Financial Aid

For Graduate Students

Education That’s Affordable, Meaningful, and Transformative

At UWest, we believe education is more than just earning a degree—it’s a transformative journey. Rooted in Buddhist wisdom and values, we provide a whole-person education that empowers students with character, compassion, and community while ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of personal and academic growth.

How UWest’s Costs Compare

Estimated Annual Tuition & Housing – Graduate
Tuition and fees: $15,788 (based on 24 units)
Tuition and fees with Housing: $22,922

Scholarships & Financial Aid

UWest is committed to making education accessible through scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities. Our generous financial aid packages help students graduate with less debt while focusing on their academic and personal growth.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Recognizing academic excellence and leadership potential.

Lotus Scholarship – $6,000/year
Metta Scholarship –$6,000/year
Dream Scholarship –$10,000/year
President’s Scholarship –Full tuition (up to 15 units/semester)
Dean’s Scholarship –Partial tuition (up to 7.5 units/semester)
UWest Scholarship –Up to $1,000/semester
AJ Wang Foundation Scholarship –$2,000/year (Freshman) $4,000/year (Transfer)
IBEF Scholarship (for Religious Studies/Buddhist Chaplaincy majors) -$3,500–$4,500/semester
IBEF Monastic Fellowship (for monastics in relevant majors) -$2,000–$3,000/semester
Golden Benefactor Awards –Varies (based on financial need)

Full Time Graduate Student

The cost of attendance is an estimate of what it will cost to attend University of the West for an academic year. There are two types of expenses that make up a student’s cost of attendance. Direct expenses include tuition, mandatory fees, as well as food and housing (if you live on campus). Indirect expenses include off-campus food and housing expenses (living expenses), books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

The cost of attendance is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student may receive. A student cannot receive more than the cost of attendance from any combination of federal, state, institutional or private funding source. University of the West can allow certain expenses as the basis for increasing the student’s cost of attendance. Expenses that may be considered include reasonable childcare expenses, computer purchase, and high medical/dental expenses that are not covered by insurance.

Each student’s award letter includes the cost of attendance that was used to determine award eligibility. Should you have questions regarding how your own cost of attendance was calculated, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

A group of UWest Students at the beach

On Campus
Off Campus
With Parents/Relatives
Tuition ($732 / unit)
$6,588 $6,588 $6,588
Mandatory Fees
$607 $607 $607
Housing – On Campus
$3,342
—
—
Direct Costs
$10,537 $7,195 $7,195
 
 
 
 
Food
$3,780
—
—
Food & Housing – Off Campus
—
$11,043 $5,747
Books & Supplies
$531 $531 $531
Transportation
$617 $981 $896
Student Loan Fees
$200
$200
$200
Miscellaneous
$1,607 $2,484 $2,030
Indirect Costs
$6,735 $15,239 $9,404
 
Semester Totals
$17,272 $22,434 $16,599
Annual COA
$34,544 $44,868 $33,198
On Campus
Off Campus
Parents/Relatives
Tuition ($743 / unit)
$6,687
$6,687
$6,687
Mandatory Fees
$607
$607
$607
Housing – On Campus
$3,342
—
—
Direct Costs
$10,636
$7,294
$7,294
 
 
 
 
Food
$3,780
—
—
Food & Housing – Off Campus
—
$11,043
$5,747
Books & Supplies
$531
$531
$531
Transportation
$617
$981
$896
Student Loan Fees
$200
$200
$200
Miscellaneous
$1,607
$2,484
$2,030
Indirect Costs
$6,735
$15,239
$9,404
 
 
 
 
Semester Totals
$17,371
$22,533
$16,698
Annual COA
$34,742
$45,066
$33,396
On Campus
Off Campus
With Parents/Relatives
Tuition ($723 / unit)
$6,507 $6,507 $6,507
Mandatory Fees
$607 $607 $607
Housing – On Campus
$3,342
—
—
Direct Costs
$10,456 $7,114 $7,114
 
 
 
 
Food
$3,780
—
—
Food & Housing – Off Campus
—
$11,043 $5,747
Books & Supplies
$531
$531
$531
Transportation
$617
$981
$896
Student Loan Fees
$200
$200
$200
Miscellaneous
$1,607 $2,484 $2,030
Indirect Costs
$6,735 $15,239 $9,404
 
 
 
 
Semester Totals
$17,191 $22,353 $16,518
Annual COA
$34,382 $44,706 $33,036
    On Campus
    Off Campus
    Parents/Relatives
    Tuition ($715 / unit)
    $6,435 $6,435 $6,435
    Mandatory Fees
    $607 $607 $607
    Housing – On Campus
    $3,342
    —
    —
    Direct Costs
    $10,384 $7,042 $7,042
     
     
     
     
    Food
    $3,780
    —
    —
    Food & Housing – Off Campus
    —
    $11,043 $5,747
    Books & Supplies
    $531 $531 $531
    Transportation
    $617 $981 $896
    Student Loan Fees
    $200
    $200
    $200
    Miscellaneous
    $1,607 $2,484 $2,030
    Indirect Costs
    $6,735 $15,239 $9,404
     
     
     
     
    Semester Totals
    $17,119 $22,281 $16,446
    Annual COA
    $34,238 $44,562 $32,892

      Full Time Graduate Student

      The cost of attendance is an estimate of what it will cost to attend University of the West for an academic year. There are two types of expenses that make up a student’s cost of attendance. Direct expenses include tuition, mandatory fees, as well as food and housing (if you live on campus). Indirect expenses include off-campus food and housing expenses (living expenses), books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

      The cost of attendance is used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid a student may receive. A student cannot receive more than the cost of attendance from any combination of federal, state, institutional or private funding source. University of the West can allow certain expenses as the basis for increasing the student’s cost of attendance. Expenses that may be considered include reasonable childcare expenses, computer purchase, and high medical/dental expenses that are not covered by insurance.

      Each student’s award letter includes the cost of attendance that was used to determine award eligibility. Should you have questions regarding how your own cost of attendance was calculated, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

      A group of UWest Students at the beach

      On Campus
      Off Campus
      With Parents/Relatives
      Tuition ($732 / unit)
      $6,588 $6,588 $6,588
      Mandatory Fees
      $607 $607 $607
      Housing – On Campus
      $3,342
      —
      —
      Direct Costs
      $10,537 $7,195 $7,195
       
       
       
       
      Food
      $3,780
      —
      —
      Food & Housing – Off Campus
      —
      $11,043 $5,747
      Books & Supplies
      $531 $531 $531
      Transportation
      $617 $981 $896
      Student Loan Fees
      $200
      $200
      $200
      Miscellaneous
      $1,607 $2,484 $2,030
      Indirect Costs
      $6,735 $15,239 $9,404
       
      Semester Totals
      $17,272 $22,434 $16,599
      Annual COA
      $34,544 $44,868 $33,198
      On Campus
      Off Campus
      Parents/Relatives
      Tuition ($743 / unit)
      $6,687
      $6,687
      $6,687
      Mandatory Fees
      $607
      $607
      $607
      Housing – On Campus
      $3,342
      —
      —
      Direct Costs
      $10,636
      $7,294
      $7,294
       
       
       
       
      Food
      $3,780
      —
      —
      Food & Housing – Off Campus
      —
      $11,043
      $5,747
      Books & Supplies
      $531
      $531
      $531
      Transportation
      $617
      $981
      $896
      Student Loan Fees
      $200
      $200
      $200
      Miscellaneous
      $1,607
      $2,484
      $2,030
      Indirect Costs
      $6,735
      $15,239
      $9,404
       
       
       
       
      Semester Totals
      $17,371
      $22,533
      $16,698
      Annual COA
      $34,742
      $45,066
      $33,396
      On Campus
      Off Campus
      With Parents/Relatives
      Tuition ($723 / unit)
      $6,507 $6,507 $6,507
      Mandatory Fees
      $607 $607 $607
      Housing – On Campus
      $3,342
      —
      —
      Direct Costs
      $10,456 $7,114 $7,114
       
       
       
       
      Food
      $3,780
      —
      —
      Food & Housing – Off Campus
      —
      $11,043 $5,747
      Books & Supplies
      $531
      $531
      $531
      Transportation
      $617
      $981
      $896
      Student Loan Fees
      $200
      $200
      $200
      Miscellaneous
      $1,607 $2,484 $2,030
      Indirect Costs
      $6,735 $15,239 $9,404
       
       
       
       
      Semester Totals
      $17,191 $22,353 $16,518
      Annual COA
      $34,382 $44,706 $33,036
        On Campus
        Off Campus
        Parents/Relatives
        Tuition ($715 / unit)
        $6,435 $6,435 $6,435
        Mandatory Fees
        $607 $607 $607
        Housing – On Campus
        $3,342
        —
        —
        Direct Costs
        $10,384 $7,042 $7,042
         
         
         
         
        Food
        $3,780
        —
        —
        Food & Housing – Off Campus
        —
        $11,043 $5,747
        Books & Supplies
        $531 $531 $531
        Transportation
        $617 $981 $896
        Student Loan Fees
        $200
        $200
        $200
        Miscellaneous
        $1,607 $2,484 $2,030
        Indirect Costs
        $6,735 $15,239 $9,404
         
         
         
         
        Semester Totals
        $17,119 $22,281 $16,446
        Annual COA
        $34,238 $44,562 $32,892

          Need Help? Contact the Financial Aid Office

          (626)571-8811 x 2138
          financialaid@uwest.edu