Financing Your Degree
Penn MPH students pay tuition and fees per Credit Unit rather than a flat rate per semester or year. Information on and an estimation of our tuition charges can be found below. From scholarships to federal or private loans to assistantships, there are a variety of ways to help finance your Penn MPH degree.
Financial Aid Support
To estimate the total cost of attendance for the Penn MPH program, including living, personal, and health insurance expenses beyond the cost of tuition and fees, students connect with Student Registration and Financial Services (SRFS). SRFS facilitates the graduate student loan process and can help answer questions about billing.
Tuition 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Courseload | Tuition | General Fee | Technology Fee | Clinical Fee | Total Semester Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courseload 1.0 CU | Tuition$5,044 | General Fee$492 | Technology Fee$198 | Clinical Fee$0 | Total Semester Cost$5,734 |
| Courseload 2.0 CU | Tuition$10,088 | General Fee$984 | Technology Fee$396 | Clinical Fee$0 | Total Semester Cost$11,468 |
| Courseload 3.0 CU | Tuition$15,132 | General Fee$1,977 | Technology Fee$594 | Clinical Fee$358 | Total Semester Cost$18,061 |
| Courseload 4.0 CU | Tuition$20,176 | General Fee$1,977 | Technology Fee$594 | Clinical Fee$358 | Total Semester Cost$23,105 |
Tuition Assistance Statistics
$580,223Tuition Assistance Provided in 2023
25+Teaching Assistantships per Year
8+Graduate Assistantships per Year
Scholarship Support from the MPH Program
The MPH program provides several different opportunities for tuition assistance. All tuition assistance provided by the program involves waiving tuition per Credit Unit (CU). Associated fees cannot be waived per University policy. Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for all forms of tuition assistance awarded by the program, though scholarships cannot be used in tandem with the Penn Employee Tuition Benefit mentioned below. No additional essay or application is required to be considered for any scholarships from the MPH program and the Admission Committee takes all applicants under consideration for scholarships during the initial application review process. The committee encourages applicants interested in scholarships to submit by a priority deadline of February 1, 2024.
The MPH program awards up to 10 Public Health Merit Scholarships annually to incoming students with academic merit who will bring diverse perspectives to the Penn MPH program and enrich the public health workforce through their unique lived experiences. At least two of these awards will be reserved for incoming students who are from and/or committed to working in the Greater Philadelphia region. Potential awardees will be invited for an additional interview by the committee. These scholarships typically cover 4 to 10 CUs, or approximately $20,176 to $50,440.
Returning Peace Corps volunteers (RPCV) are eligible for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship. Potential awardees will be invited for an additional interview by the committee. These scholarships typically cover 7 CU tuition, or approximately $35,308.
The MPH program awards up to 10 Public Health Practice Scholarships annually to incoming students who have at least two years of relevant work experience prior to matriculation and do not already possess an advanced degree (Masters or Doctoral). Potential awardees will be invited for an additional interview by the committee. These scholarships typically cover 3 CU tuition, or approximately $15,132.
The Whitney Ann Buckholz Scholarship will be awarded to an incoming MPH student who best represents the ideals of Whitney through extensive community engagement prior to graduate school. Whitney was an MPH alumna remembered as a strong, creative student. She embraced challenges, looking for ways to learn and contribute to the health of communities. This tuition scholarship is made possible by a legacy contribution from Whitney and her family.
Participants of Penn’s Pipeline Plus Public Health summer internship program, who complete at least two years of the program, are eligible for a full tuition scholarship to Penn’s MPH program.
Assistantship Positions from the MPH Program
The MPH program offers Teaching Assistantship (TA) positions, which are available to qualified students who have excelled in a particular course. First semester students are therefore ineligible to TA. TA positions offer a stipend of $2,500 per semester for approximately 10 hours per week of work to support the faculty teaching an MPH course. These assistantships have a separate application process shortly before the start of each semester that is available only to already-matriculated students.
University of Pennsylvania Employee Tuition Support
The tuition benefit for full-time University of Pennsylvania employees covers 100% of the tuition, general, and technology fees at Penn for up to 2 CUs per semester, 6 CUs per year (2 CUs per fall, spring, and summer semesters). Graduate tuition costs above $5,250 in a calendar year are considered taxable income. Newly hired faculty and staff are eligible to use the tuition benefit only after a six-month waiting period from date-of-hire. Under the university’s revised policy, the end date of the waiting period is the staff member’s tuition eligibility date. If the tuition eligibility date comes after the first day of classes for a term, faculty and staff cannot receive tuition benefits until the start of the following term.
Loan Information
US Citizens or eligible Non-Citizens may qualify for federal loan funding. You must be enrolled at least half time (2 CUs) each semester to receive federal loan funding. For all prospective students who are planning to apply for federal loans, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Penn’s institutional code #003378.
MPH students are eligible for loans to cover the cost of tuition and estimated living expenses. This represents the maximum you can borrow, though students are always welcome to borrow less. If you receive scholarship funding, your loan may be reduced or returned. Students may not be eligible if they have borrowed for past programs and are at their aggregate loan limit or they are in default on previously borrowed student loans.
MPH students may qualify for a maximum of $33,000 in Federal Direct Loan, which is unsubsidized (interest begins at disbursement) and not credit checked.
Should students wish to borrow federal loans over the Federal Direct Loan amount to cover the remainder of tuition, fees, and living expenses, there is the Grad PLUS Loan, which is unsubsidized but credit checked.
External Opportunities for Tuition Support
External Research Assistantships and Internships
The MPH program facilitates the dissemination of opportunities for part-time research assistantships by faculty associated with the MPH program, as well as paid internships with various public health organizations. These are shared with current, matriculated students on an ad hoc basis and have a variety of compensation models.
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) & This is Public Health (TiPH) Scholarships
ASPPH & TiPH source and collate myriad scholarships for students. Scholarships are mostly tax-free financial awards given to students with the intention to pursue a specific area of study or research. They are usually awarded based on certain qualifying traits.
More Info HereIELTS USA Andrea Scott International Graduate Scholarship
Admitted, Fall 2023 international applicants with a valid IELTS score are eligible for the Andrea Scott International Graduate Scholarship, an annual award of $5,000 and renewable for up to 3 years. Scholarship recipients will share Andrea’s inspiring commitment to international education, her passion for globalization, creative arts, and equal rights initiatives.
More Info Here