can be found at Student Financial Services Semester Payment Plan. Any excess credits are not refunded until the end of each semester.