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Funding & Cost Overview

Master of International Affairs & Public Health (Combined) Degree

MIA-MPH Funding & Cost

Overview | Funding Tips | Cost | Funding | Return on Investment

Funding and costs over the three years in the MIA-MPH will be split between the two programs, and awarded independently of the other. The cost and funding will correspond to the school the student is enrolled with each semester.

Since students begin their first year and a half of the degree with the School of Public Health, students are charged tuition and fee rates for that of the MPH degree. Additionally, funding and scholarship opportunities during this time are offered and awarded through the School of Public Health. For MPH funding and cost information visit https://public-health.tamu.edu/admissions/financial-aid.html, or contact the School of Public Health at SPH-GSS@tamu.edu or 979-436-9356.

For the last year and a half of the degree, students are in The Bush School pursuing the MIA degree. Therefore, they are charged Bush School tuition and fee rates and are eligible to receive Bush School funding awards during this time.

The centerpiece of our funding is competitive Bush School Scholarships. which provide some support for our students. The Bush School is dedicated to making graduate education affordable. We know the majority of our students are seeking purpose-driven lives and cannot take on an enormous amount of debt. By providing some financial assistance, The Bush School supports students choosing jobs that matter to them. Alumni are free to pursue their passions, not their pocketbook, as they enter the workforce.

When a student is admitted to the MIA-MPH program, they are automatically evaluated for Bush School Scholarship funding. The amount of MIA funding a student is awarded is determined by evaluating every aspect of the applicant’s application, including their academic performance, experiences, personal statement, interview, foreign language ability, and more. At the time of admission, the student’s offer letter will specify the amount of The Bush School Scholarship they have been awarded for the last year and a half of studies in The Bush School.

Please be aware that Bush School funding will only be awarded/ effective for the semesters in which a student is enrolled full-time with The Bush School (typically the student’s second spring, third fall, and third spring semesters only). Furthermore, non-residents (including international students) who receive a competitive Bush School Scholarship are also granted non-resident tuition waivers for the semesters they are enrolled full-time in The Bush School, allowing them to pay in-state tuition rates. Most of The Bush School funding awards are renewed in the student’s third year as long as the student maintains a minimum 3.25 GPA.

Additionally, The Bush School works with other organizations to grant competitive, nomination-based fellowships and offers funding for internships to those who qualify. About a dozen grate assistantships (GAs) are awarded to third-year MIA-MPH students based on merit and other qualifications. We may also have additional funds available to those who face a socio-economic disadvantage or hardship; this unique funding opportunity will require applicants to submit a short essay via their application to be considered.

We recommend applicants submit and complete their application by the MIA Priority Funding Application Deadline to ensure their application is considered for the best Bush School Funding options. Applicants who compete their application after the priority application deadline, but on or before the final deadline, will still receive a Bush School Scholarship, but may miss the opportunity to be nominated for other funding awards.

While The Bush School funding we offer can help with some of the cost, students have to either take out loans, work, or receive funding elsewhere to cover the rest. We strongly encourage applicants to apply for any outside funding opportunities they may qualify for. Refer to the “Supplemental Aid” section below.

Tips for Funding your Graduate School Education

Graduate aid is packaged differently from undergraduate aid, so familiarize yourself on the various funding options. For starters, grad school applicants are considered independent, so you are already tagged for higher need. This means that you may qualify for aid in the form of loans, especially those with competitive interest rates.

But before you start borrowing, be sure to look for money you don’t have to pay back.

Order of Financing

  1. Free Money
    • Scholarships/Fellowships – earned through merit, eligibility criteria, or need
    • Grants – usually given based on financial need; often state based
    • Waivers – avoiding certain fees based on designations or qualifications; can include waiving non-resident tuition, application fees, and more
  2. Earned Money
    • Work – seek on-campus or off-campus options
    • Graduate Assistants – work for faculty or staff in research, teaching, or support roles; most require 20 hours per week and may include some tuition remission and insurance benefits
    • Military Benefits – utilize GI Bill, Hazelwood, and other earned support
  3. Borrowed Money
    • Loans (fill out FAFSA) – borrowed money that has to be repaid, with interest, usually after you graduate/leave the university
      • Subsidized – government pays the interest until you graduate
      • Unsubsidized – you pay interest, including while in school and in deferment periods.
      • Private – also pay interest throughout, check those interest rates!

Financial Resources

Check out some helpful financial resources from some sites below to help you learn more about financing your graduation education, navigating student loan options, and what to consider when taking on more debt. These are just a few of the hundreds of sites out there.

Return on Investment: Is it worth It?

Whether you are already working or about to finish your undergraduate degree, we know you are asking yourself “Is a master’s degree really worth it? What about two master’s degrees?” As with any decision, you have to look at the whole picture. Ensure you not only consider the cost of tuition and fees, but also the cost of living for your grad school location. When comparing these rates to other top-quality programs in the nation, you’ll see why Texas A&M University is ranked the #1 Best Value School in Texas public universities, according to U.S. News and World Report, 2022.

Let’s take a look…

The table below provides a snapshot of the total cost of the program (using 2022-23 tuition and fee rates), so you can get an overall cost of the program. Please note the $5,000 per year Bush School Scholarship we included below is just an example. The cost could be significantly less with a larger scholarship.

TOTAL COST
*excludes optional fees		 TX Resident Non-resident International
MPH Tuition & Required Fees (First 1.5 Years) $15,584 $33,852 $38,989
MPH Cost of Living (First 1.5 Years) $39,930 $43,330 $43,330
MPH TOTAL COST (First 1.5 Years)
(Tuition & Req Fees + Cost of Living)		 $55,514 $77,182 $82,319
MIA Tuition & Required Fees (Second 1.5 Years) $20,360 $39,494 $45,531
MIA Cost of Living (Second 1.5 Years) $33,216 $35,766 $35,766
MIA Bush School Competitive Scholarship
(Average Scholarship is $2,500 per semester, used just as an example)		 -$7,500 -$7,500 -$7,500
MIA Non-resident Tuition Waiver – -$19,134 -$19,134
MIA TOTAL COST (Second 1.5 Years)
(Tuition & Req Fees + Cost of Living)		 $46,076 $48,626 $54,663
MIA – MPH OVERALL TOTAL COST $101,590 $125,808 $136,982

As you can see above, pursuing the MIA-MPH Combined Degree is a significant investment.

Now, let’s dive into the salary ranges you could make after graduation to get a better idea of how much more you can make with your master’s and how long it will take you to pay off your grad school debt.

  • What salary are you looking to earn upon graduation?
    Most students who earn a master’s degree in international affairs related fields enter careers in the federal government, which uses a General Schedule (GS) pay scale to determine salaries. An employee’s base pay depends on their location, the GS pay grade of their job, and the pay grade step they’ve achieved. Most students who graduate with a Master of International Affairs (or similar degree) enter a federal government career at the GS-9 pay grade. Let’s compare two location for 2022 with and without a master’s degree:
    • Washington, DC – A starting salary for a bachelor’s degree typically starts at a GS-7 pay grade, which offers a minimum salary (step 1) at $50,643 in the nation’s capital. With your master’s degree completed, alumni move to the GS-9 level, which pays a minimum salary (step 1) at $61,947.
    • Houston, TX – A starting salary for a bachelor’s level at a GS-7 pay grade in Houston offers a minimum salary (step 1) at $51,579. With your master’s degree completed, alumni qualify at the GS-9 level, which pays a minimum salary (step 1) of $63,091.

This means that earning your master’s degree helps qualify you for an additional $11,000 per year for the rest of your federal working career. Knowing how much you can earn, just how much debt are you willing to take on?

  • How long will it take you to pay off graduate school debt?
    As of August 2022, the average interest rate for a graduate student loan is 5.28%. When would be your expected payoff date for the loan? And, how much do you think you will be able to pay in monthly payments with our expected salary?

    For instance,
    • For Texas residents with $91,094 in grad school debt making $600 monthly payments, the expected payoff date would be July 2043.
    • For non-residents with $106,545 in grad school debt making $600 monthly payments, the expected payoff date would be June 2051.
    • For international students with $111,646 in grad school debt making $600 monthly payments, the expected payoff date would be January 2055.
  • Will a master’s degree from a college in Washington, DC, be more beneficial than earning a master’s degree from The Bush School at Texas A&M University?
    Specifically, for those looking at federal government careers after earning their master’s degree, not necessarily. Regardless of where you earn your graduate degree, your pay scale will be the same. The location of a college has no impact on the salary or pay scale earned in a federal government career.

    If you believe studying in the nation’s capital offers additional opportunity that’s worth the cost, then that’s a personal decision. But know that schools outside the Beltway have we-developed career connections all over the nation, including within DC and their agencies and organization. Do you homework to see how strong the employment record is with your intended school for the agencies or location you desire.

    The Bush School Career Services team is dedicated to helping our students nail the job they want upon graduation. They work with students in perfecting their resume, LinkedIn profiles, and more, while also bringing in employers (from the CIA, FBI, and more) campus for interviews and job talks and helping students prepare for the competitive application process.

We leave it to you to dive deeper into the cost-benefit analysis. After all, you can get a more definitive cost of attendance at your interested colleges and can then do a direct comparison with The Bush School to see what works best for your lifestyle and goals. You can reach out to us if we can address your concerns or questions. Staff, faculty, and current students are ready to help!