Funding & Financial Aid
Financing your graduate education is a critical factor in your decision-making. At Michigan State University, we are committed to keeping our Master of Public Policy (MPP) program accessible, transparent, and affordable while delivering high-quality academic and professional support.
As a leading R1 research institution, MSU offers exceptional value: our tuition rates are 24% to 59% lower for in-state students and up to 55% lower for out-of-state students compared to peer MPP programs in Michigan. Moreover, Last academic year, two-thirds of MPP students received financial support through MSU graduate assistantships or fellowship awards.
Important Funding Deadlines: To be considered for departmental, university, and competitive fellowship funding, submit your completed MPP application by the following dates:
- January 15 (Priority Funding Deadline): Applications (domestic and international) received by this date receive priority review and automatic consideration for all competitive awards, including MPP Departmental Assistantships, IPPSR Fellowships, and College/University awards. Decision notifications with funding offers are released in late February or early March.
- June 1 (Final Admission Deadline): Final deadline for Fall semester admission. Funding consideration after January 15 is subject to remaining availability.
MPP Graduate Assistantships & IPPSR Graduate Assistantships: The MPP program and its partner institutes (e.g., Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, Afrobarometer) offer a few competitive assistantships for incoming students each year. All applications (domestic and international) submitted by January 15 are automatically considered. Candidates under consideration may be contacted for additional information or a virtual interview.
MPP graduate assistantships match incoming students with faculty or program staff to support research, undergraduate teaching, or program administration. IPPSR graduate assistantships engage students in applied Michigan public policy research, policy briefs, civic education initiatives, event organization, and digital publishing.
Recipients of quarter-time (10 hours/week) or half-time (20 hours/week) graduate assistantships during the Fall and Spring semesters receive a competitive stipend; tuition and fee waivers (up to 9 credits per semester), not including the Summer semester; and excellent full health insurance coverage.
Additional MPP Program Support:
- Summer Fellowships: The MPP program provides summer funding to help students gain applied internship experience, engage in research, or pursue policy projects. Historically, approximately one- to two-thirds of first-year students receive summer fellowship awards ranging from $2,000 to $4,000.
- Public Policy Learning & Research Assistantships (PPLA / PPRA): Beginning in their second semester, students can apply for term-based PPLA or PPRA roles. PPLAs assist instructors with course preparation and active learning strategies, while PPRAs work directly with faculty, postdocs, or advanced graduate students on policy research. Positions include a modest stipend of $2000 per semester.
- Recruitment Scholarships: Small merit-based recruitment scholarships are awarded to select top-tier applicants during the admissions process.
Campus-Wide & External Funding Resources: Beyond our department, MPP students frequently secure financial support through partner units and university-wide channels across campus:
- Across-Campus Graduate Assistantships: Many MPP students successfully apply for and secure graduate assistantships in other academic departments, administrative offices, or student affairs units upon arriving at MSU. As the MPP director learns of these opportunities, they will share with prospective or current MPP students.
- University Resources:
- International Student Funding:
For questions about financing your MPP degree or the assistantship application process, please contact us at msumpp@msu.edu.
