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Paying for College

UMass Amherst is committed to helping you meet the cost of your college education through a competitive price and the availability of financial aid. From helping you maximize your credits to awarding you significant credits for your life, work, and training experience, the UWW Interdisciplinary Studies program is here to help you save time and money on your degree.

Ways We Help You Save 

  • Maximizing your transfer credits and your UMass Amherst credits.
  • Awarding you up to 30 UMass Amherst credits for your prior learning portfolio—for a small fraction of the cost of course credits. For the most common portfolio award of 15 credits, students save 80%.
  • Awarding credits toward your degree for certifications and trainings.
  • Charging $450 per credit for the courses you need to complete—a competitive price and a great value.

Interdisciplinary Studies Costs

First Year Costs

Here are the estimated, average costs for your first year as a UWW Interdisciplinary Studies student, taking two courses in the first semester and two in the second. Although most students take two courses per semester to qualify for financial aid, you are welcome to take as few or as many as you want. You also have the option of taking additional winter and summer session courses. Costs per credit and other fees are subject to change on an annual basis.

Types of Financial Aid

Most UWW Interdisciplinary Studies students receive financial aid. You may be eligible for many types of aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, military benefits, or employer reimbursement. In addition to general UMass scholarships, we have a number of scholarships available just for adult students like you.

Apply for Financial Aid

To be eligible for federal financial aid, you will need to enroll in at least 6 credits per semester and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The UMass Amherst school code is 002221.

The FAFSA priority deadline for UWW students is May 1. Missed the deadline? There is still aid available. Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible. 

To apply for aid for spring 2024 or summer 2024, complete the 2023–2024 FAFSA. To apply for aid for fall 2024 through summer 2025, complete the 2024–2025 FAFSA. 

To learn more about applying for financial aid, please visit Financial Aid Services or call 413-545-0801.

Packaging Timeline

  • Students admitted for spring 2024 will be packaged starting in late November. Packaging will continue as students are admitted. 
  • Students admitted for summer 2024 will be packaged starting in early April, and this will continue as students are admitted/activated for summer. To receive aid in summer 2024, students must submit a 2023–2024 FAFSA and a Summer Aid Application (available online around mid-March). The deadline to submit the FAFSA for summer aid is June 30, 2024. 
  • Students admitted for fall 2024 will be packaged for financial aid starting in mid-July. Packaging will continue through the academic year as students are admitted.

*In all cases, students will not be packaged until they are admitted and have provided all required documents to Financial Aid Services. The FAFSA priority deadline for UWW students is May 1. Missed the deadline? There is still aid available. Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible. 

For International Students

Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal financial aid. Visit the International Students section of the Financial Aid Eligibility page and EducationUSA for guidance on how to find scholarships and other sources of financial aid.

 

Costs per credit and other fees are subject to change on an annual basis.