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 $405 per credit (updated for fall, 2021) for the courses you need to complete—A competitive price and a great value.
Tuition and Fees
$405 per credit (updated for fall, 2021) for 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 (updated for fall 2021):
- $1,305 for 15 credits or less
- $1,905 for 16-30 credits
Credits for trainings and certifications: You'll pay a flat fee of $150 (updated for fall, 2021) to have your eligible professional trainings and certifications evaluated for transfer credit.
One-Time
- Application Fee (one-time): waived for the fall 2021 admissions term ($50 early application fee, $85 regular application fee: updated for spring, 2022)
- $75 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)
- $50 Registration Fee (updated for fall, 2021): paid at the beginning of each enrollment term (supports enrollment processing)
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: $1,620 (4 credits @ $405 per credit, updated for fall, 2021)
- Course 2: $1,620 (4 credits @ $405 per credit, updated for fall, 2021)
Fees
- Application Fee: Waived until the fall 2021 admissions term
- Enrollment Fee: $75
- Program/advising Fee: $150
- Registration Fee: $50 (updated for fall, 2021)
- Entering Fee: $135
- Special Transcript Evaluation Fee (if applicable): $150 (updated for fall, 2021)
Total: $3,800
Tuition
- Course 1: $1,620 (4 credits @ $405 per credit, updated for fall, 2021)
- Course 2: $1,215 (3 credits @ $405 per credit, updated for fall, 2021)
Prior Learning Portfolio Fees
- 15 credits or less: $1,305 (updated for fall, 2021)
- 16-30 credits: $1,905 (updated for fall, 2021)
Other Fees
- Program/advising Fee: $150
- Registration Fee: $50 (updated for fall, 2021)
Totals:
- $4,340 (with up to 15 portfolio credits)
- $4,940 (with 16-30 portfolio credits)
Totals:
- $8140 (with up to 15 portfolio credits)
- $8,740 (with 16-30 portfolio credits)
Types of Financial Aid
Most UWW Degree Completion Program 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.
To apply for aid for Summer start 2021, complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA. To apply for aid for Fall 2021 through Summer 2022, complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA.
The FAFSA priority deadline for on-campus undergraduate students is March 1. The FAFSA priority deadline for UWW and graduate students is May 1. Missed the deadline? There is still aid available. Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.
To learn more about applying for financial aid, please visit Financial Aid Services or call 413-545-0801.
Packaging Timeline
- Students admitted for summer 2021 will be packaged starting in early April, and this will continue as students are admitted/activated for summer. To receive aid in summer 2021, students must submit a 2020-2021 FAFSA and a Summer Aid Application (available online around mid-March). The deadline to submit the FAFSA for summer aid is June 30, 2021.
- Students admitted for fall 2021 will be packaged for financial aid starting mid-July. Packaging will continue through the academic year as students are admitted.
- Students admitted for spring 2022 will be packaged starting late November. Packaging will continue 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 on-campus undergraduate students is March 1. The FAFSA priority deadline for UWW and graduate 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. Learn more about financial aid for international students and visit EducationUSA for guidance on how to find scholarships and other sources of financial aid.
