Tuition and Financial Aid: Graduate Programs

Merit-based fellowships are the primary means by which the Batten School administers financial aid to its Postgraduate students. Admitted students need not submit any form of financial aid application to receive consideration for merit-based fellowships. The Batten School awards merit-based fellowships after a review of the materials submitted in the students’ application for admission.  Accelerated MPP students are not eligible to receive merit-based fellowships until the second year of the MPP program (please see Accelerated MPP section below).

While we do not administer assistantships as financial aid, they are available at the Batten School and have the practical effect of offering financial assistance to students through tuition remission and, often, stipends. Several faculty members hire graduate research assistants to support a number of different projects in different policy fields. The number of graduate research assistantships will fluctuate from year to year as the size and quantity of faculty grants changes in any given year. During the spring semester of the first year of the MPP program, both Postgraduate and Accelerated MPP students may apply for graduate teaching assistantships that will begin the following fall semester.

The Batten School administers several need-based fellowships, the most prominent of which are The Bocock-Hitz award. The Bocock-Hitz award go to students entering the first year of the MPP program or the second year of the Accelerated MPP program. Admitted students will receive information about applying for need-based fellowships during both semesters – spring and fall – preceding their year of eligibility. Other need-based awards are offered twice a year once all federal and UVA financial aid forms are completed.

Batten places significant value on civic engagement and leadership experience. We honor fellowship programs for these extraordinary citizens, including the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Matching Program. 

Educational benefits are available for veterans, family members of veterans, and active duty military personnel. These programs have different benefit packages and eligibility requirements. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months (4 regular school years) of education benefits to eligible service members (Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve) and Veterans who have served at least 90 days on active duty since 9/10/2001. Benefits are tiered based on number of days on active duty. Benefits can be transferred to spouse or family member. To determine your eligibility and benefits package, please consult your Education Services Officer (ESO) and see Military Tuition Assistance, for active duty, or GI Bill, for veterans. For additional questions, please contact the University’s Veterans’ Affairs Coordinator.

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program provides part-time employment opportunities to eligible students to help meet the cost of education. Eligibility is based on financial need and must be earned through student employment. Many job opportunities are available to eligible students on or off Grounds. To request to be considered for FWS, choose this option on the intent page of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Annual award amounts can be up to $5,000 for graduate students. More information about FWS can be found on the University of Virginia Office of Student Financial Services web page. 

Students with remaining financial need may take out student loans. You may apply by completing a FAFSA application. The University of Virginia’s school code is 003745.  Make sure to check out Common Application Errors to ensure your application for federal aid can be processed as quickly as possible.

When you apply for financial aid, you are automatically considered for Direct Loans. Graduate students who want to apply for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan will indicate on their University Financial Aid Application (UFAA). You will be prompted to complete the UFAA once you have completed the FAFSA.  

The University of Virginia participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program. This program offers low-interest loans to dependent and independent, undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in school at least half-time (minimum of six credit hours per semester) in a degree-seeking program. Student Financial Services certifies private loans that come from a private lending institution such as a bank or credit union. Entrance counseling is required for all first-time borrowers.

As you consider whether to accept part or all of the loans offered to you, please carefully consider the terms and repayment for each type of loan. The Federal Student Aid Repayment Estimator is an excellent resource.

For more information, please visit the the 2022-2023 Academic Year Loans for Graduates.

Tuition and fees will vary. In the year dual-degree students are recognized as a full time student in each program, students will be charged that school’s tuition rate. In the year that students are completing their degrees, tuition will be a blended rate, with one school charging an amount one semester and the other school charging its rate the second semester. 

Graduate students are also eligible to apply for other part-time employment opportunities at the Batten School. The most common types of positions are:

• Graduate Grader – Graders are responsible for grading student work and responding to student questions only. Hours per week varies based upon the course. 
• Graduate Tutor – Tutors are responsible for working with students 1:1 for assistance in quantitative coursework when it is determined that the student needs more help than provided as part of the standard curriculum. Hours per week varies based on the tutor’s availability. 
• Staff Assistant – Batten’s administrative units (e.g., Admissions, Communications) frequently hire graduate students to work 10-20 hours per week. Jobs are posted on an as-needed basis.

Students may also find employment within other parts of the University or in the local community. Per University policy, students may work no more than 20 hours per week in University jobs while school is in session.

Accelerated MPP students are considered undergraduates by the University during the first year of the MPP Program and are charged undergraduate tuition rates according to their School of enrollment; any financial aid during the first year is administered through the University of Virginia Office of Student Financial Services. In the second year of the program, students are charged the Batten School’s graduate tuition rate and become eligible for School-sponsored financial aid. While AccessUVA does not extend into the graduate year, second-year Accelerated MPP students have access to need-based fellowships and other Batten-sponsored funding opportunities, in addition to Federally-subsidized loans and Federal Work Study. Batten-sponsored funding is limited, and students should not anticipate that it will cover the full cost of tuition.