The Bush School of Government & Public Service

Public Service is a noble calling.


Home / Funding & Cost / INTA Funding & Cost Information / MS ECON-MIA Funding & Cost Overview

MS ECON-MIA Funding & Cost Overview

Master of Science in Economics & Master of International Affairs (Combined Degree)

Overview | Funding Tips | Cost | Funding

Tuition and required fees over the three years in the MS ECON-MIA is split between the two programs and will correspond with the student’s primary program of enrollment. Likewise, funding awarded by each program will only be applicable for the semesters in which that program is the student’s primary program of enrollment.

Since students begin their first year of studies in the MS ECON degree, students are charged tuition and required fees for the Department of Economics. Additionally, any scholarships or funding awarded by the Economics department will be applied to the student’s first year of studies. For MS ECON tuition and required fee rates, visit https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/economics/about-the-m-s-program/tuition-fees/. For MS ECON funding opportunities, visit https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/economics/about-the-m-s-program/funding-opportunities/. You may also contact the Margaret Lomas Carpenter at ms-econ-program@tamu.edu or 979-845-7351 for questions.

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. 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 year and the final semester of their third year).

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 Bush School funding awards are renewed in the student’s third year as long as the student maintains a minimum 3.25 GPA.

We recommend applicants submit and complete their application by the MIA Priority Funding Application Deadline to ensure their application is considered for all available Bush School funding opportunities. Applicants who complete 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.