Funding your education
Financial Aid
We understand that pursuing an advanced degree is a major commitment and a significant investment. At SP2, we are committed to supporting you on your journey by providing information on scholarships, loans, work study opportunities, and a range of other resources. There are resources and tools that make a graduate degree at SP2 accessible and affordable, and we are committed to helping you navigate the process.
“I spend a lot of time strategizing and making sure that our students are ready. So we have programming around financial readiness, financial wellness, and financial career planning.”
– Pamela Gordy, Director of Financial Aid
How Much Does SP2 Cost?
Tuition and Fees
Get an in-depth look at the cost of attendance for each of our six programs.
Prospective & Incoming Students
Financial aid specialists are available to meet with you and answer any questions regarding financial aid.
Current Students
Financial aid specialists are available to meet with you and answer any questions about your financial aid, billing, or payment options.
Funding Your SP2 Education
Your financial aid consideration begins when you submit your application. SP2 offers limited scholarships to prospective master’s, Doctor of Clinical Social Work, and Doctor of Nonprofit Administration students. Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships must indicate their interest by answering “yes” to the scholarship consideration question within the admissions application; no separate application is needed. PhD students receive full tuition and stipend for four years and are the only doctoral program that offers guaranteed funding.
Attention Applicants
Please note that the information on this page applies primarily to Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), and Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) applicants.
Explore the Graduate Student Center(opens in a new tab) resources for more about financial support for the PhD in Social Welfare program.
Scholarship Consideration, Eligibility, and Award
Consideration
To be considered for scholarships, master’s, DSW, and DNPA students must complete the financial aid supplement section of the admissions application. If a student indicates on their application that they are requesting financial aid, their application will not be considered complete until this section is fully completed. No separate scholarship application is required.
If the financial aid supplement section is not submitted, students are not eligible for direct scholarship aid.
You must complete the financial aid supplement section at the time you are applying for admission to be considered for scholarship support.
Please note that applying for financial aid will in no way affect your admission eligibility.
Eligibility
Scholarships are available to domestic and international students. Scholarships are awarded based on faculty recommendation and demonstrated financial need. Students who are applying to dual degree programs should note that any scholarship is for full-time enrollment and will be applied at a per CU rate tuition reduction.
The following populations are ineligible for scholarships:
- Submatriculate students are not eligible for scholarships.
- Full-time tuition benefits eligible faculty and staff, and dependent children of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine and HUP are not eligible for SP2 scholarships. Full-time University of Pennsylvania Staff are eligible for faculty/staff benefit only through the University’s tuition benefit program via the Office of Human Resources(opens in a new tab). If you become tuition benefit eligible during your time at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice, your SP2 scholarship will be removed from your account.
- Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS) Accelerated Students and partner Executive Program Accelerated Students are not eligible for scholarships.
Course Load/Add-Drop Policy
Change in the Number of Course Units in Which you are Enrolled
The amount of your financial aid award depends on the number of course units (CUs) in which you are enrolled. Your initial award is prepared based on full-time, full-year enrollment. If you are not enrolled in a minimum of 2 degree-applicable course units or do not plan to come back to SP2 for the spring term, your awards may be adjusted to reflect these changes.
Financial aid award amounts vary depending on the number of course units in which you are enrolled during that term. A change in course units can affect your SP2 scholarship and your federal student loan amount even after you have accepted the award.
After the add/drop period has ended, the SP2 Office of Financial Aid (SP2-OFA) reviews financial aid eligibility for students with financial aid awards.
Please Note: financial aid may be adjusted after the add/drop period due to a variety of factors. Students must be enrolled in at least 2 CUs (half-time) to be eligible for federal student loans. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, federal student loan limits for students enrolled less than full time will be reduced based on their enrollment level. As a result, students enrolled in 2 CUs may be eligible for a lower federal student loan amount than students enrolled full time.
Any questions about the SP2 Financial Aid Add/Drop financial aid policy please contact sp2financialaid@sp2.upenn.edu
Award Details
Notification of a scholarship award is included in applicants’ admissions decision letters. Please note, SP2 scholarships are awarded factoring in the total course units required for the program. Scholarships will be adjusted for dual degree and transfer students to be applied at a per CU rate, thus reducing the total scholarship amount applied. The amount will be divided by the total program CU’s.
Federal & Private Loan Options
Federal Loans
Federal loan options are available to United States citizens and permanent residents who successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enroll at least half-time in a degree or certificate program. The University of Pennsylvania’s federal school code 003378. The FAFSA is available online at https://studentaid.gov/(opens in a new tab) in December each year.
FAFSA information is sent directly to the University’s office of Student Financial Services (SFS). The office prepares an official financial aid award package based on your FAFSA information, tuition, fees, and budget. Students will receive notification in July and can access their packaging information through Path@Penn. If you have questions about completing the FAFSA application, please contact FAFSA Help at 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or FederalStudentAidCustomerService@ed.gov.
The Direct Loan(opens in a new tab) is an unsubsidized federal loan available to graduate and professional students, with an annual maximum of $20,500. Eligibility for the Direct Loan can renew based on successful academic progress during your program. Additional information and application instructions can be found at Student Financial Services(opens in a new tab).
Income-driven repayment plans(opens in a new tab) make repaying student loans more manageable by reducing your required monthly payment. Several income-driven plans are available:
- Income-Based Repayment (IBR)
- Pay As You Earn Repayment (Pay As You Earn)
Each repayment plan has its own specific eligibility requirements. Contact your loan servicer(s) directly to see if you qualify. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)(opens in a new tab) encourages individuals to enter and continue working full-time in public service positions. Under this program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness for the balance of their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying payments while employed full time by certain public service employers.
Private Loans
Private education loans are non-federal, credit-based loans offered by banks, credit unions, state agencies, and private education loan providers. These loans can help cover educational expenses that may remain after all other forms of financial aid have been applied not to exceed your Cost of Attendance.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has implemented Preferred Lender Arrangements in response to recent changes in federal loan program regulations that take effect on July 1, 2026. These regulatory changes have created a need for private loan funding options that will ensure that Penn students and their families can continue to access needed financial resources.
The primary objective of these Preferred Lender Arrangements is to provide private educational loans that address funding gaps for students who have already received the maximum allowable federal loans. The envisioned private loan programs will be accessible to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in academic programs across the university. This includes specialized offerings for international students, health professions students, and those in non-health professions programs. Learn more by following the link below.
Many graduate/professional students rely on supplemental loan programs to fund their education, such as the Federal Direct loans or private alternative loans. Some loans benefit borrowers more than others, so students should weigh the pros and cons of each program before deciding which is best for them. For more guidance on weighing your options, please email our financial aid team.
SP2 Scholars Program
Created to embody SP2’s ongoing commitment to the recruiting and retaining of students with a particular interest in and demonstrated capacity for leadership in social good. SP2 Scholars are full-time students who receive full tuition benefits, mentorship and additional training opportunities, and enrichment through community as part of a dynamic cohort of scholars.
SP2 Social Innovation Scholarship Program
Dedicated to supporting master’s students seeking to innovate and generate impact in areas like economic security, immigration, or global conflict. SP2 Social Innovation Scholars covers tuition and is open to all three master’s degree programs.
Peace Corps’ Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
The Coverdell Fellows program partners with universities across the country to offer financial support to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who want to pursue educational studies. SP2 awards two Master of Social Work (MSW) Coverdell Fellowships and two Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) Coverdell Fellowships per year.
City Year National Service Scholarship
Our partnership with City Year brings idealistic and committed leaders with experience working in diverse settings and a high level of maturity and insight to the Penn SP2 community. The City Year National Service Scholarship is open to City Year AmeriCorps members, Senior AmeriCorps members, alumni, and staff that meet eligibility requirements.
Bonner Scholarship
The Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership Program (NPL) has partnered with The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation to provide full or partial tuition scholarships to academically promising students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in exchange of engaging their talents and education in building and supporting vulnerable communities through civic engagement.
Additional Penn Funding Sources
There are a number of specialized grant programs, fellowships, and scholarships for Penn graduate students and the university offers a number of funding sources to support individual graduate students with financial need.
Federal Work Study
Federal Work Study is a federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school to help pay for your education expenses. Federal work study may be available to United States citizens and permanent residents. To be considered for work study, applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online(opens in a new tab).
MSW, MSSP, and NPL Students
Master of Social Work (MSW), M.S. in Social Policy (MSSP), and M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL) students deemed eligible for work study may use your work study award as your practicum/internship placement site and be paid for up to 160 hours that are already counted as practicum placement hours.
Plan Your Funds
Once the work study award amount is exhausted, there are no additional funds. Therefore, you should take personal responsibility to plan carefully for the distribution of work study funds according to your needs across the full academic year.
Clearances Required
If you are required to complete clearances for your practicum/internship placement, you will be required to submit additional clearances for the federal work study process. This process usually begins in September.
Important Note
Please note that full-time employees of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine and HUP that are utilizing the Faculty/Staff Tuition benefit are ineligible for federal work-study.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation Graduate Community Assistance Awards
These merit and need-based scholarships are awarded to students with demonstrated involvement in community service initiatives.
The Beinecke Scholarship Program
This program awards each recipient $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. Scholars are encouraged to begin graduate study as soon as possible following graduation from college, and must utilize all of funding within five years of completion of undergraduate studies.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
The Harry S. Truman Scholars Program provides $30,000 merit-based scholarships for students pursuing a public service-related graduate degree, such as public policy, nonprofit management, public administration, education, or international relations.
Institute of International Education – Fulbright
The Fulbright program offers fellowships for graduate students to study in the United States for one year. Awards may be renewed, and program eligibility varies widely by country.
Pi Gamma Mu Scholarship
These scholarships are intended for first- or second-year graduate students in the areas of sociology, anthropology, political science, history, economics, international relations, public administration, criminal justice, law, social work, psychology, and human/cultural geography. The program is open to all members of Pi Gamma Mu in good standing.
Thouron Award
As many as 10 students from the United Kingdom are awarded Thouron awards each year, enabling them to study at any Penn graduate school. The award pays full tuition, fees, health insurance, and an annual stipend for up to two years of study.
Additional Financial Aid Information
University of Pennsylvania Penn Payment Plan
Penn offers a monthly payment plan that allows families to pay educational expenses over five months per semester with no interest. The monthly payment plan is for the academic year and is not available for students enrolled in summer courses.
Information for Current Penn Employees
The University offers employees the opportunity to pursue knowledge and to advance their personal and professional development by providing tuition assistance for credit courses at the University of Pennsylvania.
Penn employees who are interested in using their tuition benefit to enroll in classes must apply and be accepted into a non-degree or degree program. Once accepted and enrolled, you must complete the online tuition benefit form in order to activate your tuition benefit. Learn more at Penn’s Human Resources website(opens in a new tab).
Educational Opportunities for Veterans
The University of Pennsylvania is approved for training veterans, spouses of deceased veterans, and children of veterans under the appropriate public laws. All students who wish to obtain educational benefits under these laws must register with the Office of the Registrar at the time of enrollment at the University. Veteran registration must be renewed at the beginning of each subsequent semester and each summer session. Please contact our Veterans Office at veterans@upenn.edu for more information.
Please note that the combination of any SP2 scholarship and veteran funding cannot exceed the cost of tuition and general fees.
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