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What are the costs and how will I be funded?
Tuition fees are set by the University. Funding mechanisms depend on the program and the type of degree you are registered for.
Funding for PhD students
A student registered for a PhD degree in one of the programs listed on this website will typically be funded by a combination of fellowships and assistantships. Fellowships may be Penn State fellowships or government fellowships; assistantships may be research assistantships supported by grant funds to their faculty advisor(s) and teaching assistantships available through their advisor's department.
Exact details of funding provision will depend on the program, the campus, the faculty member's department, and the faculty member.
Funding typically comprises full tuition support plus a stipend to cover living expenses; it covers all semesters (including summers).
Funding will be renewed if the student makes satisfactory progress towards the degree.
For MS students
Funding options for Masters students depend on the program of interest. Not all Masters students receive financial support. For more detail on funding options for the graduate program you're interested in, please see the program's web pages.
How much is tuition?
- Penn State's Office of the Bursar posts details of tuition rates and payment options
What's the cost of living?
Depending on where you live, the cost of living in central Pennsylvania may be lower or higher than what you're used to. Costs for housing and transport are typically lower than in major US cities.Other sources of information
- The Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration has answers to some frequently-asked questions about funding for graduate students
- The Office of Student Aid gives a funding overview for prospective graduate students looking for funding to cover tuition and/or cost of living.