Financial Aid and Tuition – Graduate Programs

USF Scholarships and Teaching Assistantships

Each of the Arts and Sciences graduate programs at USF offer a limited number of scholarships on a competitive basis, including the M.S. in Analytics Program. These program-based scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $15,000. A few of the graduate programs (including Biology, Chemistry and the MFA in Writing) also offer Teaching Assistantships. Scholarships and assistantships are awarded according to academic merit.

All applicants to a graduate program, both U.S. and international, are considered for these awards at the time that a graduate program makes an admission decision. No separate application is needed for these awards, except for the Asia Pacific Studies Program. If you receive a scholarship or teaching assistantship, you will be notified by your graduate program in your admission letter.

The Biology and Chemistry Programs offer full-tuition scholarships to almost all admitted students. There is no tuition cost for Biology and Chemistry students. These full-tuition scholarships do not cover living expenses, books, student health insurance, or other non-tuition expenses. The Biology and Chemistry graduate programs also offer Teaching Assistantships to most of their graduate students; these TAs help students cover some living expenses.

Non-USF Scholarships for International Students

An attempt is made to keep a current listing of external grants and fellowship opportunities for graduate study. Scholars are encouraged to identify local resources in addition to the programs identified below. The following links are to organizations that provide scholarships, grants and loans to international students to finance graduate education in the United States:

Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian students

Open Society Foundations - Find Scholarships & Fellowships

Latin American students

African students

Fellowships and scholarships for women

Non-USF Scholarships for U.S. Students

An attempt is made to keep a current listing of external grants and fellowship opportunities for graduate study. Scholars are encouraged to identify local resources in addition to the programs identified below. The following links are to organizations that provide scholarships, grants and loans to domestic U.S. students to finance graduate education in the United States:

Access Group (Student Loans)

Chase Student Loans
EducAid (Financial Aid + Loans)
Institute of International Education
Rotary Scholarships
Soros Fellowships for New Americans The Soros Fellowship provides up to $25,000 for living expenses and up to $20,000 of tuition costs for each year of graduate study (up to two years). The deadline is November 1, 2011. Eligibility: "Applicant must be a New American (a green card holder; a naturalized U.S. citizen if board abroad; a child of naturalized citizen if born in this country)."

Fellowships and scholarships for women

Federal Student Loans for U.S. Students

All U.S. citizens and permanent residents (unless if you have defaulted on a previous federal student loan) are eligible for a low-interest, long-term Federal Stafford loan of $20,500 for each year of graduate studies. In addition to the Stafford loan program, the federal Grad PLUS loan program can cover remaining tuition and living expenses for U.S. graduate students less any other aid (e.g., scholarship) the student has been awarded.

To apply for the Stafford or Grad Plus loans, graduate students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A credit check is required for Grad PLUS loans. Contact USF's One Stop/Financial Aid Office at 415.422.2020 for more information.

First Step: Begin the free application process for U.S. federal student loans at www.fafsa.ed.gov . The school code for USF is 001325. Or you can contact USF's One Stop Office for a printed version of FAFSA at 415.422.2020 or by email at onestop@usfca.edu. Starting or completing this free loan application process does not obligate a student to take out a student loan.

The application process for these loans can take 6 to 8 weeks. Interested students are encouraged to begin the application process as early as possible. Graduate students can choose to accept all, part, or none of the student loan package offered to them.

PLEASE NOTE: U.S. graduate students are not subject to any undergraduate financial aid deadlines that are posted on USF's Financial Aid/One Stop website. There is no deadline for graduate students when applying for federal loans, although interested students are encouraged to begin the FAFSA process as early as possible, even before admission.

Listserves for Scholarship Searches

Student Employment

The University offers a significant number of student jobs on campus. Both U.S. and international students are eligible for student employment and can apply for these jobs once enrolled at the university.

Tuition Costs

Graduate Program	Cost per Unit or Semester	Estimated Total Units in First Year	Estimated First-Year Tuition for 2012-2013 academic year
Analytics	$1,130 per unit	29	$32,777
Asia Pacific Studies	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Biology	$1,130 per unit	12	$13,560 ($0 with scholarship)
Biotechnology	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Chemistry	$1,130 per unit	12	$13,560 ($0 with scholarship)
Computer Science	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Economics	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Environmental Management	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
International and Development Economics	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
International Studies	$1,130 per unit	24	$27,120
Museum Studies	$1,130 per unit	28	$31,640
Public Affairs	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Sport Management	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340
Web Science	$1,130 per unit	16	$18,080
Writing	$1,130 per unit	18	$20,340

Living Costs

	Chemistry & Biology*	9 Month Programs**	12 Month Programs***
Living Expenses - includes rent (housing), food and student health insurance	$11,800	$14,700	$19,000
Other Expenses - includes books and supplies, local transit pass, and personal expenses (Clothing, Laundry, Entertainment, etc.)	$4,260	$3,430	$4,260
Total	$16,060	$18,130	$23,260

* Living expenses for these programs are reduced by $7,200 because of funds provided by the Biology/Chemistry teaching assistantships.

** 9 month programs include: Asian Pacific Studies, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Management, International and Development Economics, International Studies, Web Science.

*** 12 month programs include: Public Affairs, Sport's Management, Writing.

Payment Plans

USF's Student Accounts Office in the One Stop Office offers many payment options to facilitate tuition payment. Accepted methods of payment include personal checks, money orders, certified checks, credit card and cash payments (made in person only). The Student Accounts Office also offers a four-month budget payment plan to qualified students and facilitates disbursement of federal loan proceeds in association with the Office of Financial Aid. The One Stop Office in Lone Mountain Room 251 may be reached by phone at 415.422.2020 or by email at onestop@usfca.edu. Visit the One Stop Office at www.usfca.edu/onestop.