Brown School Student Financial Services

Brown School students are assessed a flat per semester tuition rate along with several annual mandatory fees. The 2025-2026 tuition and mandatory fees will be billed as follows:

*Advanced standing MSW students must pay an additional fee for the required Bridge to Brown course. The fee for 2025-2026 is $6,560.

^All Washington University students are required to carry health insurance. Full-time graduate students on the Danforth Campus are automatically enrolled in (and billed for) the basic student health insurance plan at a cost of – unless proof of comparable coverage is provided from domestic students. International students are not eligible to waive out of the insurance plan. For details about available plans or waiving options, visit Student Health Services.  (Health insurance fees are pending state approval and are subject to change.)

**This is the 2024-2025 rate.  2025-2026 information will posted as soon as it is available.

If a full-time student enrolls in hours that exceed the semester enrollment cap, the student will be charged additional tuition at the per credit hour rate for those additional hours. The 2025-2026 per-credit rate is:

• MSW and MSP Program – $1,640 per credit hour
• MPH Program – $1,681 per credit hour

More complete information about the Cost of Attendance, additional estimated costs,  and federal borrowing maximums for domestic students can be found here.

Please note that international students have separate requirements for providing proof of financial support related to visa processing.

There are two types of financial aid available at the Brown School – Brown School scholarships and federal financial aid.

Brown School Scholarships
All Brown School scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are “flat dollar” awards that are allocated evenly across each semester of a student’s program.  Please note:

• All possible Brown School scholarship funding is awarded at the time of admission and is not affected by your request for need-based Federal Financial Aid.
• Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and full-time enrollment to remain eligible for their scholarship.
• Students do not need to re-apply for their scholarship each year.
• Students who extend the duration of their program do not receive additional scholarship funding.
• Students who shorten the duration of their program may see a modification in scholarship funding.

Federal Financial Aid
Federal financial aid can include Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans, and Federal work-study funds. This need-based aid is available annually to domestic students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  To submit their FAFSA, students will need their most recent tax return, FSA ID, and WashU’s school code of 002520.  Graduate students file as independents, and no parent application is needed. After submission and processing, the Brown School Office of Student Financial Services will email you your federal financial aid package information, which may include loans and any federal work-study.

Once you have received your aid package, you may accept, decrease, or decline your award by using your WUSTL key to log into NetPartner.

1. Visit netpartner.wustl.edu. Use your WUSTL key ID and password to login. 
2. Click the ‘Menu’ button on the top left side of the page.
3. Select ‘Documents & Messages’ where you will see your loans listed in ‘Pending’ status.
4. Accept, decrease, or decline your loan amounts or work-study offer.
5. If you wish to decrease or decline your loans, start with the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan, since it has a higher interest rate and origination fee.
6. If you are accepting all or part of the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan you must visit the Federal Student Aid website to apply and qualify for those funds. You must apply and qualify for your loan and complete the necessary documentation before the actual funds can be disbursed to your student account.
7. If you are accepting your work-study award you are responsible for locating and being hired for eligible on-campus employment.  Your work-study funds will be paid to you directly and will not be credited toward your university charges.

Before borrowing loans in any amount, students should attempt to exhaust every other source of financial aid available (external scholarships, tuition payment plans, etc.).  Student loan borrowing should be minimized as much as possible by working with our office to accurately calculate how much financial aid is needed each semester.

The choice to take on a student loan debt burden is a serious decision and should take into consideration both potential future earnings and possible length of repayment. To explore student loan repayment options, please visit the Federal Student Aid website. You may also choose to take advantage of the loan repayment estimator to get a better idea of your potential monthly payments after you leave the Brown School.

Tuition and fees are billed before the start of each academic semester. Brown School Scholarships will be automatically applied as a credit to your student account and loans are disbursed to student accounts approximately ten days before the start of the semester.

Once bills are issued, students can view billing statements and make payments online by using their WUSTL key and password to log in to WebSTAC.  The two most useful features within WebSTAC are:

• Account Inquiry – where you can see an up-to-date overview of your charges and credits.
• Pay/View My Bills – where you will be able to make a payment toward your tuition charges.

The current balance is shown on both pages and will indicate how much you currently owe. Additional information about payment plan options can be found online.

If you are due to receive a refund (excess aid to be used for living expenses, books, supplies, etc.) we strongly recommend setting up direct deposit (eRefund) within WebSTAC.  If a direct deposit account has not been established, a refund check will be issued for pick up in person from a designated location. Refunds are processed within 5-7 days after initial loan disbursement and students may contact Student Accounting for information about refund timelines.  

Students considering withdrawing from the Brown School are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor to discuss all options and assess the possible consequences to their academic record. They should contact the Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, as well as the Brown School Office of Financial Services. The timing of a withdrawal may have an impact on both academic credits and tuition charges. To withdraw, a formal procedure is required:

1.      Complete the Request to Withdraw form on Inside Brown. The effective date of withdrawal will determine the student’s grades and any tuition refund.

2.      Meet with the director of the Brown School Office of Financial Services, who will advise the student regarding tuition and financial aid implications.

Students who withdraw after the tenth week of the semester must be approved by either Student Health Services or the Habif Health and Wellness Center. Withdrawals, if approved, will be determined by the Brown School Office of Financial Services.

• Washington University Office of Student Financial Services
  The university-wide office of financial services offering support to students.
• iGrad: Financial Wellness
  Join iGrad – a personal finance education program offered by the University. 
• External Scholarship Opportunities
  An updated list of external scholarship opportunities collected by WashU’s Graduate Center.
• Work Study
  Information about the Federal Work-Study Program.
• FAQs
  Answers to frequently asked questions about the financial aid process.
• GradSense
  A collaboration between the Council of Graduate Schools and TIAA that provides financial details, spending tips, and guidance for graduate students.