TUITION & FEES

This is the tuition cost per course unit of enrollment in the NPL online program. Tuition and expenses are adjusted annually. Part-time Online students are charged tuition and fees per course unit based on enrollment in any given term. The Accelerated Online NPL students are also charged tuition and fees per course unit based on enrollment in any given term. Adjustments will be made for registration in more or fewer than 3 course units in the fall or spring semesters. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the SP2 Registrar directly for assistance with tuition/fees, part- versus full-time status, and course registration.

Academic Year 2026-2027	Charged Per Course Unit
Tuition	$7534
Online Services Fee	$530
Technology Fee	$124
Clinical Fee	N/A
TOTAL FOR 1 COURSE UNIT	$8,188

Financial Support

The PhD program is designed to be completed in four years. Each student is supported financially by the School of Social Policy & Practice in the form of tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and a generous ten-month research and teaching stipend for the four years. View more information about the funding provided to students here.

Tuition & Fees

Full-time tuition, general and clinical fees* are charged the first three years of study. After three years of full-time study, students are placed on dissertation status with reduced tuition and fee amount. In addition, individual health insurance is available through the University. All students must be covered by the University’s health insurance or provide proof of alternate health coverage.

In rare situations, students are responsible for paying tuition, general and clinical fees, and health insurance. Please see below.

*The general and clinical fees are a contribution toward the support of the Student Health Service, Placement Service, graduate student activities, recreational facilities, and other services not directly associated with specific courses.

Academic Year 2026-2027
	Full Time (Years 1-2)	Reduced (Dissertation Status – Years 3-4)
Tuition	$46,540	$5,818
General Fee	$4,268	$1,064
Clinical Fee	$770	$770
TOTAL	$51,578	$7,652

Tuition & Fees for Academic Year Fall 2026 – Spring 2027

Tuition: $7,575 per course unit
Online services fee: $162 per course unit

DSW students are charged a flat tuition rate plus the online services fee per term. Tuition and expenses are adjusted annually. The chart below reflects Estimated Costs for New Entering Students.

Estimated Costs for New Students Entering
	Academic Year 2026-2027 Year 1 Coursework Fall & Spring	Academic Year 2027-2028 Year 2 Coursework Fall & Spring	Academic Year 2028-2029 (estimated) Year 3 Dissertation
Tuition	$48,204	$48,204	$2,580
Online Services Fee	$972	$972	N/A
Total	$49,176	$49,176	$2,580
Total Estimated Cost	$100,836

DNPA students are charged a flat tuition rate plus the online services fee per term. Tuition and expenses are adjusted annually. The chart below reflects Estimated Costs for New Entering Students.

	Academic Year 2026-2027
Year 1 Coursework
Fall & Spring	Academic Year 2027-2028
Year 2 Coursework
Fall, Spring & Summer	Academic Year 2028-2029
Year 3 Coursework
Summer
Year 3 Dissertation
Fall & Spring
Tuition	$32,136	$48,204	$16,068
Online	$648	$972	$324
Dissertation	n/a	n/a	$2,484
Total	$32,784	$49,176	$18,876
Total Estimated Cost	$100,836

Dual degree students must plan their programs of study with their academic advisors. Individualized plans often differ by student, which may impact billing. For more detailed information on dual degree billing, please contact the SP2 Registrar.

The tuition and fees indicated above are estimates, based on 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates. Students can anticipate that tuition will increase each year, beginning in the summer term, which will result in a slightly higher rate each subsequent year.

Estimated cost of dual MSW/MSSP program (based on the 2026-2027 Academic Year tuition rates):

Year	Term	Course Units	Estimated Cost
One	Fall	4	$33,027
	Spring	4	$33,027
	Summer	3	$23,132
Two	Fall	5	$40,561
	Spring	5	$40,561
	Summer	1	$8,064
TOTAL		22	$178,372

Estimated cost of dual MSW/NPL program (based on the 2026-2027 AY tuition rates):

Year	Term	Course Units	Estimated Cost
One	Fall	5	$40,561
	Spring	5	$40,561
	Summer	2	$15,598
Two	Fall	5	$40,561
	Spring	5	$40,561
TOTAL		22	$177,842

Dual degree students must plan their programs of study with their academic advisors. Individualized plans often differ by student, which may impact billing. For more detailed information on dual degree billing, please contact the SP2 Registrar.

The tuition and fees indicated above are estimates, based on 2026-2027 tuition and fee rates. Students can anticipate that tuition will increase each year, beginning in the summer term, which will result in a slightly higher rate each subsequent year.

Year	Term	Course Units	Estimated Cost
One	Fall	4	$33,027
	Spring	4	$33,027
	Summer	1	$8,064
Two	Fall	4	$33,027
	Spring	4	$33,027
	Summer	1	$8,064
Three	Fall	4	$33,027
TOTAL		22	$181,263

Dual degree students must plan their programs of study with their academic advisors. Individualized plans often differ by student and billing for dual degree programs occurs in conjunction with other schools within the University of Pennsylvania.

Submatriculate students will pay undergraduate tuition and fees until they complete their bachelor’s degree.  Submatriculate students will pay graduate tuition and fees in their final term of study when they are full-time SP2 students.

For questions specific to your situation, please contact the SP2 Registrar.