The Bush School of Government & Public Service

Public Service is a noble calling.


Home / Funding & Cost / INTA Funding & Cost Information / MIP Funding & Cost

Funding & Cost

Master of International Policy

Funding & Cost - MIP

Overview | Tips | Funding | Tuition & Fees | Cost of Living | Return on Investment

Funding Overview

The one-year MIP is designed for working professionals and to allow them to tackle the curriculum in only one year. Therefore, we do not provide Bush School Scholarships to MIP students. However, students can still apply for outside funding opportunities (such as loans and grants) and/or can utilize any military benefits they qualify for.

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 Assistantships – 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 throughout, 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 graduate 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.

Supplemental Aid/ Loans/ Jobs

Students will often need supplemental aid to pay for their graduate education. Students are encouraged to apply for other funding opportunities available through the following links or through independent organizations that offer graduate funding.

  • Texas A&M University Scholarships & Financial Aid:

    • Federal Financial Aid – Domestic students are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to see how much they are qualified to earn in loans. The FAFSA can be submitted at any point during the application process. 

    • International Students are encouraged to submit one of the following applications to see what aid they may qualify for:
      • If you are not a U.S. Citizen, but are a Texas Resident, submit an eTASFA (Texas Application for State Financial Aid).
      • If you are not a U.S. Citizen or Texas Resident, submit an ISFAA (International Student Financial Aid Application).

    • Texas Aggie Graduate Grant – A need-based award available for Texas residents attending the College Station campus who receive less than $10,000 in scholarships per year. Students must apply by submitting a TAGG application located on the forms page of the website above. Additional details about the grant can be found through the link above.  

  • Part-time or Full-time Work –  In an optimal situation, the Bush School discourages students from trying to manage outside work obligations with rigorous class requirements, particularly during the first semester and/or year. With a typical course load of 12 credit hours and an abundance of activities to pursue, student who do juggle both must exercise careful time management. Having said that, we realize students have bills to pay and are often looking for work experience to add to their resume.
    • Students looking for a job can find a complete listing of jobs available on-campus (and some off-campus) through the Jobs for Aggies website, maintained by Texas A&M.  You will need your NetID and password to sign into the portal.

  • Military Benefits – Veterans, Active Duty Military Personnel, and their Spouses or Dependents are encouraged to check out the Veteran’s Services website to see if there are any military educational benefits they qualify for. Texas A&M University has a long-standing tradition of military support. Post 9/11, Hazelwood, Montgomery GI Bill, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program, Yellow Ribbon Program, State Tuition Reimbursement Assistance, and more are accepted.

  • National Scholarship & Fellowship Opportunities – Aside from Texas A&M funding opportunities, a number of competitive national awards are available online We encourage students to search for these opportunities independently and apply to those they might qualify for.
    • Service Organization Stipend/Scholarship: Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, City Year, Public Policy-International Affairs Program (PPIA)
    • Charles B Rangel International Affairs Fellowship
    • Thomas R Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship
    • Donald M Payne Fellowship
    • McNair Graduate Fellowship
    • David L Boren Fellowship
    • Harry S Truman Scholarship
    • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Women in Defense Horizons Scholarship
    • Twitter Public Policy Fellowship
    • And many, many more found on the websites below

For additional opportunities, be sure to search through the following websites:

  • APSIA (Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs): Contains a comprehensive list of over 110 scholarships, some of which are highlighted above. Look at least a year out so you have time to apply.

International Students

We do not offer full-ride scholarships with teaching and graduate assistantships. Therefore, international students must have some funding of their own to afford tuition, cost of living, health insurance, and other additional fees. Seeking financial support from independent agencies like Fulbright or government sponsorships is strongly recommended. International students seeking additional financial support can refer to the following websites for helpful guidance and opportunities:

Master of International Policy Costs

Estimated 2022-23 MIP Tuition Required & Fees per Year

Considering the typical load of 4 courses/12 credit hours in the fall/spring semesters and 2 courses/6 credit hours in the summer semester, an estimated breakdown of MIP tuition and fee cost for the entire one-year program would look similar to this:

Estimated 2022-23 Cost of Living

Community

The Bryan-College Station community has a bustling population of around 273,000 residents and is located in the southeastern portion of the state, centrally located within easy driving distance of major metropolitan areas (Houston, Austin, Waco, Dallas/Fort Worth, and San Antonio). Texas A&M could be described as an urban campus with a small-town feel. College Station offers a lively college environment and is a great place for families, with well-maintained parks, recreation centers, walking trails, and bike paths, as well as numerous entertainment activities here and in the region.

Its affordable cost of living, economic opportunity, and spirited country-vibe help it rank on multiple sites as a great place to live. Compare our caliber and our affordability to competitor schools, and you’ll see why Texas A&M University is ranked #1 in “Best Value” and “Best Public College” in Texas, according to Money Magazine 2022.

Estimated Cost of Living Breakdown

Though living expenses for each Bush School student will vary greatly depending upon personal preferences and needs, the Texas A&M University Scholarships & Financial Aid office has calculated the 2022-23 cost of living for College Station Graduate Students as follows:

ResidentNon-resident
Loan Fees
Fall & Spring$160$160
Summer$82$82
Housing & Meals
Fall & Spring$12,850$12,850
Summer$4,271$4,217
Books & Supplies
Fall & Spring$800$800
Summer$267$267
Travel
Fall & Spring$2,300$4,000
Summer$759$1,109
Personal Expenses
Fall & Spring$4,500$4,500
Summer$1,509$1,509
Total: Living Expenses$27,444$29,494

Return on Investment: Is it worth it?

Whether you are already working in the career of your dreams or aspiring to move up in your current job, we know you are asking yourself “Is a master’s degree really worth it?” As with any decision, you have to look at the whole picture. It’s important for you to 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 will see why the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University is a best buy from a top international affairs institution – with programs and faculty competitive with the finest in the country.

Let’s take a look…

The table below provides a snapshot of the total cost (tuition + required fees + cost of living) for the degree:

Now, let’s take a look at a cost/benefit analysis for a comparable college in Washington, DC.

As you can see, the cost of attending a comparable school in Washington, DC can be almost three times as much as attending The Bush School.

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 master’s 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 Paygrade of their job, and the pay grade step they’ve achieved. Most students who graduate with a Master of International Policy (or similar degree) enter a federal government career at a minimum of the GS-9 pay grade. Let’s compare two locations 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) of $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) of $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 grad school debt?

The average interest rate for a graduate student loan is 5.28%. Let’s say you make monthly payments of $600 to pay off your grad student loan of $111,525 at a college in Washington, DC. Your payoff date for the loan would be December 2054.

Now, let’s say you make monthly payments of $600 to pay off your grad student loan of $44,220 at The Bush School. Using the same interest rate of 5.28%, your estimated payoff date for the loan would be January 2030.

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 well-developed career connections all over the nation, including within DC and their agencies and organizations. Do your 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) to campus for interviews and jobs talks and helping students prepare for the competitive career 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!