Tuition
2021-2022 Academic Year
- $10,860 for the year, which covers MLA classes taken Autumn through Summer quarters
- Tuition is paid in three equal installments of $3,620 in October, January, and April
- Stanford tuition for a full-time graduate student is $54,315 for 2021-2022; MLA students pay 1/5th of the full time graduate rate for that year, each year they are in the program.
Sample Tuition Projection
Year in the Program |
Degree in 4 Years |
Degree in 5 Years |
| 1 | $10,860 | $10,860 |
| 2 | $11,241 | $11,241 |
| 3 | $11,634 | $11,634 |
| 4 | $12,042 | $12,042 |
| 5 | $12,462 | |
| Estimated Total Tuition* | $45,777 | $58,239 |
*The estimated tuition is based on full-time graduate tuition increasing 3.5% annually; this is intended to give a general estimate, it is not a guarantee of future tuition rates. It is an estimate of tuition only and does not include additional fees or class materials.
Fees
- Document Fee: $250. A one-time fee paid fall quarter of the student’s incoming year. Stanford charges this to all incoming students. It covers the cost of enrollment and degree certification, diplomas, and official transcripts and their production.
- ASSU Fees: $44 per quarter, Fall, Winter, Spring. The Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU) fees are established by student vote in Spring Quarter. Fees directly fund activities of student organizations.
Discounts
- Stanford employees eligible for the Staff Tuition Reimbursement Program (STRP) are entitled to receive up to $5,250 per year toward their tuition. New Stanford employees who are not yet eligible for STRP may be qualified for the Staff Tuition Assistance program (STAP).
Tuition Assistance
The Master of Liberal Arts Program administers a need-blind admission policy; students are admitted without regard to their ability to pay. The MLA tuition assistance program attempts to provide assistance in meeting tuition costs to all students with demonstrated need. Students accepted to the program will receive information about tuition assistance at the time of admission.
Students should also enquire if their employers offer any tuition assistance programs.
Traditional and Federal Student Loans
Due to their part-time status, MLA students are not generally eligible for traditional student loans.
Students may be eligible for private loans, though these generally come with high interest rates and almost immediate repayment schedules.
