Graduate Financial Aid
Funding opportunities for graduate students include fellowships, research assistantships, training grants, and teaching or course assistantships.
Fellowships
Stanford Fellowships:
Department
MS&E 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.
University
VPGE Doctoral Fellowships
Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
Outside Funding
We encourage students to apply for nationally competitive fellowships and other outside funding.
Course and research assistantships
The Management Science and Engineering Department offers a limited number of course and research assistantships. A course assistantship is similar to a teaching assistantship. Priority for assistantships goes to continuing MS&E doctoral students. New students and students enrolled in other departments are less likely to receive MS&E assistantships, and should seek other funding opportunities.
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 funding graduate study and an estimated expense budget.
For 2024-2025, the estimated cost of living expenses for graduate students is $15,091 per quarter.
Most of our graduate students choose to complete the degree in five quarters, taking 8-10 units per quarter.
$14,100 per quarter: Tuition cost for 8-10 units
$145,955: Estimated total cost (tuition and living expenses) for five quarters of graduate study
Some of our graduate students choose to complete the degree in three quarters, taking 15 units per quarter.
$21,694 per quarter: Tuition cost for 11-18 units
$110,355: Estimated total cost (tuition and living expenses) for three quarters of graduate study