Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition
Master of Science (MS)
Most Master of Science (MS) students self-fund, although some Master of Science programs at Duke have scholarship opportunities. Contact your department of interest for details. MS students are also strongly encouraged to seek external opportunities, such as National Science Foundation awards.
- MS cost of attendance on Duke's graduate school website
- Inquire about scholarships: pratt_masters@duke.edu
Master of Engineering (MEng)
Most of Master of Engineering (MEng) students self-fund, although some Master of Engineering programs at Duke have scholarship opportunities. MEng students are also strongly encouraged to seek external opportunities, such as National Science Foundation awards.
- MEng cost of attendance for our Master of Engineering programs
- Inquire about scholarships: pratt_masters@duke.edu
Master of Engineering Management (MEM)
- Campus Program—Tuition details
- Distance Program—Tuition details
Financial Aid
Because many master's degrees are professional degrees rather than research degrees, most students pay their own tuition costs. Many students take out loans and feel there will be an excellent return on investment when they get out into the workforce.
In certain circumstances, we provide limited financial aid to MS and MEng students, as detailed below.
Diversity Scholarships
For MS and MEng students, limited financial aid is available to highly qualified candidates through academic scholarships with an emphasis on increasing diversity within our master's degree programs.
Underrepresented minorities may receive up to 50 percent per year in tuition scholarship through our Diversity Scholarships. Additionally, up to $10,000 per year may be allocated for the student to gain experience in a research setting under the direction of a principal investigator (PI).
Externally Funded Scholarships
For MS and MEng students, we also offer support to recipients of select competitive externally funded scholarships, such as:
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowships
- Fulbright Scholar Program
Fellowships
Some departments will occasionally provide some reduced-tuition assistance, but most of Pratt’s master's students pay through a combination of loans and their own money.
Also, see Duke Graduate School Master Student Financial Aid web page.
Federal Loan Programs
Duke University offers the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs for graduate students, including Stafford unsubsidized loans, Graduate PLUS, and Carl Perkins loans. Each of these loans has different terms and conditions, but they are generally deferrable until after graduation or until the student is enrolled for less than half-time.
These federal loans are available only to United States citizens and, generally, only to master’s students, because Ph.D. scholarships and fellowships typically exceed the cost of attendance. Visit the Duke Financial Aid website for more information and application procedures for student loans.
On-Campus Work
While enrolled in the program, many students work in a variety of places, such as campus libraries and various departments within Duke University. Teaching assistantships are available in various departments, and some departments have research assistantships as well.
These positions are paid an hourly rate, and most students work between 10 to 20 hours per week. Positions are generally posted and filled just a week or two before classes begin each semester.
External Funding Opportunities
Browse our extensive list of potential external funding opportunities on our dedicated website for MEng students.