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Financial Aid


The City & Metropolitan Department at the University of Utah awards merit-based financial support annually. All graduate applicants (domestic and international) are automatically considered for departmentally awarded merit-based financial aid in the admissions review process. To receive priority consideration for these competitive awards, applicants must submit their application materials by the deadline. Students may also apply for merit and need-based financial assistance through the university’s financial aid office. Small grants are available for travel and research. Many of our students also work for public planning agencies or private consulting firms in the area.

Assistantships (made on a competitive basis, based on consideration of an applicant’s professional background, academic record, and particular skills, as well as the needs of the department)

  • Teaching and graduate research assistantships – The Department Chair makes these assistantship appointments. TAships typically support undergraduate instruction in the Urban Ecology Program, and GRships typically involve working for the U of U Sustainability Office or on a department research project. TAships and GRships include a stipend and a partial or full waiver of base tuition and selected fees. Assistantships require 10 to 20 hours of work per week.
  • Research Assistantships – Appointments are made by faculty with research funding. Assistantships generally include a stipend and a partial or full waiver of base tuition, requiring 10 to 20 hours of work per week.
  • University Neighborhood Partners Assistantship brings together the University Neighborhood Partners (UNP), CMP students, and neighborhoods on the west side of Salt Lake City in reciprocal learning, action, and benefit. Created in 2001, UNP results from an explicit move by the University of Utah’s highest administration toward greater civic engagement. CMP and UNP partner each year to offer graduate assistantships to students interested in community engagement. Assistantships generally include a stipend and a partial or full waiver of base tuition and selected fees. Assistantships require 10 to 20 hours of work per week. If this interests you, please state so in your application.

Scholarships – thanks to donations, we award small scholarships to incoming and continuing students. In addition to our general scholarship fund, we offer scholarships from several endowments, including the Eugene Carr, Arthur Nelson & Clark Ivory, and the Ewing-Christenson Endowments.

Conference Travel Grants

  • CMP Travel Grants – open to any CMP student. The application deadline is Friday of the 3rd week of Fall or Spring semester.

Hourly Positions

  • The department regularly hires undergraduate and graduate students to help with administrative tasks, including updating the website, posting on social media, photocopying, photography, graphic design, alumni outreach, event set-up/clean-up, and more.

In-State Tuition

  • Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has approved the University of Utah to participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). City & Metropolitan Planning graduate students may be eligible for the in-state tuition rate if they reside in one of the WRGP participating states.

Our students consistently apply and receive funding from the following:

Opportunities at the University of Utah

External Funding Opportunities