Costs and Financial Aid

The costs for the ULA program are very reasonable for a Master's degree. As of July 2011, tuition for the program will be $425 per credit hour, or $2,550 per session. Registration and other University fees total about $315 for each session. Books and materials are $75 per course and are mailed to students in advance of each session. Lunches, breaks, and a banquet cost a total of $225. Total cost of each session is approximately $3,300 for each of the five on-campus sessions. Students are also responsible for their own housing. We reserve a block of rooms in our unionized hotel on campus at a room rate similar to other local hotels. Double occupancy is available at a lower rate. Students may choose to stay elsewhere.

While students do not need to travel to UMass to complete their six-credit final paper, they will need to pay tuition and minimal fees, usually totaling $2,595. Some students opt to come to campus to complete the work on their final paper. Many unions cover all or part of the cost of the program. Some employers will also pay the cost of all or part of the program.

Participants in the ULA program are considered half-time students, registered for Fall and Spring semesters (while taking classes in July and January, respectively), and are therefore eligible for Financial Aid with traditional student loan options. Students interested in applying for financial aid should go to the web site at http://www.umass.edu/umfa/, write directly to Graduate Financial Aid Services, 243 Whitmore Administration Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, or call (413)577-0555.

Students interested in financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 for the following Summer residency and by October 15 for the following Winter residency. The UMass  school code is 002221. The form can be submitted on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Financial Aid Office can be reached by e-mail at grads@finaid.umass.edu or found on the web at http://www.umass.edu/umfa/. 

We have initiated an endowed scholarship program in the name of Ron Osborne, a ULA student who died in an automobile accident. We hope that funds will be available for scholarships shortly.

The AFL-CIO has a new fellowship program designed to train women and people of color for leadership positions in the labor movement. If you are eligible, you can receive up to $3,000 per year toward your graduate degree. For more information see Union Leaders of the Future scholarship at www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships/diversity.cfm.