Here we provide basic information about the costs associated with attending the University of Maryland, along with typical stipends and benefits. The vast majority of students in our program receive tuition remission benefits and are funded by graduate assistantships or fellowships. Beyond the material we offer below, you can find much more information on the websites of the University of Maryland Graduate Catalog, Office of Student Financial Aid, and the Student Financial Services and Cashiering.
Program Costs
Tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year (based on 10 credits per semester): Resident = $16,995, Non-resident = $34,120, Mandatory fees = $1,635*
*Effective Fall 2017, the University of Maryland charges a fee of $125 per semester for all newly enrolled, full time international students.
Costs of Living in the DC Metropolitan Area
Although the DC-Baltimore area has a relatively high cost of living, housing expenses vary greatly across communities and neighborhoods. Our students find affordable options by choosing less expensive areas to live and by sharing housing costs with roommates. Some students cut costs by living without a car, which is made possible through the large network of free University shuttles and the extensive public transportation system. Excellent practical information can be found in the Graduate Student Life Handbook and the website of the Off-Campus Housing Services.
Stipends and Tuition Remission
In recent years, all of our students have had assistantships or fellowships that provide tuition remission and a stipend. The minimum stipend for pre-master's students on graduate assistantships: 9.5 months = $19,359, 12 months = $24,453. Stipends increase for students who have completed a master's and then again for those who are official doctoral candidates. Students on assistantships or fellowships pay only the mandatory fees. Applicants are automatically considered for fellowships offered through the University.
Assistantship assignments depend partly on the department through which the student has applied. On the CHSE side, assistantships are typically for administrative or undergraduate advising positions. On the Psychology side, assistantships are typically for teaching assistant positions. The CHSE Department provides a list each of on-campus assistantship opportunities each spring.
Tuition remission typically covers the cost of courses taken during the fall and spring semesters, which is when most courses are taken. However, students often must pay tuition for courses taken during the summer, unless they have a 12-month assistantship or a summer assistantship.
Benefits
Graduate assistants and fellows are eligible for a number of benefits in addition to tuition remission. For graduate assistants, perhaps the most significant is the ability to enroll in the full range of health benefits available to State of Maryland employees, as well as the ability to sign up one’s legal spouse (both same-sex and other-sex), and dependent children for these benefits and dependent children for these benefits. A description of these benefits is available via the new employees link on the website of University Human Resources. Fellows may enroll in the student health insurance, and the premium will be covered by the Graduate School. A description of student health insurance is found here.
