Tuition, Fees and Student Budgets
Social Welfare master's students are assessed UC Berkeley Graduate Professional Fees, which include Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (PDST) and student health insurance fees. Master's students enrolled in a concurrent degree program are assessed the higher of the PDST in effect for each program.
Social Welfare doctoral students are assessed UC Berkeley Graduate Academic Fees.
- For current tuition and fee rates please the Fee Schedule (Office of the Registrar).
- For annual estimates of the total cost of attending Berkeley, including average living expenses, please see Cost of Attendance & Student Budgets (Financial Aid and Scholarships Office).
Residency for Tuition Purposes
Graduate students (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and some eligible nonimmigrants) who enter UC Berkeley as nonresidents and who establish residency for the required year may be eligible to apply to be classified as residents for tuition purposes within one year after their arrival. These students then receive the benefit of paying at the lower resident rate. International students with F-1 or J-1 visas/nonimmigrant status are not eligible to establish residency.
For eligibility requirements and application instructions please visit Residency for Tuition Purposes (Office of the Registrar).
Student Health Insurance Fees
As a condition of enrollment all registered students at the University of California are required to meet the university’s health insurance mandate. Registered UC Berkeley graduate students are automatically enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and assessed required fees for health insurance coverage as a way to meet this mandate. Graduate Student Budgets include the cost of required health insurance coverage. You may be eligible to waive enrollment in SHIP and not pay the mandatory health insurance fee if you already have comparable insurance coverage that satisfies the University's requirement.
For more information regarding SHIP and SHIP waivers, please visit University Health Services - Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
Student Billing and Payment Options
- CalCentral (easy access to your financial aid and billing records in the "My Finances" tab)
- Fee Payment Plan
- Direct Deposit for Students
- Student Billing
Options for Financial Support
Federal Student Aid: Loans and Work-Study
- Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO)
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA website)
- Graduate Award Guide (FASO)
- Work-Study
Fellowships
- Berkeley Graduate Division Fellowships and Awards
- Social Welfare Departmental Fellowships and Awards
- External Fellowships and Awards
MSW Workforce Development Training Grants
- Child Welfare Scholars Program (Title IV-E Stipend Program)
- Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) Training Program (CalSWEC)
Professional Development
- Departmental Conference Travel Grants
- Graduate Assembly Professional Development Award
- Graduate Division Conference Travel Grant Award