The MSE and MSME are self-sustaining, fee-based degree programs offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. The department partners with Professional & Continuing Education, a unit of the UW Continuum College, for the financial administration of its MS programs.
Fees for the master’s programs and for students registered through Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) enrollment are charged per-credit and vary according to the format of instruction and/or student’s Washington residency. These rates may experience modest changes yearly and these estimates are provided solely for planning purposes.
Instructional fees
A minimum of 42 credits are required for the M.S. degree and students’ total quarterly costs will vary according to the number of credits in which they are enrolled.
2024-2025 instructional fees
| Format of instruction | On-campus | Online | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residency | Washington resident | Non-resident and international | Any residency |
| Cost per credit | $691 | $1,273 | $1,273 |
| Credits required | 42 | 42 | 42 |
| Estimated minimum total course fees | $29,022 | $53,466 | $53,466 |
Quarterly fees
In addition to the above course credit fees, degree-seeking students are assessed the following quarterly fees*. Some fees are a flat rate while others vary according to credit load:
2024-2025 quarterly fees
| $55 | Quarterly registration Fee |
| $70 | Facilities Renovation Fee |
| $32 | IMA Bond Fee |
| $169 | Other mandatory fees (Services + Activities) |
| $92 | Student transit pass (U-PASS) |
*Note: Quarterly fees estimates do not include the costs of books and other course materials. International students may be required to pay additional quarterly fees beyond the fees listed above. Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) students are assessed only the quarterly registration and student technology fees, in addition to their course credit fees.
Financial aid
Federal financial aid, as applied/awarded through the FAFSA, may be available to students in both the on-campus and online MSE and MSME degrees. For more information, visit the fee-based programs page of the Office of Student Financial Aid website.
Tuition exemption is not available to Washington state employees for fee-based programs.
Additional financial assistance
All students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of potential financial support, including outside funding agencies such as NSF, NIH, and others. The UW’s Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) is an excellent informational resource for the funding search.
Some employers will cover all or part of the cost of employees’ educations. Check with your employer to see if such a benefit is available.