the Cost of Graduate School Tuition

My graduate tuition covered only the cost of attendance - the ability to register for classes, attend those classes, and receive my grades. All other expenses were additional. This includes room, board, books, lab fees, student union fees, parking permits, disk-space over quota, and printing charges.

However, it should be noted that the tuition itself was paid for in full by the school, as I served as a graduate teaching assistant. Therefore, the only money I paid out of pocket were these "additional" fees.

My graduate education was very strong, and prepared me well for landing a full-time career after leaving school. My masters degree made me a much more sought-after candidate at several companies. And the experience I received being a teaching assistant is invaluable, as I also now have a second job teaching a very similar course.

When considering a graduate school, make sure you inquire about the financial aide package. It is highly irregular for anyone to actually pay graduate tuition themselves. In the vast majority of circumstances, either the school should be paying for it as you serve as a TA, or an external company or grant fund should be paying for it in exchange for your research time.