Financial Resources

Graduate school can be challenging enough without worrying about making ends meet. The M.A. Program offers several options to help students along financially.

Departmental Scholarships

All full-time M.A. students receive a departmental scholarship that is applied directly to tuition costs. The scholarship amounts to about a one-third reduction in tuition and is split between the fall and spring semesters.

Research Assistantships

Full-time M.A. students are eligible to apply for a research assistant position. Students work with faculty members on a wide array of assignments designed to supplement their coursework and to give them valuable professional experience.

Loans for Graduate Students

In addition to the options listed above, Federal Stafford Loans are available to help graduate students meet their financial needs. There are two types of Federal Stafford Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are based on financial need. Unsubsidized loans are awarded regardless of student or family income.

Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan: Students may borrow $8,500 maximum, annually. Interest payments do not begin accruing until after graduation.

Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan: Students may borrow $10,000 maximum, annually. Interest begins accruing when the loan is awarded. Interest may be paid while the student is in school or deferred until after graduation.

Federal Stafford Loans are made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, or savings and loan association. The Financial Aid Office recommends borrowing through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to avoid delays in loan processing and disbursements.

Payment Options

Carnegie Mellon provides a tuition payment service, TMS, which allows you to pay academic year expenses in interest-free monthly installments. The only cost is a $45 application fee. If you have any questions or need additional information on payment options through TMS, please contact the HUB at (412) 268-8186.

Part-time Enrollment

Some students choose to enroll part-time in the M.A. program, which allows them to work and pursue their degrees at the same time. However, because most of the core courses are offered during the day, part-timers must be able to arrange their work schedules to allow for flexibility.