The cost of funding a WashU graduate education varies by school and, in some cases, by program or degree. Tuition rates and fees are available through each school’s website as listed on our Admissions page (link to Grad Admissions page).
Cost of Living
The following information is provided for planning purposes and is not meant to be a guarantee of your cost of living while pursuing a graduate or professional degree at WashU or a guarantee of the funding you will receive.
Based on a survey of graduate and professional students conducted in Fall 2025, the following is provided to give a sense of the average cost of living for a post-baccalaureate student. Costs could vary substantially if sharing housing with a roommate or if supporting a family while attending WashU.
Table 1. Estimated cost of living for a graduate student over a period of 9 months. Based on Fall 2025 survey responses from 1,179 graduate and professional students (7502 full-and part-time students were surveyed).
| Housing | $11,330 |
| Utilities | $1,750 |
| Food | $3,920 |
| Transportation | $660 (not inclusive of cost to park on campus) |
| Personal | $2,940 (e.g., medical expenses, clothing, personal care, household essentials, childcare, etc.) |
| Health Insurance | All full-time graduate students are required to show proof of medical insurance or sign up for WashU provided plan ($2,712 is the 2025-2026 estimated premium). |
Each graduate and professional program provides more information related to the cost of attendance. Please see the Student Consumer Information page for links to individual program information.
Graduate Stipends
Most of our PhD students receive a stipend and full tuition coverage for 4-5 years, depending on the time needed to complete their program. Funding typically consists of full tuition remission and a stipend to defray living expenses. Master’s and professional programs may or may not offer funding. Reach out to the school and desired program to learn more about funding opportunities. Learn more about funding.
University-wide Fellowships
WashU offers several highly competitive and prestigious fellowships for graduate students.
Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin-Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship (OCF)
The Ann W. and Spencer T. Olin-Chancellor’s Fellowship (OCF) is an elite cohort of outstanding graduate students representing a rich tapestry of backgrounds and varied disciplines. Aligned with WashU’s goals of fostering excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service, the OCF is dedicated to nurturing a wide array of distinctive perspectives and disciplines.
McDonnell International Scholars Academy
The McDonnell International Scholars Academy (MISA) is a prestigious graduate fellowship program offering exceptional training for WashU graduate students to become effective leaders in a global community. Through an international network of research universities, WashU develops future leaders in a global university system, promoting global awareness and social responsibility.
Other Funding Opportunities
For more information about other internal or external funding opportunities and resources, visit The Graduate Center’s Financial Resources page or WashU’s Financial Aid for Graduate Students site. You may find additional funding opportunities listed at the school, department, or program level.