MPP Estimated Cost of Attendance

Annual tuition and the majority of fees are divided evenly between the fall and spring terms. The total Student Health Insurance Program (SMIP) is only charged in the Fall unless it is waived through Student Health.  To see waiver criteria or instructions to complete a waiver please visit this website. 

The living expenses listed above are the results of a Duke Financial Aid Office Survey of all Duke graduate students.

This is required for all MPPs and is charged during the fall term. Students may waive out of this plan if they can present proof of alternative coverage. International students with an F-1 or J-1 visa are required to purchase the student medical insurance plan. The actual cost of the Student Medical Insurance Plan is established before the fall term begins. The University Bursar's Office provides additional information regarding student medical insurance with fall tuition statements.

For international students:

Duke Visa Services (DVS) is required to verify that you have evidence of funding that meets or exceeds the estimated student expenses for the first year of your degree program, which for most programs is nine months long.

International students will require a Form I-20 (for an F-1 visa) or a Form DS-2019 (for a J-1 visa). Duke Visa Services is unable to issue these documents unless a student is able to demonstrate funding for living expenses at a minimum of US $2,200/month for a single person. Additional proof of funding is required if students will be accompanied by a spouse and/or children. The minimum amount of funding that must be demonstrated for a spouse is $850/month and the amount for each child is $450/month excluding health insurance. 

Proof of Funding:

• Must be in English or with an official translation (cannot be self-translated)
• Must reflect liquid assets - no real estate, stocks/bonds, or salary to be earned
• Must identify the source, funding amount, type of currency, and dates of coverage
• Must be current (4 months old or less)
• Must be original (Refer to Additional Suggestions below)  

Examples of Acceptable Proof of Funds:  

• Personal (checking/savings account statements)
• Family funds (checking/savings account statements)*
• Scholarship award letters from home university
• Scholarship/Fellowship/Assistantship letters from Duke University
• Government grant/award letters
• Employer sponsorship letter 

*If a family member is sponsoring you, then you will also need to provide a sponsorship letter/statement from the sponsor confirming their relation to you, their intent to sponsor you, the amount they are sponsoring, and the duration of their sponsorship.  

All financial documents must state:

• Name of account holder
• Date(s)
• Amount of funds (final balance)
• Currency of funds
• Funding source (savings, checking, stocks, etc.)
• Name of bank

For F-1 status, proof of funding is required for the first year of your degree program. For J-1 status, proof of funding is required for the full length of the degree program. You must also prove you have the additional funds required for family members to be issued dependent visa documents.    

The table below displays the proof of minimum funding amounts required for an individual for the 25-26 academic year (nine months). 

If a student is accompanied by a spouse or dependent, additional proof of funds will be required to account for minimum estimated living expenses: 

For the 25-26 academic year (nine months): 

Submit your proof of funding here. 

Dual degree students are eligible to be reviewed for scholarships and fellowship. Each of our partner schools, both internally within Duke and our external partner schools, have different tuition rates.

For those programs on a blended tuition rate, Sanford scholarship awards will be applied in all dual degree academic years and will only pay towards Sanford’s share of the blended tuition rate.

For those programs on a non-blended tuition rate, Sanford scholarship awards will only be applied to terms you are in enrolled at Sanford.

Please review our Dual Degree cost of attendance yearly estimates by program in the next section.

Converting to a Dual Degree During MPP Year 1

Students who receive less than a full-tuition scholarship upon acceptance and choose to convert from a standard two-year degree model to a dual degree model (referred to as “voluntary dual converters”) will receive two semesters of financial aid from Sanford, instead of four semesters.  Scholarships are contingent upon maintaining good academic standing, adhering to full-time enrollment, and making satisfactory progress towards the MPP degree. The Financial Aid Director reserves the right to amend this tuition fellowship award if the student receives additional funding or changes degree programs.

Students who receive a full-tuition scholarship upon acceptance and opt to convert from a standard two-year degree model to a dual degree model (also referred to as “voluntary dual converters”) will receive three terms of financial aid from Sanford, instead of four semesters. Scholarships are contingent upon maintaining good academic standing, full-time enrollment, and making satisfactory progress towards the MPP degree. The Financial Aid Director reserves the right to amend this tuition fellowship award if the student receives additional funding or changes degree programs.

Federal Loan Origination Fees are automatically added to the cost of attendance budget. Students borrowing the Unsubsidized and/or Graduate PLUS Loan will have these fees added in based on average loan amounts borrowed.

These additional considerations may raise the cost of attendance for aid purposes: 

• One-Time Computer Increase—Students must submit an invoice showing the price of the computer in order to receive an increase up to $2,500.
• Study Abroad Expenses (Hertie Exchange Program)—Students can request an increase in transportation costs and living expenses. Copies of round-trip airfare receipt and dorm/rental agreement must be made available to the financial aid office prior to the increase being made.
• Dependent Increase—For actual childcare expenses up to $5,000. Documentation of the expense (canceled check, bill, statement) must be provided to the aid office.

This is a blended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $34,257 (MPP $14,007 MBA $20,250).  Sanford tuition awards will not exceed Sanford's portion of the blended tuition rate.

This is a blended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $35,537 (MPP $10,505 JD $25,032).  Sanford tuition awards will not exceed Sanford's portion of the blended tuition rate.

This is a blended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $26,029 (MPP $14,007 MEM $12,022).   Sanford tuition awards will not exceed Sanford's portion of the blended tuition rate.

This is a nonblended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $28,014 for the terms you are registered for Sanford courses.  Financial aid offered by Sanford will only disburse for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. Please refer to the below Sanford Cost of Attendance estimate for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. For more information on Duke’s School of Medicine cost of attendance

This is a nonblended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $28,014 for the terms you are registered for Sanford courses.  Financial aid offered by Sanford will only disburse for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. Please refer to the below Sanford Cost of Attendance estimate for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. For more information on Duke's School of Divinity cost of attendance.

This is a nonblended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $28,014 for the terms you are registered for Sanford courses.  Financial aid offered by Sanford will only disburse for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. Please refer to the below Sanford Cost of Attendance estimate for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. For more information on UNC Kenan-Flagler-MBA cost of attendance.

This is a nonblended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $28,014 for the terms you are registered for Sanford courses.  Financial aid offered by Sanford will only disburse for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. Please refer to the below Sanford Cost of Attendance estimate for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. For more information on UNC School of Law cost of attendance.

This is a nonblended tuition program with a per term tuition cost of $28,014 for the terms you are registered for Sanford courses.  Financial aid offered by Sanford will only disburse for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. Please refer to the below Sanford Cost of Attendance estimate for the terms you are taking courses at Sanford. For more information on NCCU School of Law cost of attendance.