Cost and Financial Aid

The University of California and the MSSE Program are committed to providing financial access to quality education. Financial assistance and student loans are available through the Offices of Financial Aid.

The planned tuition for the Academic Year 2024 is $1975 per unit, regardless of residency or Full-time status. Full-time students enroll in 15 units the first semester and 14 units the second semester. This cost does not include any applicable campus-based fees, health insurance, the cost of living and any personal costs that may be required to complete the program. For additional information on the cost of attendance, please visit: Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Cost of Attendance.

To apply for Financial Aid, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application: https://fafsa.ed.gov

  • Select academic year.
  • Include UC Berkeley school code 001312.
  • Students must report tax information from two year’s prior.
  • Students who wish to be considered for need-based scholarships must also complete the Parental Data section of the FAFSA form. (The federal instructions will indicate parental data is not needed for federal loans. However, in order to assess relative financial need for institutional scholarships, parental data will be analyzed). For students under the age of 30 by December 31, 2019, parents’ information must be submitted on the FAFSA to be considered for Full Funding.

The MSSE program offers two types of grants. We encourage students to also apply early to other scholarships and grants, as funding is variable and does not cover the entire cost of the program.

MSSE Excellence Scholarship
All applications are automatically considered for the MSSE Excellence Scholarship. This merit award is given to a subset of candidates with noteworthy academic or professional accomplishments, as determined by department faculty nominations. Exact grant amounts may vary.

MSSE Opportunity Grant
Please fill out the grant section of the MSSE application in order to be considered for an opportunity grant. Students who are awarded grants must demonstrate financial need. Special consideration is given to applicants whose background and life experiences contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial mix of students and enhance educational diversity. This may include applicants who have had limited access to educational resources, who represent geographic diversity, who have persevered over economic disadvantage, who have shown exceptional fortitude by working many hours to support themselves during their education, or whose experiences have brought about a perspective not widely represented within the program. Exact grant amounts may vary.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to external scholarships and grants if needed. The below resources are for your exploration, please ensure your eligiblity for specific grants and scholarships.

For more information about graduate student financial aid, please go to: http://grad.berkeley.edu/financial/aid/