MAT Program Costs

Scholarship funding is limited. All applicants are reviewed for merit-based scholarship consideration as part of the admissions process—no separate scholarship application is required. While admission to the program does not guarantee a scholarship, applying earlier may increase your opportunity for scholarship consideration. For the Master of Arts in Teaching program, merit-based scholarships range from $15,000 to $30,000. Eligible applicants are awarded based on academic achievement, alignment with the USC Rossier mission, and other selection criteria. Scholarship recipients are notified at the time of admission.

Tuition

The 2026-2027 tuition fee is $2,376 per unit. Expect an approximately 3 ‒ 5% tuition increase each year.

TOTAL = $2,376 x 28 units

Mandatory Fees

• New student fee, graduate (on-campus program) = $55 (charged first semester only)
• Student health center fee = $720 ( optional for online students, charged to students with 6 units or more every semester)
• Graduate student programming fee = $40 for on-campus students, $20 for online students (charged per semester)
• Norman H. Topping student aid fund = $11 (charged per semester)
• Student transportation fee (on-campus program) = $151 (charged per semester)

TOTAL = $977 for on-campus students, $31 for online students

Other Fees

• Student health insurance (explore fees and waiver information)
• Parking fees for on-campus students (monthly, semester, and daily rates available)
• Tuition refund insurance (explore rates and opt out instructions)

TOTAL = Varies

Estimated Credentialing Fees

The requirements to be recommended for a California preliminary teaching credential involve some fees. See the table below for an estimate of costs.

Requirement	Cost
Basic Skills Requirement – CBEST	$102.00
Subject Matter Competency – CSET	$297.00
Certificate of Clearance Online Application	$52.65
LiveScan (varies $20-$120)	$120.00
TB Test (varies $0-$200)	$200.00
California Teaching Performance Assessment (CalTPA)	$300.00
CPR Training (varies $60-$120)	$120.00
US Constitution Exam (varies $85-1$00)	$100.00
Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)* (for Multiple Subject & Education Specialist Credential candidates)	$171
CSET Spanish III & IV** (for Bilingual Authorization in Spanish candidates only)	$198
Total Possible	$1,079.65 – $1648.65

*Additional credentialing fees: BILA Exams (for California Bilingual Authorization in Spanish supplemental certification only)= $198.00

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Financial Aid

USC offers various methods for paying for graduate school, including installment plans, tuition prepayment plans and long-term financing options. The USC Financial Aid Office (FAO) can help you navigate applying for financial aid, understanding your financial aid award and properly securing all of your loans.

Financial Aid for International Applicants

If you are an international student studying in your home country or in the United States on a non-immigrant student visa, you are not eligible for need-based federal student aid programs. You may be eligible to seek employer assistance or scholarship opportunities in your home country.

Scholarships

USC Rossier can help make your degree more affordable. Explore our scholarship options.