Cost of Attendance & Funding
The decision to attend graduate or professional school has important financial implications for you and your future. Research demonstrates that people who attain a graduate or professional degree earn 20% more money on average than counterparts with a Bachelor’s degree, although earnings vary considerably depending upon your field of study and employment. Tuition affordability, cost of living, funding opportunities, and financial aid are important factors to consider when deciding if and where to pursue your graduate education.
UNM Graduate Studies is committed to offering prospective students a transparent view of the costs associated with graduate and professional studies and the funding sources available to Lobos. Because financial awards are determined by individual programs and can vary significantly, be sure to contact the director of the program of study you are interested in pursuing.
UNM Financial Aid provides an estimated cost of attendance for prospective graduate students based on their School or College. The Global Education Office provides cost of attendance estimates for international students. Please be aware that your own cost of attendance may differ depending on your course of study and life circumstances.
Tuition and fees vary depending on the type of program, number of credit hours, and residency status. Visit the annual schedule of tuition and fees as well as UNM’s tuition calculator, which allows prospective students to estimate their cost of attendance.
Keep in mind that certain types of graduate funding reduce or completely cover the cost of tuition for graduate and professional students, including some assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and tuition-reduction programs like the Western Regional Graduate Program. In addition, some workplaces offer tuition remission benefits to their employeesThe cost of living in Albuquerque is 6% lower than the national average and compares very favorably to other U.S. cities. The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) provides information on cost of living, demographics, and the labor force.
UNM provides graduate student funding in a variety of forms. Some students receive funding through service awards such as assistantships for part-time work in teaching or research. Assistantships are typically offered through the student’s program, although some assistantships are offered through campus or student organizations. Contact your program of interest to inquire about any assistantships they may offer to incoming and continuing students. For other assistantship openings, see the Office for Academic Personnel. Student employment opportunities (non-assistantship) are posted through UNM Jobs.
Students also obtain funding through non-service awards such as fellowships, scholarships, and grants.
- Fellowships typically cover part or all of a graduate student’s tuition costs, and many also offer broader support in the form of stipends, research experience, and professionalization opportunities.
- Scholarships tend to be merit- and/or need-based and are usually applied to tuition and directly related expenses. Most do not include stipends.
- Grants are awards that cover specific items like research equipment and expenditures, research and conference travel, professional development, study abroad, and more.
Many of these awards are administered through UNM; see links below. You are also encouraged to apply for extramural support by contacting national, international, or private foundations directly. UNM Libraries has compiled a helpful guide to finding and applying for extramural funding. Listings are also available through databases such as Pivot, which UNM faculty, students, and staff can access when logged into their myUNM or when using the university network.
Need-based funding is administered through the UNM Financial Aid Office and typically takes the form of work-study and loans.
Explore the links below to learn more!
