Graduate Program Costs and Funding
When considering a graduate degree program, affordability and flexibility are essential factors to consider. We acknowledge that pursuing a graduate degree is an investment in your future career.
For the most up-to-date information regarding tuition and fees for graduate students, please visit the CMU HUB. MS and PhD students should also explore funding opportunities.
PhD Research Assistantships
PhD students can secure a research assistantship that covers tuition and technology fees, and provides a stipend for living expenses. This assistantship can last for up to five years, contingent upon satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Students awarded a research assistantship must dedicate around 20 hours per week to teaching and research activities in addition to their coursework, which is an integral part of their graduate education.
As a full-time PhD student, you will collaborate on research projects and engage in research under the guidance of faculty members. If you enter the program with your own funding, you can work with your advisor to tailor your research according to your interests within the constraints of your funding.
Students are responsible for covering expenses such as health insurance, activity, and transportation fees, books, and course supplies.
Student-Friendly Pittsburgh: Affordability and Cost of Living
Pittsburgh's remarkable affordability is a rarity among cities offering top-notch amenities. Our city boasts vibrancy and affordability, offering various housing options near the campus. Beyond cost savings, Pittsburgh's diverse landscapes, from serene rivers to lush valleys, create an inviting backdrop for outdoor pursuits.
Take advantage of our dynamic cultural scene featuring museums, theaters, and artistic events catering to all tastes. As a student, your ID grants you free entry to the Carnegie Museums and Phipps Botanical Garden and complimentary public transportation.
It is an exciting time to live in Pittsburgh, with burgeoning tech and robotics industries propelling the job market forward, establishing us as an innovation and career hotspot. As these sectors continue to flourish, the city's economic landscape broadens, cementing its reputation as an affordable urban center with a thriving job market and an outstanding quality of life.
Click to Discover Why Pittsburgh is a Great Place to Call Home
Graduate Program Support
External Support Opportunities
Begin your search for potential scholarships and fellowships that can provide financial support for your graduate program. However, please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other opportunities available.
It's important to explore the individual program pages for applicant criteria and some programs may offer specific opportunities for international students.
* Funding sources that may have opportunities for students who are not US citizens or permanent residents.
CMU Rales Fellow Program
The CMU Rales Fellows Program eliminates financial obstacles for underrepresented STEM leaders, inspiring progress and enabling over 80 annual fellows in advanced STEM education through partnerships like the Ron Brown Scholar Program and the National GEM Consortium.
If you are interested in applying for this funding, you will need to complete a RALES Fellowship application in tandem with your CEE application. Please see RALES' website for application deadlines and program details.
GEM Fellowship Program
The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM), a nonprofit organization, was formed to help assist underrepresented groups (African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans) at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and physical science.
The College of Engineering is pleased to support the GEM Fellowship program by offering a generous award to GEM MS Engineering Fellowship Program recipients. A few select applicants will be eligible for an award that augments the GEM contribution to the fellowship and will help to defray your overall cost of attendance in the MS program at CMU.
The application cycle for this program is July 1 – November 15.
Jordan Joseph, an Associate Fellow of The National GEM Consortium, is dedicated to advancing equity and sustainability in engineering. His research focuses on pathways for residential decarbonization and their impact on vulnerable communities, aiming to improve the quality of life for residents in historically marginalized neighborhoods.
>> Read His Story