Tuition & Aid

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Tuition

Your tuition at the University of Pennsylvania is calculated at a per course unit (c.u.)* rate based on the program you choose and the number of course units for which you register unless otherwise indicated. All tuition and fee charges are subject to the approval of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice.

Choose your program of interest to learn about the relevant tuition and fees.

Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 tuition and fee rates for Master of Public Administration students

Tuition per semester is calculated based on student enrollment in four courses in the fall, four courses in the spring, and one course in the summer. Any additional courses have a $6,574 per c.u. tuition rate.

  Fall Spring *Summer
Tuition $26,296 $26,296 $6,574
General Fee $1,830 $1,830 $456
Clinical Fee $332 $332 N/A
Total $28,458 $28,458 $7,030

*Cost of attendance for summer terms is estimated, as tuition and fees are adjusted during this term for the subsequent academic year.

The Full-time Master of Public Administration requires 9 c.u. to complete: tuition per term is calculated based on student enrollment in four courses (4 c.u.) in the fall, four courses (4 c.u.) in the spring, and one course (1 c.u.) in the summer. Cost of attendance for summer terms is estimated, as tuition and fees are adjusted during this term for the subsequent academic year.

Fee definitions

  • General fee: A General Fee is assessed to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and directly funds Penn's non-instructional student support services. The General Fee for full-time students provides them with full access to a wide variety of services and resources, including counseling and wellness, multicultural resource centers, student activities, recreation and fitness, career services, learning support, and much more.
  • Clinical fee: This mandatory fee is assessed to all students and supports Penn Wellness services, including Campus Health, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Student Health Service, and the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Programs.

Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 tuition and fee rates for Executive Master of Public Administration students

Tuition per semester covers the required two courses Executive MPA students take per term. Individual courses have a $6,574 per c.u. tuition rate.

  Fall Spring *Summer
Tuition $13,148 $13,148 $13,148
General fee $912 $912 $912
Program fee $600 N/A N/A
Total $14,660 $14,060 $14,060

*Cost of attendance for summer terms is estimated, as tuition and fees are adjusted during this term for the subsequent academic year.

The Executive Master of Public Education requires 10 c.u. to complete: 2 c.u. per term for five terms. The chart above shows tuition and fees for three terms in the current academic year; tuition and fees for terms in the upcoming academic year may change. Cost of attendance for summer terms is estimated, as tuition and fees are adjusted during this term for the subsequent academic year.

Fee definitions

  • General fee: A General Fee is assessed to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and directly funds Penn's non-instructional student support services. The General Fee for full-time students provides them with full access to a wide variety of services and resources, including counseling and wellness, multicultural resource centers, student activities, recreation and fitness, career services, learning support, and much more.
  • Program fee: The program fee is a one-time charge in the fall term and covers program activities specific to Executive MPA students.

Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 tuition and fee rates for Non-Degree students

  1 c.u. 2 c.u.
Tuition $6,574 $13,148
General fee $442 $884
Total $7,016 $14,032

Tuition is based on the number of courses taken per term.

Fee definitions

  • General fee: A General Fee is assessed to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and directly funds Penn's non-instructional student support services. The General Fee for full-time students provides them with full access to a wide variety of services and resources, including counseling and wellness, multicultural resource centers, student activities, recreation and fitness, career services, learning support, and much more.
  • Please note: Students enrolled in three or more c.u. are considered full-time students and are required to pay a clinical fee each term which allows unlimited access to the Penn Student Health Service

*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.

 

Financial Aid

Fels offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to support students as they become the next generation of public sector leaders. Fels strives to support students who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, who bring perspectives and diversity to public sector leadership, and who show exceptional potential as future leaders.

Eligibility: Students in the Full-time MPA and Executive MPA degree programs are eligible for scholarships funds from the Fels Institute of Government. Scholarship amounts depend on the admission committee’s assessment of the applicant, the individual’s fit with Fels, and the amount of funding available. Penn employees who receive a tuition benefit are not eligible for scholarships. Applicants are considered for Fels scholarships through their admission application materials. Separate scholarship applications are not required.

We also encourage students to research their eligibility for federal financial aid opportunities listed below.

The 15 for 5 Scholarship is available to a limited number of Executive MPA applicants who are currently employed full-time in a branch of the US military or a federal, state, or local government agency, and who have accrued a total of at least five years of service to government and/or military agencies. Pending a resume review and fund availability, the scholarship awards qualified students $15,000 in financial aid disbursed throughout the program.

Students admitted to the Fels Institute of Government Full-time MPA or Executive MPA program who are current members or alumni of a Fels admissions partner organization may be eligible for an Admission Partner Grant of at least $8,000, and potentially more for some specially qualified candidates. Applicants who are awarded the 15 for 5 Scholarship are not eligible for the partner grant.

Current admission partners include:

  • AmeriCorps
  • Bonner Foundation
  • City Year
  • Eastern Leadership Academy
  • Govern for America
  • Jesuit Volunteer Corps
  • Lead For America
  • Peace Corps
  • Public Policy & International Affairs Program
  • Teach For All
  • Teach For America

Students with exceptional potential, academic ability, and/or track-records of public service who are not eligible for the Admissions Partner Grant or the 15 for 5 Scholarship may be considered for merit-based scholarships based on their application materials. Students will be contacted if additional information is needed. Fels Public Service Scholarships are typically between $1,000 and $15,000.

Open to all Full-time MPA students, the Fels Public Leadership and Service (PLAS) Fellowship Program provides students with financial support to pursue meaningful internships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations around the world that would otherwise be unpaid. Students can be awarded up to $5,000 to pursue their public sector internship.

If you intend to complete a Fels degree as a working professional, you may be able to take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits offered by your employer. If you are a full-time Penn employee, learn more about Penn's tuition benefits on Penn’s Human Resources website. Applicants who are eligible for University of Pennsylvania employee tuition benefits are not eligible to apply for Fels scholarships or grants.

Penn honors the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program allows Penn to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses for eligible veterans. There are limited openings in each school for Yellow Ribbon awards. To learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program and how to apply, visit the Veterans at Penn page.

All domestic applicants interested in their federal loan eligibility should complete the FAFSA form after applying to the program. Visit the Department of Education’s website to start your FAFSA form.

Executive MPA applicants are eligible for federal loans as long as they matriculate in two classes during two academic terms in a single year. Enrollment in one class during the academic year will result in a withdrawal of federal loans.

Penn’s Student Financial Services office is available to prospective and current students for financial aid inquiries. For more information on financing your graduate studies, visit the Student Financial Services website to:

  • Check your loan eligibility status
  • Get information on federal loans and payment plans
  • Get email and mailing addresses, phone numbers, office hours, and appointment details
  • Learn more about the differences between private and federal loans, and where you can find lenders
  • Graduate Associates provide community support and receive rent-free accommodations in one of Penn’s College Houses
  • Learn more about financial aid and billing: Watch a video hosted by Joe Manning, Associate Director of Graduate and Professional Aid

 

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Fels Institute of Government

The Fels Institute of Government
3814 Walnut St. 
Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 898-7326
felsinstitute@sas.upenn.edu