UW is committed to helping students from all economic backgrounds access world-class education. A number of resources are available to help students fund their graduate degree, from financial aid to research assistantships to various fellowships.

Ph.D. funding

Ph.D. students are normally fully funded* with research/teaching assistantships, departmental support, and fellowships from a variety of organizations.  In rare situations where a fully funded, multi-year funding package is not feasible or appropriate based on the unique situation of the PhD student, we work closely and in collaboration with the student to ensure that the best possible arrangements are made regarding financial support.

*contingent on satisfactory academic/research progress

Master’s degree cost and funding

Master of Science in Aeronautics & Astronautics (MSAA)

While certain fees are the same for all on-campus students, MSAA tuition depends on a student’s residency status and full- or part-time enrollment status. For the current tuition rates, refer to the office of Office of Planning & Budget tuition website. Note: Students in our department are assessed the Graduate Tier III tuition rate.

For an estimate of the full cost of attendance (including living expenses) please refer to the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Departmental funding: MSAA students may be considered for departmental funding in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and departmental scholarships and fellowships. However, departmental funding for MSAA students is very limited and applicants are highly encouraged to pursue other funding sources.

Master of Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

The Master of Aerospace Engineering is a fee-based professional program. Instructional fees are assessed on a per-credit basis. All students are responsible for the same per-credit fee rate regardless of residency. Registration and fees for this program are managed through the UW division of Professional & Continuing Education (PCE).

Instructional fees are subject to change from year to year. For the 2024-2025 academic year, MAE program tuition is $1,168/credit. Additional quarterly fees are variable and based on level of enrollment. Current fee rates can be found at: https://degreereg.uw.edu/fees

Departmental assistance: The department is unable to offer financial assistance (assistantships or fellowships) to students in the MAE program.

More funding opportunities

The following assistance is available to all graduate students:

University assistance: students may be eligible for other forms of aid (such as loans) administered through the University. For this reason, all applicants are strongly encouraged to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information on the FAFSA and aid eligibility, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid

Other sources of assistance: Prospective students are strongly encouraged to explore other avenues of potential financial support including outside funding agencies such as NSF, NASA, DoD, and DoE. The University of Washington Grant and Funding Information Service is an excellent informational resource on this topic.

Employer-based assistance: Students and prospective students who wish to use employer reimbursement or other employer-based education benefits should contact the appropriate benefits office at their place of work.