Program Costs

Cost will vary according to several factors. Non-resident students will pay somewhat more than resident students. Students who have received an M.S. degree or have taken courses from an accredited graduate program (and accepted by the admissions committee) will complete the degree in less time, and thus, lower their costs. Each student's personal expenses will vary depending on their situation.

DPH students will fund their studies through a combination of strategies including part-time research, teaching, or extension positions supported by faculty in the participating departments (Agronomy/Horticulture, Entomology, Plant Pathology, etc.), tutoring opportunities, other part-time jobs, low cost student loans, scholarships and fellowships. 

Cost of attendance can be very different from one student to another because tuition rates and fee requirements vary based on course level, whether the courses are online rather than on campus, and other factors. If you have questions about tuition and fees, contact the DPH Program Director or Administrative office or you may contact Student Accounts.  For a listing of the fees and to use the Cost Estimator visit the Cost Estimator page on the Office of Graduate Studies website.

The DPH program currently offers two types of fellowships that support students during their first two years. Unlike assistantships which carry certain work requirements, these fellowships do not have any work requirements. Therefore, students will be able to take on additional part-time work for additional support.

In order to remain eligible for these fellowships, DPH students must be registered as full-time students and also maintain a 3.0 GPA ("B" average) or better in all coursework.

We are constantly seeking additional funding for student fellowship support. Please contact Dr. Jeff Bradshaw (program director) if you are interested in pursuing these opportunities.

Residency requirements for DPH students will be the same as those for all UNL students. The state of Nebraska does not allow a non-resident student to establish residency during the period that they are a full-time student (see link to UNL residency policy).

However, the DPH program was granted a tuition waiver for non-resident students that resulted in tuition being charged at only 125% of resident tuition. (This is approximately a $10,000 per year waiver.)