Overview
North Cascades Institute
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Tuition & Fees
Western Washington University
Western Washington University tuition for the seven-quarter degree program is estimated to be $12,800 for residents of Washington State and $23,500 for non-residents. For the State of Washington resident requirements, please see WWU's registrar's office information.
HOUSING and living expenses
For the first quarter of this program, students will attend classes on the WWU campus and live near the University; graduates will be responsible for their own housing and food costs during this time. During the next four quarters, students are provided housing and partial board on or near the Environmental Learning Center. For the final two quarters, students will live near WWU in Bellingham and will provide their own housing. Students are responsible for their own health insurance, books and supplies, transportation, computer and personal outdoor equipment.
North Cascades Institute
North Cascades Institute's Residency fee is $16,325.50* for the 2013 - 2014 If all North Cascades Institute and Western Washington University Graduate School application materials are received by January 15th, student will receive a $500 residency fee discount. Discounts are applied to the final residency quarter fees. North Cascades Institute also offers individual scholarships of up to $2000; please contact stephanie_bennett@ncascades.org for more details.
Download M.Ed. Scholarship Application
Wilderness First Responder certification is required for this graduate program. You will need your WFR certificate prior to the start of the residency. The estimated cost for certification is $600-$800.
Students are strongly encouraged to have their own transportation. The Learning Center is remotely located along State Route 20 in North Cascades National Park, and the nearest services are 20 miles to the west. Bellingham is approximately two hours from the Learning Center, Seattle is three hours.
Financial Aid and Other Important Links
Students are eligible for educational loans through Western Washington University. Federal financial aid applications are available from the Financial Aid Office. The financial aid application priority deadline is February 15. Be sure to mark work-study on the application if you are interested.
Past graduate students have been incredibly successful at applying for and receiving outside scholarships and grants to help partially or fully fund their graduate education. We strongly urge you to read the below excerpt from a past-graduate student, discussing key tips and strategies on navigating the scholarship process.
At North Cascades Institute, we recognize the financial burden that our students take on in order to enroll in our graduate program. We have years of experience with helping graduate students navigate through the financial aid process at Western Washington University as well as other funding options. Please reach out to our Graduate Program Coordinator if you have any questions, and so that we can begin a dialogue on making this graduate experience affordable for you.
Tips on scholarship opportunities from a North Cascades Institute Graduate M.Ed. residency alumni
Other useful links:
WWU Financial Aid Office for Graduate Students
Graduate Student Funding Sources (pdf)
FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
WWU Graduate Funding and Support
We suggest that you investigate other financial aid opportunities available through foundations, government grants, community groups, professional organizations, financial institutions and other sources.
*Please note that the Residency fee of $16,325.50 is for the 2013 - 2014 academic year, and is subject to change in future years.
