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 credits for your prior learning portfolio—for a fraction of the cost of course credits.
- Giving credits towards your degree for certifications and trainings.
- Charging $415 per credit for the courses you need to complete—A competitive price and a great value ($425 per credit effective summer 2023, pending approval)
Interdisciplinary Studies Costs
For UWW Interdisciplinary Studies students, the cost is $425 per credit for all UWW-scheduled undergraduate online courses.
Your per semester cost will depend on how many classes you choose to take. You can take as few as one or as many as you want each semester, although most UWW Interdisciplinary Studies students take two courses in the fall and two in the spring so they can be eligible for federal financial aid.
Prior learning portfolio fees:
- $1,325 for 15 credits or less
- $1,925 for 16–30 credits
Credits for trainings and certifications: You'll pay a flat fee of $425 to have your eligible professional trainings and certifications evaluated for transfer credit. This is called the Special Transcript Evaluation Fee. There is no cost for the transfer credits you bring in this way.
One-Time
- Application Fee (one-time): $60 early application fee, $85 regular application fee
- $85 Enrollment Fee (one-time): provides information and support to newly accepted students, as well as the new student orientation
- $135 Entering Fee (one-time): supports initial record management and commencement services
Recurring
- $150 Program/Advising Fee: paid each fall and spring semester (helps us provide one-on-one academic advising to every student)
- $60 Registration Fee: paid at the beginning of each enrollment term (supports enrollment processing) ($75 effective fall 2023, pending approval)
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.
Tuition
- Course 1: $1,700 (4 credits @ $425 per credit)
- Course 2: $1,700 (4 credits @ $425 per credit)
Fees
- Application Fee: $60 (early application fee); $85 (regular application fee)
- Enrollment Fee: $85
- Program/advising Fee: $150
- Registration Fee: $75
- Entering Fee: $135
- Special Transcript Evaluation Fee (if applicable): $425
Total: $4,355
Tuition
- Course 1: $1,700 (4 credits @ $425 per credit)
- Course 2: $1,275 (3 credits @ $425 per credit)
Prior Learning Portfolio Fees
- 15 credits or less: $1,325
- 16–30 credits: $1,925
Other Fees
- Program/advising Fee: $150
- Registration Fee: $75
Totals:
- $4,525 (with up to 15 portfolio credits)
- $5,125 (with 16–30 portfolio credits)
Totals:
- $8,880 (with up to 15 portfolio credits)
- $9,480 (with 16–30 portfolio credits)
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 start 2023 or summer start 2023, complete the 2022–2023 FAFSA. To apply for aid for Fall 2023 through Summer 2024, complete the 2023–2024 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 2023 start will be packaged starting late November. Packaging will continue as students are admitted.
- Students admitted for summer 2023 will be packaged starting in early April, and this will continue as students are admitted/activated for summer. To receive aid in summer 2023, students must submit a 2022–2023 FAFSA and a Summer Aid Application (available online around mid-March). The deadline to submit the FAFSA for summer aid is June 30, 2023.
- Students admitted for fall 2023 will be packaged for financial aid starting 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.
