Tuition and Financial Support for Concurrent Master of National Security and Technology Policy
As part of our commitment to making the RAND School's programs accessible and affordable for all our students, we offer
- generous scholarships of up to $25,000 (or $2,917 per unit) for full-time students
- a program designed to be completed in five quarters full-time—as little as 18 months.
We believe that financial barriers should not prevent talented individuals from pursuing a policy career. That's why we are proud to offer these resources to our students.
Tuition
A full‑time student completing 12 units in the first year and 8 units in the second year can expect tuition of approximately $50,004 in year one and $33,336 in year two, totaling $83,340 for the program.
For part-time students, tuition and scholarship amounts are prorated based on the number of courses taken each quarter.
The RAND School does not charge any student services fees.
Estimated Cost of Living
| Expense | Cost (LA) | Cost (DC) |
|---|---|---|
| Living Expenses (Food and Housing) | $24,006 | $23,423 |
| Required Books, Course Materials, Supplies, Equipment | $500 | $500 |
| Transportation | $2,264 | $2,705 |
| Loan Fees | $214 | $214 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses (clothing, personal items, mobile phone, recreation/entertainment) | $2,019 | $2,129 |
| Total | $29,003 | $28,971 |
Health insurance coverage is required. Incoming students must provide an attestation of insurance before arrival on campus.
Estimating the Cost of Attendance
To estimate the total cost of attendance, admitted students should add their cost-of-living expenses and tuition, then subtract their scholarship and any other financial aid they receive.
Funding Your Education
Planning for the financial aspects of your graduate education is an important step, and we encourage you to take time to explore the resources available to you. These may include scholarships, federal financial aid, veteran education benefits, alternative student loans, and other funding options that can help cover the cost of attendance.
The RAND School is authorized to administer federal graduate student loan programs and veteran benefits, and we are committed to helping students understand and navigate the financial components of their education.
Learn more about funding your educationEstimated Cost of Living
We understand that the cost of living can be a significant factor in a student's decision to pursue a graduate degree.
We estimate the annual cost of living in Los Angeles for a single student to be $27,885 in 2023-2024. This includes the following expenses:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Housing and Utilities | $16,560 |
| Food | $9,125 |
| Personal Expenses and Transportation | $1,700 |
| Books and Supplies | $500 |
| Total | $27,885 |
We estimate the annual cost of living in the D.C. area for a single student to be $34,460 in 2023-2024. This includes the following expenses:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Housing and Utilities | $16,015 |
| Food | $9,125 |
| Personal Expenses and Transportation | $8,820 |
| Books and Supplies | $500 |
| Total | $34,460 |
Please note that these are estimates and admitted students' actual costs will vary depending on their individual circumstances. We estimate the cost of living for a spouse/partner to be an additional $14,000, and each child would be $7,000.