That depends on what degree you’ll be pursuing.
PhD study in chemical engineering
A PhD is often paid for by research funds obtained by your grad-school faculty advisor. In addition to a tuition award, you will also typically receive a stipend for your living expenses. If you obtain this support then it won’t cost you anything.
When you apply to graduate school, you will automatically be considered for support, either in the form of a research assistantship, a teaching assistantship, or a fellowship. These assistantships usually include full tuition and fees. It’s a great deal for which good students will often qualify, and it is usually based on merit, not need.
There are also very prestigious graduate research fellowships offered by the National Science Foundation for the best students in the country. If you are able to obtain an NSF graduate research fellowship, you will be highly courted by all the top graduate schools. You must apply directly to NSF for these fellowships.
MS study in chemical engineering
A masters degree can be done either in coursework mode (never supported; you are charged tuition and fees) or thesis mode (may be supported; may include a living stipend). The coursework masters has the advantage of being straightforward to complete. You take the necessary courses to get your degree. There is no research project. The thesis path requires a research project in place of some of the elective courses and this must be completed before the degree is awarded. There are sometimes funded research projects for thesis Masters students.
You can reduce the cost of a Masters degree at Michigan Tech by taking advantage of two programs that allow you to start your graduate studies while completing your undergraduate degree.
- Accelerated BS/MS degree. This program allows you to double count up to six credits towards both your BS and MS degree.
- Senior Rule. This program allows you to take up to six credits towards your graduate degree in the last year of your BS degree.
If you have the space in your schedule to do both then you can earn up to 12 credits towards your graduate degree while still an undergraduate. Graduate tuition is charged on a per credit basis.
For more on graduate school, visit the Department’s website on graduate studies.