Curious about costs or financial assistance?
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees can be calculated for our programs using the World Campus Tuition Estimator. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the cost per credit hour for our courses is $1,027, regardless of residency.
Current tuition rates for this academic year
| Title | Total Credits | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | 12 credits | $12,204 |
| Graduate Certificate in Spatial Data Science | 15 credits | $15,255 |
| Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Programming and Web Map Development | 15 credits | $15,255 |
| Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation | 12 credits | $12,204 |
| Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence Analytics (GEOINT) | 15 credits | $15,255 |
| Master of Science in Spatial Data Science | 33 or 36 credits | $33,561 or $36,612 |
| Master of Geographic Information Systems | 33 or 36 credits | $33,561 or $36,612 |
| Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security | 33 credits | $33,561 |
Federal Financial Aid
All of our certificate and degree programs are eligible for federal financial aid. Graduate students can apply for unsubsidized Stafford Loans and the Graduate PLUS program. For more information, please contact a Distance Education advisor at 800-252-3592 or visit World Campus Student Aid.
Once you have been accepted to a certificate or degree program, you can begin the process of applying for student aid.
To be eligible, students must be registered for 5 credits in one semester. For our programs, that is one 3-credit course per 10-week session (e.g., a course in Fall 1, and a course in Fall 2).
Additional Ways to Pay for Your Education
There are several other options for paying for your education, including payment plans, scholarships, and working with your employer. We are happy to discuss these options in more detail; just email us at info@gis.psu.edu.
You can pay your tuition in installments if you sign up for a payment plan. The Penn State Bursar’s Office can provide more information about this option.
Scholarship opportunities exist through the John A. Dutton Institute for Teaching and Learning Excellence , United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, and Penn State World Campus.
An outside party, such as your employer, may also pay for all or part of your tuition. To learn more about this process and necessary documentation, go to World Campus Student Resources.
Military Payment
Penn State is proud to work with current and former members of the United States military to help them continue their education.
If the military is paying for your tuition and fees, please send a Tuition Authorization form to the Penn State World Campus Military Educational Benefits Office. You can fax it to 814-863-1385 or email it to militarybenefits@worldcampus.psu.edu. If you have questions, please call the office at 814-863-6638.
We’re here to help you get started!