Undergraduate financial aid
Undergraduate financial aid is handled through the Stanford University Financial Aid Office, which provides comprehensive information on financial aid alternatives for undergraduates. The School of Engineering and the Management Science and Engineering Department do not handle financial aid inquiries for undergraduates.
Graduate financial aid
Stanford Fellowships
The Management Science and Engineering Department offers a limited number of fellowships restricted to first-year MS&E doctoral students, with priority given to those new to Stanford. These fellowships are not available to students admitted to the MS&E Master of Science program. It is not necessary to apply for these fellowships. All doctoral applicants indicating a desire to be considered for financial aid are considered for the fellowships.
The Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) administers a limited number of fellowships for graduate students. Please see the VPGE website for more information.
Please see GAP 7.2 for Stanford's policy on fellowships and other stipend support.
Please see Tax Information for information on tax treaties and taxation of fellowships.
Outside fellowships
We encourage students to apply for outside fellowships. Here is a listing of some you might consider.
Course and research assistantships
The Management Science and Engineering Department offers a limited number of course and research assistantships. Priority for assistantships goes to continuing MS&E doctoral students. New students and students enrolled in other departments are unlikely to receive MS&E assistantships, and should seek other funding opportunities.
Current students may apply for course assistantships online at the Student Forms page.
The Center for Teaching and Learning offers services for instructors and TA/CAs.
International students hired as TA/CAs must be screened by English for Foreign Students (EFS) for readiness to use English in a teaching role. Please see the EFS website for detailed information and requirements.
Current students may contact faculty members directly regarding the possibility of research assistantships.
We seldom hire hourly graders for our courses, preferring to support students on course assistantships whenever possible. If we do hire a grader, it will be after the first week of the quarter, and an email will be sent to students if we need applications.
Students appointed as CAs, RAs or graders must have a Social Security number and completed I-9 paperwork. Please see Payroll for Employees and Tax Information for additional information.
Please see GAP 7.3 for Stanford policy on assistantships.
Graduate student loans
Permanent residents and U.S. citizens may apply for need-based loans. Information on student loans and financial aid requirements and deadlines are available at the Stanford University Financial Aid Office.
Estimated cost of program
The Stanford University Office of Graduate Admissions provides more information about Financing Graduate Study and an estimated expense budget.
For 2015-2016, living expenses for graduate students are estimated at $9,662 per quarter. Most of our graduate students choose to complete the degree in five quarters, taking 8-10 units per quarter. The 2015-2016 tuition cost for 8-10 units is $10,560 per quarter. So, the total cost for five quarters of graduate study is estimated at $101,110 (using 2015-2016 numbers). Some of our graduate students choose to complete the degree in three quarters, taking 15 units per quarter. The 2015-2016 tuition cost for 11-18 units is $16,240 per quarter. So, the total cost for three quarters of graduate study is estimated at $77,706.
