RAND School of Public Policy

What is the cost of studying for a year at RAND School of Public Policy?

For 2024-25, reported full-time graduate tuition at RAND School of Public Policy was $50,000 for both California residents and nonresidents, with no required graduate fees reported in those figures. The reported part-time graduate charge was $4,167 per credit. These are published charges for that reporting year, not a current-year bill or a prediction of what an admitted student will pay.

The full cost of attendance also depends on housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses in the Santa Monica area. Published tuition and an individual student's net cost can differ substantially if the student receives a tuition award or other funding. Applicants should obtain an offer that specifies what tuition support covers, any conditions for renewal, expected work responsibilities, and the amount they must fund themselves.

Graduate students may also be able to use eligible federal loans or military education benefits, subject to program and individual eligibility. In the reported military-benefits data, the average graduate benefit amount was $16,500; that average is not an award available to every student and should not be subtracted automatically from the tuition figure.

What are the work-study opportunities at RAND School of Public Policy?

Work connected to policy research is central to the RAND graduate-school model. Students should examine how research assignments fit alongside classes and dissertation work, and whether a particular admission offer includes paid work, a stipend, or other support.

A RAND research role, an internship, and Federal Work-Study are different arrangements. Federal Work-Study is a need-based federal aid program with its own eligibility and job rules; students should not assume that research employment qualifies as Work-Study. Applicants should ask for the written terms of any position, including pay, expected hours, supervision, and whether continued employment affects tuition support.

Research experience can also contribute to career development, but it is not a job-placement guarantee. Students evaluating professional support should ask how the school helps them find positions, prepare application materials, connect with alumni, and present their research to employers.