Tuition & Fees

Estimated Expenses for the Academic Year

The following approximate costs, applicable in 2023-2024, are indicative of costs that can be expected by MEM and MF candidates; PhD students should consult the bulletin of The Graduate School for similar data. Students should expect that tuition and fees will increase annually; the amounts are determined by the school and the university and reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees.

In addition to these fixed expenses, the student may incur other expenses, which will depend to a large extent upon individual tastes and habits. All on-campus students are required to carry major health insurance either through Duke’s comprehensive medical insurance plan or by providing proof that other health insurance provides comparable coverage. International students are required to purchase Duke’s student medical insurance plan. The average Duke Nicholas School student can plan on a budget in the range of $70,000 to $75,000 for the academic year. Students with spouses and children should expect to have higher expenses.

Specific tuition information for the Duke Environmental Leadership program can be found at nicholas.duke.edu/admissions/tuition-fees.

Flat-Rate Tuition

Professional degree students in the Nicholas School pay a flat rate of tuition per semester (excluding the summer session) (see Flat-Rate Tuition—Duke Environmental Leadership Program below for the DEL-MEM Program). Students enrolled in the regular two-year MEM or MF degree program are required to pay the flat rate tuition for a minimum of four semesters. Students in concurrent degree programs at Duke pay a flat rate to the university throughout their concurrent degree program that is split proportionately between the two programs regardless of where the student is taking courses in a particular semester; the tuition rate for the Nicholas School is equivalent to three semesters. Students in the concurrent MEM/MF program must enroll full-time for at least five semesters and pay the flat-rate tuition for a minimum of five semesters.

The flat-rate tuition allows Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry degree candidates to register for 9 or more credits for a fixed tuition payment per semester. The normal full-time enrollment is expected to be 12 graduate credits per semester, although credits may vary from 9 to 16.5 depending upon the student’s academic and assistantship requirements. Permission is required to register for fewer than 9 or more than 16.5 credits in a semester.

If the student is permitted to be enrolled part-time (fewer than 9 course credits), they will be charged per course credit ($1,943 per unit for the 2023-2024 academic year). Students who are approved for part-time enrollment status are not eligible for school or federal financial aid. The per credit rate is available to professional degree students only after the minimum number of semesters of tuition have been paid (three, four, or five semesters depending on the degree program/s).

Students who wish to earn additional credits during the summer will be charged at the part-time rate per course credit. Payment for summer session courses is in addition to the required four semesters at the flat tuition rate. Students who have completed the required semesters in residence and all course requirements except the master’s project will be charged a minimum registration fee ($400 for 2023-2024) each semester until the degree is completed. Students being paid for a summer internship may not receive academic credit in addition to the salary.

All students are expected to be registered in residence, to be approved for a leave of absence, or to pay a minimum registration fee for each semester until their degree is completed.

Flat-Rate Tuition—Duke Environmental Leadership Program

Professional degree students in the Nicholas School DEL-MEM Program pay a flat rate of tuition per semester (excluding the summer session) for four semesters.

The DEL-MEM Program is a minimum thirty-course-credit program that must be completed in four semesters over two years. The flat-rate tuition allows Master of Environmental Management degree candidates to register for courses for a fixed tuition payment per semester. To complete the DEL-MEM Program within the required amount of time, students typically take between 6 and 9 credits per semester. Permission is required to register for fewer than 6 credits or more than 12 credits in a semester. Students must be enrolled with at least 6 credits to be considered a full-time student and to receive federal financial aid, if eligible. Students registering for fewer than 6 course credits per semester are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Students who have completed the required four semesters and all course requirements, except the master’s project, will be charged a minimum registration fee ($400 for 2023-2024) each semester until the degree is completed.

All students are expected to be registered, to be approved for a leave of absence, or to pay a minimum registration fee for each semester until their degree is completed.