Tuition and cost of living

Tuition information is provided by the U-M Office of the Registrar's website.  MSI students register for two terms per year.  Tuition for 2011-2012 is:

    Michigan residents--$9,333 per term
    Nonresidents--$18,863 per term

There are many factors to take into consideration when calculating the cost of living in Ann Arbor. The U-M Office of Financial Aid provides a standard student budget to help get you started. You might personally find that there is variation in this budget (for example, the cost of books and supplies might be lower given many SI classes provide content online).

PhD funding

All PhD students in the School of Information are guaranteed four years of funding, provided they are making satisfactory progress towards their degree. This includes tuition and stipend for four fall and winter terms, year-round health benefits, and a stipend for two summer terms. More information about PhD funding is available here.

MSI funding

There are many resources available to assist master's students with funding, including SI scholarships, SI diversity scholarships, and assistantships.

SI master's students (new and continuing) have also been successful when applying for external funding. In recent years, awards received by SI students have included American Library Association Spectrum Scholarships, ARMA International Educational Foundation Scholarships, Association for Women in Computing Scholarships, Society of American Archivist Scholarships, and more. All external tuition scholarship awards are eligible for matching funds from SI, up to a maximum of $10,000 and subject to availability of funds.

The U-M Office of Financial Aid provides information on federal programs for aid.  These sources are available for US citizens.  We also provide funding information for international students.

Most of our students also choose to work part-time while in the program.  This offers a great opportunity not only as a source of funding, but also as an opportunity for professional experience.

Advising on funding your degree is available to prospective students (contact si.admissions@umich.edu) and current students (contact Xiao-wen Zou at zxwen@umich.edu or Judy Lawson at jmlawson@umich.edu).

Securing funding: Tips for success
 

1. Start early. As you prepare to apply, begin researching funding sources.
    
2. Invest time to search for funding. Students who have looked for funding more proactively have found new and unexpected sources from places such as professional organizations, state agencies, and local or community organizations. Explore funding search engines and additional links from above.
    
3. Remember that securing funding for graduate education is a process that begins when you are an applicant but that can continue as you complete your degree.
    
4. Stay in touch with SI admissions and once you are enrolled, with SI's financial aid advisor. Tell us about your needs and we will work with you to help you uncover new sources and leads for funding.