Graduate Costs & Aid
For NEW Students as of Fall 2026 or Later
Funding options available to Graduate students, per year
Naropa offers scholarships and graduate assistantships. More than 75% of our graduate students receive some form of federal or institutional aid.
Scholarships
Naropa Fellowships : up to $26,150*
Naropa Scholarships: $500- $7,000 with limited larger scholarships
Outside Scholarships: monies awarded by non-Naropa sources
Graduate Scholarships Page
*Only available for MFA Creative Writing & Poetics (Residential Program)
Employment Opportunities
Graduate Assistantships: a form of employment with the University, awards ranging from $4,500 – $9,000.
Federal Work Study: Need based employment on campus or with approved community partners, paid at $20 per hour, with most awards ranging from $4,000-$6,000.
Naropa Student Employment: Non-need based student employment on campus, paid at $20 per hour, with most awards ranging from $4,000-$6,000. To be considered, please email finaid@naropa.edu
Student Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- up to $20,500 annually for Graduate Programs
- up to $50,000 annually for Professional Degrees (Master of Divinity only)
Students attending less than full time over an academic year will have loans prorated based on the number of credits enrolled in.
*Please note the Graduate PLUS loan will no longer be available beginning July 1, 2026. There is a legacy provision for direct loan borrowers who began attendance in their program prior to June 30, 2026, and remain continuously enrolled in their program of study, for up to the lesser of 3 years or until the anticipated time to credential of a full time student.
Private Loans
Private loans are credit-based funds offered by private lenders—banks, credit unions, or online lenders—rather than the government, used primarily to fill funding gaps in educational costs. They generally require a credit check and often require a co-signer. They feature variable or fixed interest rates and lack federal borrower protections.
Tuition Breakdown
-
$850 per credit for students enrolled in any graduate program or professional degree
Example: $850 per credit x 3 credit course = $2,550
Student Fees
Fees that occur each semester:
- Student Fees - $250*
*Only charged to students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.
Program Specific Fees (each semester):
- Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling - $2,200
- Ecopsychology - $500
- Master of Divinity - $700
- Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling (Low Residency) - $500
- Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling - $1,000
- Somatic Counseling (Low-Residency) - $500
- Spiritual Care - $600
- Yoga Studies - $600
Single Semester Fees:
- Supervision Assist Fee - $250**
**Only charged in for students in the Graduate school of counseling Psychology in their first semester.
Estimated Tuition Examples
These tuition examples are for illustrative purposes. Your actual cost will be based on your registered credits each term and any applicable fees.
Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Yearly Total | $15,800 | ||
Credits | 9 | 9 | |
Tuition | $7,650
| $7,650
| |
*These rates are subject to change in subsequent years
Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Yearly Total | $20,400 | ||
Credits | 12 | 12 | |
Tuition | $10,200
| $10,200
| |
*These rates are subject to change in subsequent years
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Yearly Total | $15,300 | ||
Credits | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Tuition | $5,100
| $5,100
| $5,100
|
*These rates are subject to change in subsequent years
Fall | Spring | Summer (header or trailer) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Yearly Total | $20,400 | ||
Credits | 9 | 9 | 6 |
Tuition | $7,650
| $7,650
| $5,100
|
*These rates are subject to change in subsequent years
A student’s cost of attendance includes direct costs paid to the university (i.e. tuition & fees), as well as estimated indirect costs a student will incur, which are not included in their tuition bill (i.e. books & supplies).
The cost of attendance is determined using guidelines established by the Colorado Commission of Higher Education and assumes that students are limiting expenses by sharing housing, utilizing public transportation, etc.
Living expenses (room and board, books, transportation, personal and miscellaneous) are about $3,092/month. The following demonstrates expected expenses associated with attending school full-time for 9 months (living off campus).
Yearly Total Indirect Costs | $27,828 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Housing & Food | $17,658
| |||
Transportation | $1,512
| |||
Books, Course Materials, Supplies & Equipment | $1,256
| |||
Personal & Misc. | $6,606
| |||
Loan Fees | $796 | |||
Graduate Funding Resources
Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are a form of employment with the university. Graduate students selected for a GA position will receive a scholarship that is applied directly to their tuition bill, as well as a stipend, which is paid monthly to the student. GA’s are not need-based; however, students must fill out an aid application.
How to Apply
- Students are required to apply for GA positions through Naropa’s online employment application (to be announced soon).
- A link to Naropa’s online employment application is included in each GA position description.
- Be sure to attach any required documents to your online application (i.e. resume).
- Students will be notified if they have been selected for a GA position.
Requirements
- Students can apply for an assistantship if they haven’t been accepted into Naropa; however, students must be accepted before we can offer them a GA award.
- Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours (all credits must count towards minimum number of credits needed to graduate) during any semester they may hold a GA position.
- Returning students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
- All students must submit an aid application (FAFSA for US citizens and eligible non-citizens, International Student Aid application for non-US citizens).
Additional Information
- Receiving more than one institutional form of aid (including a GA) could affect your eligibility for, or the amounts of, other forms of aid, including scholarship awards.
- Student employees using GA funds, work-study, or Naropa student employment cannot work more than 20 hours a week, even while holding more than one position.
Complete the New Hire Process
- Human Resources will email New Hire paperwork to the student.
- Students who are selected for an assistantship must complete Naropa’s new hire process before they can begin working in their position.
- We cannot apply your GA awards to your account until the new hire process is complete.
- Students who are hired within two years of their last date of employment (i.e. work-study or a GA position) do not need to complete new hire paperwork.
GA Scholarships & Pay
Students who are selected for a GA position will receive a GA scholarship that will be applied directly to their tuition bill for Fall and Spring, as well as hourly pay. GA award amounts are based on the number of required hours of work each week.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the award amounts are as follows:
- 10 hours per week: $20 an hour, $3,000 in scholarship
- 7.5 hours per week: $20 an hour, $2,250 in scholarship
- 5 hours per week: $20 an hour, $1,500 in scholarship
Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Loan
- Lending Limit:
- up to $20,500 per academic year for students enrolled in a graduate program (most Masters degree programs)
- up to $50,000 per year for students enrolled in a professional degree, as defined by the Department of Education (MDiV only)
- For students who are not enrolled full time for the academic year, the annual loan amount will be prorated based on enrolled credits.
- Interest Rates change each academic year*
- Loan accrues interest while a student is in school
- Origination Fee adjusts for each calendar year.
- Grace Period: 6 months
This means that once a student has stopped attending at at least 6 credit hours, they have 6 months before they are required to begin repaying their loans.
- The Graduate PLUS loan is discontinued effective July 1st, 2026. Students beginning in Fall 2026 will not be eligible to borrow the graduate PLUS loan, however, student borrowers who began enrollment prior to July 1st 2026 (and have remained continuously enrolled in their program of study) can continue to borrow the loan for up to the lesser of 3 years or expected time to credential (pending credit qualification).
- Review Federal Student Loan Borrowing History : Students can review information regarding their federal grants and federal student loans, including borrowing history, through the Federal Student Aid Website.
- Review more information regarding Federal Student Loans.
Private Student Loans
Naropa University awards educational loans primarily from the Direct federal student loan program. Some lenders advertise private loans that “mimic” the federal student loan program, but which differ in important ways. Private student loans:
- Cannot be included in a federal consolidation loan
- Are not eligible for income-driven repayment plans
- Are not eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- Result in an additional monthly student loan payment for the borrower
Aid from all sources cannot exceed a student’s estimated cost of attendance. Please send an email to finaid@naropa.edu with the words “Private Loan” in the subject line if you would like to start the process of requesting the inclusion of a private loan in your financial aid package.
Naropa University does not endorse or promote any private loan program or lender. Borrowers are encouraged to review federal student loan options before considering private loans since federal loans will generally have more favorable terms and conditions.
Student Employment
Work-Study
Students can work 5 to 20 hours per week. Students are paid twice per month at $20 per hour based on actual hours worked. Earnings are paid to the student and are subject to taxation. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for work-study. Receiving a work-study award is not a guarantee of employment.
View and apply for work-study positions
Community Work-Study
Naropa employs a small percentage of students at the following nonprofit organizations in the Boulder area through the community work-study program:
Community work-study is a great opportunity to be of service to the community and work with children and adults in tutoring, counseling, and teaching. You must be eligible for work-study and be a United States citizen to hold a work-study job at a community work-study site.
View and apply for community work-study jobs
Naropa Student Employment (NSEP)
Naropa Student Employment is a form of employment with the University. NSEP is a university-funded form of financial aid that allows international students to work on-campus and earn a semi-monthly paycheck. Student employment earnings are not applied to a student’s tuition bill. NSEP is awarded to international students who demonstrate high financial need. Receiving an NSEP award is not a guarantee of employment. Open Naropa Student Employment positions are posted on Naropa’s employment webpage.
Veterans Benefits
Other Details
Payment Options
Please review our Payment Options page.
Tuition Deadlines
View Your Tuition Bill
Policies
Learn More About Costs & Aid for Graduate Students
Connect
with Student Financial Services
- (303) 546-3509 (Financial Aid)
- (303) 546-3554 (Tuition)
- finaid@naropa.edu
- tuition@naropa.edu
- vabenefits@naropa.edu
- Schedule Appointment
Connect
with Student Financial Services
- (303) 546-3509 (Financial Aid)
- (303) 546-3554 (Tuition)
- finaid@naropa.edu
- tuition@naropa.edu
- vabenefits@naropa.edu
- Schedule Appointment
Graduate Costs & Aid
Aligning Aspirations with Budgets
Apply
How to Apply for Graduate Aid
2024/2025 FAFSA UPdates
Find out about FAFSA updates for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Graduate Scholarships
Find out about Naropa Graduate Scholarships.
Financial Aid available to Graduate students, per year
Naropa offers scholarships and graduate assistantships. More than 75% of our graduate students receive some form of federal or institutional aid.
Scholarships |
|---|
Naropa Fellowships : up to $29,000** Presidential Scholarship: up to $500 per semester Honor Scholarship: up to $1,500 per semester Other Scholarships: up to $25,000 Outside Scholarships: monies awarded by non-Naropa sources Graduate Scholarships Page**Fellowships may not be available for all programs |
Employment Opportunities |
|---|
Graduate Assistantships: a form of employment with the University, awards ranging from $4,238 – $8,476.
Federal Work Study: Need based employment on campus or with approved community partners. To be considered, please email finaid@naropa.edu.
Naropa Student Employment: Non-need based student employment on campus. To be considered, please email finaid@naropa.edu |
Student Loans |
|---|
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: up to $20,500
PLUS Loan: Federal credit-based loan available to cover the gap between aid and cost of attendance
Aid may available up to your cost of attendance
(tuition & fees plus humble living expenses) |
Graduate Costs & Aid
Graduate Program Costs
Important Information for All Programs
- Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500/year in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
- Graduate students may be able to borrow a Federal Grad PLUS loan up to the total Cost of Attendance minus all other aid awarded (must credit qualify).
- Students may set up a Payment Plan to pay their tuition bill.
- Many students work part-time off and on campus. For available employment opportunities at Naropa University, visit the Graduate Assistantships webpage or submit a request for Student Employment to the financial aid office at finaid@naropa.edu.
- Students who previously participated in Americorps programs may be able to apply their education award voucher to their tuition bill. Also, students enrolled in degree programs requiring internships may be able to earn credit toward an Americorps education award.
Graduate Aid Resources
Work-Study
While graduate students are not typically awarded federal work-study, they may email finaid@naropa.edu to request an award of work-study eligibility, and indicate a dollar amount that they would like to be awarded. The Grad PLUS loan will be reduced by the amount awarded in work-study eligibility. Students can work 5 to 20 hours per week. Students are paid twice per month. Earnings are paid to the student and are subject to taxation. Students must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for work-study. Receiving a work-study award is not a guarantee of employment.
The Resident Assistant position does not require students demonstrate financial need. This position requires a student live in University Housing for which a full housing scholarship is given. This is a 20-hour-per-week position in which students are paid twice per month. Please note that receiving more than one institutional form of aid (including the RA position) could affect your eligibility for, or the amounts of, other forms of aid, including scholarship awards. If you are awarded an RA position and you have already requested the maximum in the Grad/Parent PLUS Loan, we will need to reduce the Grad/Parent PLUS Loan to make room for the RA position payment and housing scholarship. If the application is open, it can be found via the work-study positions link below.
View and apply for work-study positions
Community Work-Study
Naropa employs a small percentage of students at the following nonprofit organizations in the Boulder area through the community work-study program:
Community work-study is a great opportunity to be of service to the community and work with children and adults in tutoring, counseling, and teaching. You must be eligible for work-study and be a United States citizen to hold a work-study job at a community work-study site.
View and apply for community work-study jobs
How to Apply for a Community Work-Study Job
- Contact the site/organization directly to inquire about available jobs and the application process
- If the site selects you for a position, students must also complete Naropa’s employment application and new hire process:
- Background check release and authorization
- New hire paperwork
- Once you’ve completed the above listed forms, take them to Human Resources along with your work authorization documents noted on the third page of the I-9 Form
- Common forms of identification include passport, driver’s license, and social security card or birth certificate. These documents need to be presented to Human Resources within 3 business days of your first day of work
- Human Resources is located at 1630 N 63rd St, Boulder, CO 80301
- Phone: 303-245-4700
- humanresources@naropa.edu
- If the site/organization selects you for a position and you have successfully completed Naropa’s new hire process, Student Financial Services will contact your site supervisor to confirm you can start working in your position
Naropa Student Employment (NSEP)
Naropa Student Employment is a form of employment with the University. NSEP is a university-funded form of financial aid that allows international students to work on-campus and earn a semi-monthly paycheck. Student employment earnings are not applied to a student’s tuition bill. NSEP is awarded to international students who demonstrate high financial need. Receiving an NSEP award is not a guarantee of employment. Open Naropa Student Employment positions are posted on Naropa’s employment webpage.
Other Details
Payment Options
Please review our Payment Options page.
Tuition Deadlines
View Your Tuition Bill
Indirect Costs
A student’s cost of attendance includes direct costs paid to the university (i.e. tuition & fees), as well as estimated indirect costs a student will incur, which are not included in their tuition bill (i.e. books & supplies).
The cost of attendance is determined using guidelines established by the Colorado Commission of Higher Education and assumes that students are limiting expenses by sharing housing, utilizing public transportation, etc.
Indirect expenses are about $2,498/month. The following demonstrates expected indirect expenses associated with attending school full-time for 9 months (living off campus).
Housing and Food | $14,680 |
Transportation | $990 |
Books, Course Materials, Supplies & Equipment | $1,256 |
Personal & Misc. | $4,762 |
Loan Fees | $796 |
Total Indirect Costs | $22,484 |
Policies
You can review our Policies page for any additional information you may need.
