Navigating the maze of graduate student funding, billing, and other financial issues can be a daunting task. Knowing where to begin is half the battle. The information below is intended to assist you with this process.

The first place to begin is the Office of the Bursar. You will find a Welcome letter from the Bursar with detailed information regarding billing dates and payments; electronic billing; agency billing; loans and loan disbursement; tuition payment plans; and required fees.

If you are looking for a teaching or research assistantship, hourly paid employment, fellowships or grants, or a student loan, Graduate Financing is designed to point you to internal and external resources.

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Billing Information

The University of Chicago’s billing system requires payment for tuition and other charges before the start of each quarter. For detailed information on billing procedures, please visit the Office of the Bursar.

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Tax Information

Students from countries that do not have tax treaties that cover educational programs with the United States should note that taxes will be withheld at the rate of 14 percent from stipends prior to disbursement. You should take this into consideration as you make financial plans. Many graduate students are not aware that some or all of their funding may be subject to taxes by the Internal Revenue Service. It is the responsibility of the graduate and professional student to file federal and state income tax returns, and we encourage you to use tax-filing software to assist you. While school administrators and officials cannot offer tax advice, the University of Chicago Graduate Financing may provide information for students to help them navigate this process. While intended as a resource, this information does not supersede that offered by the Internal Revenue Service, state Departments of Revenue, or certified tax professionals.

Graduate Students

• Federal Tax Information
• Illinois State Tax Information

International Graduate Students

• Office of International Affairs

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FAFSA (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents)

If you wish to be considered for ANY kind of need-based financial aid, such as loans or work-study, you must complete a FAFSA form. To apply for student financial aid from the federal government, including the Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, work-study, and alternative loans, you will need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is no charge for submitting this form. All state and many school student assistance programs also require the FAFSA. This is a free application for federal student aid and can be obtained from the financial aid office or at FAFSA.

Be sure to fill out the form that corresponds to the year in which you plan to matriculate. The FAFSA should be filed with the Federal Student Aid Information Center by April 1. The University’s code is E00377

NOTE: This pertains to U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. International applicants should contact the Student Loan Administration (SLA) at 773.702.6061 for available funding options.

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Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) estimate below is based on full-time enrollment in a 9-month master’s program or 12-month attendance in a PhD program and consists of tuition and fees for the 2008–09 academic year. These figures are taken from the Office of International Affairs Financial Resource Statement used to figure the student budget for international students for visa purposes. You should estimate at least a 3 to 7 percent tuition and fee increase for your own planning purposes for each subsequent academic year.

COST OF ATTENDANCE FOR 2008–09
	MA (9-month)	PhD (12-month)
Tuition	$38,502	$38,502
Activities Fee	$147	$147
Health Services	$531	$531
Health Insurance (basic)	$1,845	$1,845
Subtotal	$41,025	$41,025
Books and Supplies	$1,650	$1,650
Living expenses	$16,125	$16,125
Summer expenses		$5,375
Total	$58,800	$64,175

A one-time, lifetime transcript fee of  $39 is assessed in full once (to new students) in the autumn quarter billing. This figure is not added in the total COA above.

NOTE: Health insurance coverage is mandatory for all registered students. More information on can be found at Student Health Insurance.

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Timetable

January—FAFSA application becomes available
March—mailing of admission decisions will begin first week of month
April 15—deadline for accepting/declining offers of admission for PhD programs
May 1—deadline for accepting/declining offers of admission for master’s programs
Mid-May—deadline for loan application (to ensure funds are available by start of classes in September)
June/July—University of Chicago ID numbers assigned, housing applications should be filed
September—registration is during third week; classes begin late September