Financing Your Degree

As the demand for public health leadership grows,¹ so too does the need to deliver accessible, top-quality public health education. It is our responsibility to prepare the next generation of public health professionals as we work together to improve the health of our communities and world.

Please note the cost of tuition does not include out-of-pocket expenses such as books, additional course materials, immersions or other fees. While immersion fees include a majority of associated expenses, students are still responsible for travel costs, as well as some food and miscellaneous charges throughout the immersion experience.

There are a number of options available to help you fund your degree, including merit-based scholarships, private loans and federal loans. Please see below for helpful resources:

MPH@GW is offering a tuition scholarship of up to $15,000 to students who are accepted and enrolled into the upcoming cohort. Contact your enrollment specialist for more information.

The FAFSA is available October 1st for the upcoming academic year. New students planning to use federal student aid should complete the FAFSA while applying for admission; you do not need to wait until you are admitted. 

Continuing students will need to submit a FAFSA each year they plan to receive federal student aid. Eligibility for federal student aid does not carry over from one award year to the next, you will need to complete the FAFSA for each award year for which you are or plan to enroll.

Please reference the chart below to determine which FAFSA academic year to complete based on your desired start, continue/return date:

An academic year at GWU starts in the fall and ends in the summer. This is used to calculate your federal eligibility for one academic year.  

Example: If you start in Summer (2022), and register for Summer (2022) and Fall (2022), you will need to complete both the 2021-2022 FAFSA and the 2022-2023 FAFSA.

Example: If you start in Fall 2022, and register for Fall (2022), Spring (2023) and Summer (2023), you will only need to complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA.

Example: If you start in Spring 1 or 2 (2023), and register for Spring (2023), Summer (2023) and Fall (2023), you will need to complete both the 2022-2023 FAFSA and the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

Starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS Loans will no longer be offered for new borrowers and borrowing limits will be introduced for new loans, meaning federal loans may no longer cover the full cost of attendance for many graduate students. If you’re planning to begin a graduate degree program in fall 2026 or later, start planning now (ideally before you apply) to find alternative funding options. This change will affect people seeking federal financial aid for the Online Master of Public Health program at George Washington University; primarily, those who enroll on or after July 1, 2026.

Most graduate students will be limited to borrowing up to $20,500 per year for graduate degrees, including this program. The incoming changes will also limit lifetime loans for graduate degrees to $100,000. If you do not plan to study full time, your loan limit may be lower. Learn more details here.

Early planning is the most important thing you can do. The financial aid office can help you build a plan:

Visit Our Website

Speak with a financial aid advisor

Already enrolled? If your federal loans were disbursed before July 1, 2026, you may be able to continue borrowing under prior rules, including Grad PLUS, with limitations. Taking a leave of absence, withdrawing, transferring, or changing programs/institutions after June 30, 2026 could affect your eligibility. Contact the financial aid office before making any enrollment changes.

While international applicants will be considered for institutionally funded scholarships, eligibility for federal student aid is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents and eligible non-citizens who are currently living within the United States for purposes other than studying.

International students should explore funding options in their home countries and talk with their employers about tuition benefits that may be available, including tuition reimbursement and low-cost loans.

Please note that international students in online degree programs are not eligible to participate in the U.S. Student Visa process.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor (2020). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Health Educators and Community Health Workers. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2020.