It was difficult when applying to schools to figure out exactly how much it will cost. Film school confidential has a breakdown on their website for UCLA, but it’s already quite dated.
This is the breakdown from UCLA’s Registrar:
Resident Nonresident University Registration fee $ 900.00 $ 900.00 Educational fee 6,822.00 6,822.00 Graduate Students Association fee 39.00 39.00 Graduate Writing Center fee 12.00 12.00 Ackerman Student Union fee 5 5.50 5 5.50 Ackerman/Kerckhoff Seismic fee 113.00 113.00 Wooden Center fee 45.00 45.00 Student Programs, Activities, and Resources Complex fee 93.00 93.00 Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP) 1,564.00 1,564.00 Nonresident Tuition 12,245.00 SUBTOTAL MANDATORY FEES $ 9,643.50 $21,888.50 Professional School fee 7,231.00 7,231.00 TOTAL MANDATORY FEES $16,874.50 $29,119.50
Film School Confidential’s quote of $23,071 falls about six grand short. The book was released in 2006 and could obviously use some updating. Fortunately it only takes one year to establish residency in California. Many students also get teaching assistantships in the second year which help reduce the burden of tuition.
At this point I thank god I didn’t get into NYU. Even with a $10,000 scholarship it would still be the same price as UCLA.
The UCLA financial aid office estimates the cost of one year’s attendance at $50,637 dollars. That means that above tuition your living expenses, if you take the maximum loan amount, would amount to about 21,517 dollars.
I am living in graduate student housing in a Two-Bedroom Townhome in the Weyburn Terrace Housing Complex.
I was very grateful to get it as I have never been to Los Angeles and wouldn’t know where to begin looking for an apartment. It’s more expensive than finding a shared apartment somewhere else would be, but I think it has the big advantage of being practically on campus. It could spare me a car for the first year.
Graduate Single Student Housing Rates are for an annual contract ending May 31 or June 30 Unfurnished Furnished Studio – One occupant $13,272 $13,632 Two-bedroom - 2 occupants $12,396 $12,756 Two-bedroom Townhome - 2 occupants $12,720 $13,080
This is for September to the end of June.
So now we’re at 9,247 dollars for living expenses minus rent for 10 months. That’s about 927 dollars a month living expenses.
As I made it in off of the wait list, I am ineligible for financial aid and must bear this brunt in the form of loans.
There are three kinds of loans being offered to me;
$8500 Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
The subsidized stafford student loan is the best and smallest of the three. The interest rate is fixed at 5.6%, which the government pays while you are in school.
$12,000 Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
The unsubsidized stafford loan has an interest rate of 6.8%. There is no fee for the use of this loan, unlike the
$30,137 Federal Graduate Plus Loan
This is the big fella. It has a 4% fee for the first use, or $1200. Interest rate is at 8.5%. One year of interest on $30,137 at 8.5% = 2,561 dollars. On the Grad Plus and Unsubsidized Loans interest starts accruing at the date of issue.
This is a little overview of what I’ve been looking at in terms of financing film school. Hope it helps!
