Financing Your Degree

We believe in you and your potential to have impact on the world, and so we do everything we can to help you fund your education and provide the necessary financial education resources that you need to be successful.

Fellowships & Scholarships

We offer some merit-based financial aid to every student. We also offer many fellowship opportunities, and third-party fellowships from Sanford and Duke partners. For both domestic and international students, student loan options are also available.

We have many ways to help you fund your degree.

Sanford Scholarships, Assistantships, and Fellowships

Our current policy allows us to provide merit-based scholarships to ALL accepted MPP applicants who are not receiving full funding from outside sources. 

Sanford issues awards based on merit and demonstrated financial need to our domestic and international students in the form of tuition scholarships. You should indicate on your application that you would like to be considered for financial aid.

 

All students are automatically considered for fellowship awards upon application to Sanford, except for the following fellowships, which require an additional statement of interest:

  • The Helen F. Ladd Fellowship in Education Policy
  • The Terry and Laurie Sanford Family Fellowship
  • The Magdalena Yesil Fellowship

There are also many third-party fellowships available from our partners. Explore our fellowship page for a list of all Sanford -related fellowships and to read the stories from many of our recent fellowship recipients.  

 

The Sanford School of Public Policy offers numerous assistantship opportunities for graduate students both in fall and spring semesters, in a combination of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and research assistantships. Beginning Fall 2025, Sanford assistantships are paid an hourly rate, at a minimum of $16.50 an hour. Sanford students may also apply for assistantships and part-time employment available across Duke University. Under U.S. federal law, students may not work more than 19.9 hours a week on campus and still be considered full-time students.
 
International students must obtain a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or International Tax Identification Number (ITIN) to receive assistantship or other employment compensation. Duke University’s Visa Services Office and the Duke International Student Center (DISC) will assist you in obtaining the required documentation after you arrive.

Dual degree students only receive tuition fellowships during their first year of the MPP program and are not guaranteed assistantships due to the additional credit requirements of their first-year plan. They may apply to any assistantships that are unfilled.

Public Partnership Organizations

Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy offers application fee waiver consideration for our residential program applicants who meet the following qualifications: 

Applicants who are affiliated with one or more of the following organizations, with an accompanying letter of certification:

For individuals who have been working at the local, state, or federal level and find themselves in a period of transition, we are happy to continue our offer of an application fee waiver. Please upload a copy of your resume and a brief explanation for consideration.

After starting your MPP application, but prior to submitting it, please complete our MPP application fee waiver request form.

Variety of logos: Peace Corps, City year, AmeriCorps and Teach for America

Under agreements with AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps, Teach for America students who are accepted into the Duke MPP Program are guaranteed a tuition fellowship:

  • For two-year MPP students, the fellowship is a minimum of $14,000 per year.
     
  • For dual-degree programs, students receive a $12,000 tuition fellowship during their first year of study. They must spend year one in the MPP program before starting the dual-degree curriculum in the law (JD), environment (MEM), or business (MBA) program.

These fellowships are the minimum students will receive. All applicants from partner programs will also receive full consideration for additional, merit-based tuition assistance based on the strength of their application.

Please see our Military Benefits page for more information on all Duke Affiliated Military Benefits. Additionally, Active Duty U.S. Military Service Members and Veterans qualify for MPP application fee waivers. After starting your MPP application, but prior to submitting it, please complete our MPP application fee waiver request form.

Duke University’s Veterans Education Benefits Office administers all Veterans Benefits.  The Duke University School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the University Registrar may be reached via email (veteranseducation@duke.edu) or at 919.684.4225.  Admitted students must submit their VA documents (i.e. VA Certificate of Eligibility letter, Purple Heart Certificate) to the SCO to start the VA benefit review process. 

Duke University participates in the national consortium of graduate programs that recruit and support Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who wish to pursue advanced degrees.

Additionally, RPCVs qualify for MPP application fee waivers. After starting your MPP application, but prior to submitting it, please complete our MPP application fee waiver request form.

The Sanford School of Public Policy offers a 25% tuition reduction and application fee waiver for graduate programs to federal, state and local government employees (including contractors) in a career transition resulting from changes in the federal workforce or funding within the last year. All applicants will be automatically considered based on their admissions materials. No separate scholarship application required. 

After starting your MPP application, but prior to submitting it, please complete our MPP application fee waiver request form.
 

Exploring Other Financial Assistance Options

Funding opportunities listed by the Duke Graduate School. 

Duke's Office of Research Support, which offers a huge database of funding opportunities for all disciplines (use the advanced search function), search tools, such as PIVOT, and workshops on finding funding.

List of opportunities sent to The Graduate School from other Duke units and external institutions, including a number of funding opportunities.

 

Federal Aid for US Citizens and Eligible Noncitizens | Sanford School of Public Policy (duke.edu)

International Student Resources | Sanford School of Public Policy (duke.edu)

External Funding Opportunities | Sanford School of Public Policy (duke.edu)

External Funding Policy

All students have an ongoing obligation to notify the Duke MPP Program Office upon receipt of external funding, scholarships, and grants obtained independently. The Duke MPP Program reserves the right to amend financial aid awards if a student receives external funding, applies to become a dual degree student, or fails to maintain satisfactory academic performance (at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average). 

Financial Aid Policies and Procedures

Sanford School of Public Policy Financial Aid Policy and Procedure Manual

Financial Education Resources | Sanford School of Public Policy (duke.edu)

Personal Assistance for Every Student

Our team assists with federal checklist completion, FAFSA verification, and will determine all federal loan funding and federal work-study funds. Questions about student financial planning or your cost of attendance? Contact us at sanfordfinancialaid@duke.edu.