Financial Assistance

We encourage you to start your financial aid research early to maximize your options. For your convenience, we have provided a few resources for those students entering the MPA and MPP programs in need of financial assistance and funding opportunities. We encourage all of our students to visit the Costs & Funding page on the Graduate School site.

Borrowers who have completed ten years of full-time employment in public service, while making continuous payment on their loans, may qualify to have the balance of their loan forgiven. Visit here for more information.

Our pledge is to provide partial tuition waivers to ALL accepted students who are not receiving full funding from outside sources. Tuition waivers are, essentially, tuition discounts, and the amount varies by semester, but typically ranges from 20-30%. Both international and domestic applicants are eligible for tuition waivers, unless you are receiving funding from an external source. It is important to discuss these options with the admissions officer. Please indicate on your application if you would like to be considered for financial aid. No additional documentation is needed.

Recent graduates of the University of Miami who apply to the MPA and MPP programs have the opportunity to receive tuition waivers for up to 40% of their graduate study (12 credits of a 30-credit program) if they attend full time. Students can email the MPA/MPP admissions officer at MPAadmissions@miami.edu for eligibility criteria.

MPA and MPP programs support students who apply through the LASPAU administered Fulbright Program, which provides grants to individuals from Latin America and the Caribbean for graduate study in the United States. Partial tuition waivers are offered and, on rare occasions, a student can be supported through a full scholarship.

Yellow Ribbon Program - The University of Miami is an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. This provision of the post 9/11 GI Bill helps cover the expenses of earning a master's degree. Opportunities for study are available for active-duty personnel as well. Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are encouraged to visit the official site for the program.

The MPA and MPP programs participate in UM’s Tuition Remission program for eligible UM employees.  For more information, please visit https://my.hr.miami.edu/benefits-and-wellness/work-life/tuition-benefits/index.html

American Association of University Women International Fellowship: International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. Recipients return to their home countries to become leaders in business, government, academia, community activism, the arts or scientific fields. 

The Daniel B. Goldberg Scholarship recognizes outstanding performances by graduate program students preparing for a career in state and local government finance. Applicants must be full-time graduate students with a course of study that has a relationship to state/local government finance, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and provide a letter of recommendation.

The Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service supports the next generation of leaders who are ready to bridge divides and create meaningful change. The scholarship provides barrier-reducing financial aid, horizon-expanding travel and experiences, and connections to an exceptional network of purpose-driven leaders. The two-year scholarship is open to students entering their junior year of college in the United States with demonstrated financial need, and must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipient. Applicants must plan to enroll in full time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), have demonstrated a commitment to public service, and plan to pursue a future career in public service upon graduation.

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students: The Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) in Washington, DC offers the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship to one student three times annually. The fellowship, which is based on academic excellence and need, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students of color. The Hearst Fellow serves as an intern with PSI in the Washington, DC office of the Aspen Institute. Through this fellowship, PSI seeks to introduce a diverse group of students to issues and challenges affecting philanthropy, social enterprise, nonprofit organizations, and other actors in the social sector. Recipients may arrange with their colleges or universities to receive academic credit for this experience.

For additional information about funding your education through student loans, please visit the Office of Financial Assistance.