When you register for courses at the University of Washington, you are obligated to pay the associated tuition and related fees for those classes unless you officially drop your classes by the end of the first week of the quarter. Tuition is set annually by the state legislature. 

For more information on establishing Washington State Residency, contact the UW Residency Office. Students in the HCDE PhD program pay Tier I Graduate Tuition.

If admitted to the HCDE PhD program, the admissions committee will consult your financial aid form and try their best to match your financial needs with support within the department.

The department strives to fund all of its PhD students through Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships (RAs). Students enrolled in full-time study (10 credits/quarter) are eligible for funding but it is not guaranteed. Students interested in a TAship or RAship should indicate so on their application materials. There is not a separate application for these positions.

Benefits for TAs and RAs include a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. For information on the specific benefits, consult the UW Graduate School’s Fellowships, Assistantships and Awards site. In general, returning students and newly admitted graduate students have priority for Teaching Assistantships.

Additional Resources

Also investigate the following for financial assistance:

• FAFSA: the Free Application for Student Aid
• UW Financial Aid
• National Fellowship Opportunities
• Grad School fellowships: fellowship resources through the UW Graduate School
• STC Financial Aid
• UW Library financial aid: Grants and Funding Information System (GSIS)