Tuition & Fees, Stipends
Tuition & Fees, Stipends
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Tuition and Fees
Graduate Student Information
Full-time PhD students receive a fellowship that includes a tuition scholarship, a competitive stipend and single health insurance coverage. Part-time PhD students are typically self-funded.
For the 2025-2026 Academic Year:
- Stipend = $34,333 per year for 12-month programs/$28,610.80 per year for 10-month programs. Stipends increase each year to accommodate the cost of living.
- Tuition Scholarship = $68,800
- Mandatory Health Fee + Single Aetna Health Insurance Plan = $4,680
Many SMD Master’s programs offer generous tuition scholarships. Prospective Master’s students may check with their program representatives to learn more about such opportunities.
How far does my stipend go?
We know how important financial considerations are when you’re weighing your graduate school options.
Our 2025–26 stipend for Ph.D. students is $34,333 (with cost of living increase every year) — which is equivalent to earning $78,368 in NYC!
| Compared to these Cities: | Rochester's Cost of Living Is*: |
| New York City | 128% lower |
| San Francisco | 70% lower |
| Washington DC metro | 46% lower |
| Seattle | 46% lower |
| Philadelphia | 3% lower |
| Madison, WI | 9% lower |
| Pittsburgh | 2% lower |
| * As of 2025 according to: nerdwallet. Resource: See how far your stipend goes compared to other cities with these cost-of-living calculators by CNN Money or nerdwallet. | |
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