Maxwell School of Syracuse University: Public Administration

Each year students appreciate a detailed accounting of what the likely costs of attending Maxwell’s MPA program will be. Below is a more detailed explanation of the costs of attending Maxwell’s MPA program than you may have previously seen in our other publications. We hope that you will find this information useful to you for your planning purposes.

TUITION

Tuition is charged per credit hour. The tuition rate for 2008-09 is estimated to be $1068 per credit hour. Tuition increases occur on May 1 of each year – therefore the second summer tuition has been calculated below to account for an additional estimated increase. Most full time traditional MPA students will complete their course of study in the following configuration:

First summer	7 credits (all core requirements)	$7,476
Fall	12 or 15 credits*	$12,816 (12)
Spring	12 or 15 credits*	$16,020(15)
Second Summer	6 credits (all core requirements)	$6792**
TOTAL TUITION		$43,104

* One of these semesters will be 15 credits depending on which courses the student chooses to take. Most students complete 15 credits in the spring when more elective courses are offered. **Based on estimate of projected tuition increase.

The Summer Sessions are “pre-pay” at time of registration. If a student is paying with student loans, payment is deferred until the loans become available. The Fall semester is billed in early October, the Spring in early March.

FEES

All students are charged two mandatory fees over the Fall and Spring semesters only. Fees below are estimated for 2008-09, based on current year costs.

Student Activity Fee	$ 40 per semester
Student Health Services Fee (NOT Insurance)	$247 per semester
TOTAL FEES (for the entire year)	$574

LIVING EXPENSES

Most students choose to live off campus (at least after the initial summer session). Off campus housing is generally less expensive and a nice way to save on costs. There is a nice availability of housing in the University area and rents are quite reasonable by Northeast standards. Many students share “flats” with others in the program and rents can range anywhere from $300-$700 per month depending on living arrangements, if utilities are included, etc.

Students should expect expenses for books to range anywhere from $400-$600 per semester and up to $150 for the first summer and $200 for the second summer.

Given these estimates and cost of living data for Central New York, the University estimates a comfortable monthly living expense at $1200 per month for graduate students, or $14,400 for the 12-month program of study. Obviously individual students will have different financial needs and living expenses may vary greatly from this estimate. The Department encourages students to use this estimate this as an average, but to gauge their own lifestyle needs accordingly when planning their finances for the coming year.