Tuition and Fees

Tax revenue from the state finances a portion of the facilities and operations of the instructional programs, student services, and related activities. Graduate students share in the cost by paying tuition, fees, and other charges as established by the Board of Regents.

Tuition, fees, and other charges are subject to change, and are effective when established by the Legislature of the State of Washington and adopted by the WSU Board of Regents. For the most up-to-date rates, visit http://finaid.wsu.edu/college-costs/cost-of-attendance/. Part-time students appointed to graduate assistantships may receive waivers of tuition (see the Assistantship, Fellowship, and Traineeships section).

Payment of registration fees is due on or before the fifth Friday of class. Receipt of payment after that day will result in a 5% late payment fee. Any tuition balances not paid by the eighth Friday of class will receive another 10% late payment fee.

On the Pullman Campus, fees for the Student Health Center, the Student Recreation Center, and Pullman Transit are charged each semester. (Graduate students appointed to half-time graduate assistantships qualify for medical insurance coverage. See Assistantships, Fellowships, and Traineeships section for more information). Other fees, including parking permits and health insurance are optional.

NOTE: Overdue accounts owed to the University will prevent release of transcripts, diploma and enrollment. Registration is not complete until all of the student’s tuition and fees are paid.

 

Student Financial Aid Programs

Graduate students wishing to apply for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA priority processing date is March 1. Students may apply online at fafsa.ed.gov, or pick up a paper version at any local high school, community college, public library, or the Washington State University Student Financial Services, Room 380 Lighty Student Services Building.

Graduate students are considered for the following programs: Federal Family Educational Loans (subsidized and un-subsidized Stafford loans) and Federal or State Work Study Programs. Work Study Program funds may be used toward funding graduate assistantships. The Office of Student Financial Aid determines student eligibility for these programs and will notify students in a letter of eligibility. Financial aid counselors are available to assist students and families with their financial aid concerns at 509-335-9711. You will also find information at: wsu.edu/studacct/finaid.htm.

Each academic year a number of graduate students at WSU are awarded a graduate assistantship from their departments. The assistantship usually covers the majority of tuition costs. This Operating Fee Waiver is considered a resource when the OSFA determines the student’s eligibility for other financial aid programs. In order to ensure your Financial Aid Award Notification is correct, please notify the OSFA if your department has granted you an Operating Fee Waiver. If the OSFA is notified after the first disbursement of your loan, any subsequent disbursement may be reduced accordingly.

NOTE: All graduate awards are initially based on resident tuition costs, regardless of resident status. You may request (in writing) an adjustment for nonresident tuition costs. If you have unmet need on your Financial Aid Award Notification and/or the Cost of Attendance has not been met, you may qualify to borrow an Alternative Loan. Contact the OSFA for more information. Short-term loans may be available to students who encounter delays in their financial aid delivery through the OSFA.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies

To receive and continue to be eligible to receive financial aid, graduate students must be in good standing with their department and the Graduate School. The maximum timeframe calculation is based on all semesters of enrollment regardless of whether or not financial aid was received each semester. Semesters in which enrollment is less than 10 hours will be counted as one-half of a full-time semester. The maximum timeframe for financial aid (exclusive of graduate assistance) is three years (6 full-time semesters) for master’s degree candidates; three years (6 full-time semesters) for doctoral degree candidates who have a previous master’s degree; six years (12 full-time semesters) for doctoral candidates without a master’s degree; and five years (10 full-time semesters) for professional students and veterinary medicine students.

Assistantships, Fellowships and Traineeships

Teaching and research assistantships are available in most departments offering advanced degrees, and nonservice research fellowships and traineeships are granted in some departments. Ordinarily, graduate appointments are limited to those who pursue programs of study leading to advanced degrees at Washington State University.

The Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual should be consulted concerning qualifications, eligibility, and application procedures. As most appointments for fall semester are made by April 1, or as soon thereafter as possible, it is desirable to have applications completed by February 1; nonservice appointment applications should be completed by Jan 1. Spring semester applications should be completed by September 1. Applications received at a later date can be considered only for positions still available. Assistantship appointments require part-time service. The term of a graduate appointment may be for a nine-month period, a semester, or a summer. Students on appointment must maintain regular enrollment in the Graduate School (10 credit hours or more during the academic year; 3 credit hours during summer session) for the duration of their appointments. Stipends vary according to the amount of required service, the extent of the student’s training, and merit factors (e.g., academic record, experience). Contact the Graduate School Office for salary information.

Graduate students who are not residents of the State of Washington, appointed to assistantships of one-half time service (20 hours per week) or more by the Board of Regents, and who reside in the State of Washington while attending WSU, may receive a waiver of the nonresident portion of the tuition. (NOTE: Nonresident tuition waivers cannot be assured beyond the first year of graduate students’ assistantships. Students who intend to remain in the state are encouraged to review Washington statutes and associated administrative rules governing the establishment of residency for tuition purposes.

The residency operating fee may also be waived for resident students who hold half-time (or greater) service appointments (20 hours per week) and who qualify based on merit factors, and for nonresident students who reside in Washington state, who hold half-time graduate service appointments, and who qualify based on merit factors. Further, graduate students who hold half-time (or greater) service assistantship appointments automatically qualify for and receive medical insurance coverage.

All students on assistantships pay the general tuition and activities fees. (Please note: to be eligible for any waiver, a student must be physically living in the State of Washington).

Forms for assistantship or fellowship applications are included as part of the general application for admission to Graduate School. For information about special scholarships and fellowships, write to the dean of the Graduate School or the chair of the department concerned. You may also visit http://gradschool.wsu.edu/student-finance-page/

Resolution Regarding Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, Assistants

Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school expect to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties. Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student to not accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which the commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above Resolution that a copy of this Resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer.
Courses listed in this catalog are subject to change through normal academic channels. New courses and changes are initiated by the corresponding departments or programs, approved through the appropriate academic dean, the Catalog Subcommittee, the Academic Affairs or Graduate Studies Committees, and the University Senate. Additions to the curriculum for the ensuing year are published each fall in the Catalog Supplement within the Fall Time Schedule. It is the obligation of the student to be acquainted with all the pertinent information in this Catalog and the Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual to see that all departmental requirements are satisfied.