Graduate Student Funding & Cost
We know that attending graduate school can be a big decision, especially when it comes to financing your education. Columbian College offers a variety of merit-based funding opportunities for students at both the master's and doctoral level. Several offices at GW are also dedicated to providing assistance with need-based financial aid, fellowships and grants.
Tuition and fees at GW are comparable to the national average for private universities. These costs, set by the GW Board of Trustees, generally increase from year to year and may vary by program and location.
Types of Funding
Tuition
Tuition fellowships are awards that can only cover tuition costs. They are applied directly to your student bill. Tuition awards vary in size and may be awarded as a flat sum or by credit hour. Funded PhD students will receive full tuition coverage. Master's students typically receive partial tuition awards. Tuition awards are not considered taxable income.
Stipend
A stipend is a living allowance paid directly to students to support their study. Stipends do not require any work other than the student’s own academic performance. Stipends are most commonly awarded to PhD students and are distributed on a monthly basis. Stipends are taxable income, with differing tax liabilities for domestic students and for international students.
Salary (Assistantship)
Salaries are a monthly payment that is made for services rendered. Students most commonly receive salary payments as compensation for graduate assistantships. Graduate assistantships vary in duties and hours and may include teaching or researching responsibilities. The wages of both domestic and international students are subject to taxation. The availability of these awards vary by department and by semester. Typically, only PhD students are guaranteed a graduate assistantship; however, master's and PsyD students are eligible for these positions.
How to Apply
All CCAS funding is awarded during the application process and does not require a separate application. When applying for admission, students should check the box on their application to indicate that they would like to be considered for an award. Students will be informed if they have received an award at the time of their admission. This includes tuition, stipend, and salary (graduate assistantship) awards.
Awards outside of CCAS will have separate application forms and deadlines. Review these requirements ahead of time as funding deadlines may take place before GW’s application deadlines. You can view admissions requirements for your degree program in the GW Bulletin.