MFA program funding

Graduate assistantship and scholarship support

All MFA students are offered a 20-hour Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) during their first two years, provided they remain in good academic standing. (While this support has historically been consistent, it is not guaranteed, as unforeseen circumstances may occasionally affect funding availability.)

The GTA position fully covers:

Registration fees for up to 9 credits per semester
Non-resident tuition, including for international students (if applicable)
University health insurance fees

In addition, the GTA position provides a $17,000 annual stipend (based on 2026 figures), helping to cover the remaining fees and offset living expenses.

In the fifth semester, students do not hold a GTA position so they can fully focus on their thesis work. Instead, the department provides a scholarship that covers tuition and fees during this final semester.

Nevada allows students to establish Nevada residency after living in the state for more than one year. Students should plan to apply for Nevada residency before their third year. (This does not apply to international students.)

Students are not expected to pay tuition or fees out of pocket under this funding model. (Please note that scholarship amounts vary from year to year. While we have never encountered a situation in which scholarships were insufficient to cover these costs, funding levels are not guaranteed, as unforeseen circumstances may arise.)

Please note that during the 10-day residencies, students are required to stay in a dorm room on the Tahoe campus. The costs of room and board are paid by students and range from approximately $950 to $1,150 per residency, based on 2026 rates.

Estimated costs and financial support (based on 2025 figures)

These are the approximate tuition and fees for students with a 20-hour Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) during the first two years. The last row shows the amount of the GTA stipend and scholarships that a student receives. These numbers are based on 2026 figures; tuition and fees may increase each year.

	Summer / 1st Fall	Winter / 1st Spring	Summer / 2nd Fall	Winter / 2nd Spring	3rd Fall	Total
Tuition and Fees (Domestic Student)	$4,050*	$3,960	$2,800	$2,760	$4,620	$18,190
Tuition and Fees (International Student)	$4,200*	$4,110	$2,950	$2,900	$6,880	$21,040
Stipend scholarships (estimate)**	$8,500 $3,000	$8,500 $3,000	$8,500 $1,000 - $1,500	$8,500 $1,000 - $1,500	$5,000 - $7,000	$34,000 $13,000 - $16,000

Summer / 1st Fall

Winter / 1st Spring

Summer / 2nd Fall

Winter / 2nd Spring

3rd Fall

Total

Tuition and Fees (Domestic Student)

$4,050*

$3,960

$2,800

$2,760

$4,620

$18,190

Tuition and Fees (International Student)

$4,200*

$4,110

$2,950

$2,900

$6,880

$21,040

Stipend scholarships (estimate)**

$8,500

$3,000

$8,500

$3,000

$8,500

$1,000 - $1,500

$8,500

$1,000 - $1,500

$5,000 - $7,000

$34,000

$13,000 - $16,000

*The first stipend payment may be received after the payment due date. You may need to pay approximately $1,000 upfront.

**The amount may change depending on funding availability.

Tuition and fees are fully offset by the stipend and scholarships. However, we encourage prospective students to carefully consider the cost of living in Reno when evaluating the financial aspects of this commitment.

Other financial support

Beyond the GTA and departmental scholarships, MFA students have access to a variety of supplemental funding resources:

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) offers a $500 annual travel grant to support participation in conferences, exhibitions, and professional events.
GSA awards are available each spring for students to apply.
The Department funds group trips, helping students engage with the broader art community.

While these opportunities are smaller in scale, they can significantly enhance students' academic and professional experiences throughout the program.