Tuition & Financial Support

Funding Your Graduate Education

The MLS program holds financial accesibility as a top priority, and is committed to supporting students to attend regardless of financial need. 90% of MLS students receive significant financial support. Information about scholarships and other funding opportunities can be found below under "Financial Support".

Tuition & Fees Details

From the Student Financial Services Graduate college tuition website:

Master of Professional Studies in Leadership for Sustainability (MPS)

  • Out-of-State Resident Rate: $1,375 per credit
  • Vermont Resident Rate: standard Vermont resident rate

For a detailed description of tuition and fees you can visit the Student Financial Services page by clicking here for a detailed account of tuition and comprehensive fees associated with the Master's in Leadership for Sustainability at UVM (note that 30 credits are required to graduate). You can also reach out to Drusilla Roessle at Drusilla.Roessle@uvm.edu for a summary. 

Financial Support

Graduate students in the MLS program have secured funding to offset tuition costs in a variety of ways. Generally, funding has come in the form of these six categories:

Scholarship Opportunities

The Rubenstein School makes every effort to work with students to make their graduate education financially affordable. All admissions decisions are made without regard to financial need or ability to pay. Merit-based and need-based financial support are available through a variety of sources, as well as a multicultural scholarship supporting diversity and inclusion. Financial support in the form of professional development and/or tuition remission funds may also be available through your employer and/or organizational partner.  If you are interested in applying for scholarships, please fill out the Scholarship Application form, or reach out to Margaret Williams (margaret.Williams@uvm.edu)

External Scholarship Opportunities

Our students have also received many external scholarship/fellowships including the Ashoka Fellowship, Robert Fullwood Johnson Foundation Fellowship, Switzer Fellowship, and more. View a compiled list of relevant external scholarships/fellowships here. Prospective students may also follow this link to external funding information and resources provided by the UVM Graduate College.

Direct Project Funding & Grants

Some MLS students have applied for grants, private gifts, and even crowd-sourced support to support their Master's Capstone Project (which also benefits their organization/community). Some of this funding has supported travel and direct costs of project work, while other funding has supported students’ time and even tuition costs. In some cases, students have used their project to do significant fundraising for their own home community/organization.

Organizational Support

Many MLS students receive financial support from their home organization that can include tuition remission and other direct costs. Many organizations recognize that this 2-year program will directly benefit the organization. Some students have also designed projects that have led to partnerships with organizations who are willing to fund students for the completion of their Master's Capstone Project.

Financial Aid

UVM’s Student Financial Services Center provides support to graduate students to explore traditional financial aid opportunities (in the form of loans, work study, etc.)

Work support/income

Unlike residential programs that are intended for full-time students who must give up their professional employment, the MLS Program is designed for students who work full-time.  This model allows us to offer a reduced tuition rate.  Some MLS students are able to contribute to their tuition costs through income or professional development funds from their professional employment.

Financial Support Quick Links