TFAS grants more than $1 million in scholarships each year.
The costs associated with our program cover tuition at George Mason University and furnished housing in downtown Washington, D.C.
The additional benefits of our comprehensive program, including an internship placement, guest lectures, networking events, professional seminars and site briefings add value beyond just the classes and housing. The experience, knowledge and contacts you will gain by participating in a TFAS program will be valuable assets and can increase your earning potential in the job market.
As an educational nonprofit organization, we strive to provide as much scholarship funding to as many qualified and deserving students as possible. 85% of students attending TFAS programs are on full or partial awards based on merit and/or need. You’ll see the full costs listed below, but keep in mind that the majority of students receive scholarship funding to help cover a portion of the costs.
Scholarship Funding Overview
Awards for the summer tend to range from $1,000 -$5,000 with the highest awards going to students with the highest degree of need and merit. Please see the Admissions page for details on how to apply for a scholarship with your application.
In addition to the partial scholarships available through our general scholarship fund, we have a number of special full scholarship opportunities open to students meeting certain criteria or focuses of study.
“Before coming to Washington, D.C, I was struggling to choose whether to accept this opportunity due to financial reasons. Thanks to my scholarship, I have gained an unforgettable experience, and I have TFAS to thank for helping me take full advantage of this opportunity!”
Anthony Bonini, University of Redlands Intern, Aspira Association Inc.
Program Costs + Full Scholarships
Details on the summer and semester program costs as well as full scholarship opportunities are found below. Please click through all tabs to learn more about each category of full scholarship after reading the overview.
Summer Programs
Students are required to take a 3-credit core class and may choose to enroll in an additional elective class for up to 6 credits in total. There are two housing options offered.
3-Credit Option: $8,725
Tuition + Housing in Double Occupancy Units for 8 weeks
6-credit Option: $9,925
Tuition + Housing in Double Occupancy Units for 8 weeks
A non-refundable deposit of $1,250 (deducted from tuition balance) is due at the time of enrollment (generally within 3 weeks of acceptance). The remainder of the tuition balance is due April 1.
Estimate of living costs for the summer (actual costs will vary and are not included in the program costs):
Books and supplies: $200
Food: $1,000 (depending on personal preferences)
Transportation around Washington: $350 (Metro train and bus fare)
Personal expenses: $250 (Entertainment, etc.)
Transportation to Washington: Based on distance from Washington and type of travel
Full Scholarships
In addition to a pool of full scholarships that are open to any undergraduate studying in the United States, TFAS has multiple full scholarships restricted by geographical region, school of enrollment, or focus area.
Students meet with TFAS alumna at the Washington Post.
Unless otherwise noted, the scholarships outlined on this page are open to students applying to and attending the following summer program tracks:
Public Policy + Economics
International Affairs
Journalism + Communication
Business + Government Relations
All students receiving a full scholarship must enroll in 6 credits, including an economics and elective course of their choice.
How to Apply
Complete the Full Scholarship application within the online application.
Full scholarships are merit-based and will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis beginning at the December 5 Early Deadline.
Any student not selected for a full scholarship will be considered for a partial award from the general scholarship fund if the General Scholarship form was completed. Partial awards are based on a combination of financial need and merit.
Scholarship awards are made at the time of admission.
Full Scholarships: Regional + School Specific
The following full scholarships are open to students from the region or university/college noted in the description. Please see the Full Scholarship Overview tab for further application details.
This scholarship is open to a student attending Amherst College (Massachusetts).
There are 2 full scholarships available to students attending Bucknell University (Pennsylvania).
This scholarship is open to students from or attending college in the Houston, Texas area.
This scholarship is open to students attending Southern Methodist University in Texas.
This scholarship fund is open to students attending college in Western Texas. Special preference is given to students of Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University.
This scholarship is open to a student attending Mt. Holyoke College (Massachusetts) or Wesleyan University (Connecticut).
Sponsored by the DeJoy Wos Family Foundation, this scholarship fund will provide at least 12 full scholarships to students from or attending college in North Carolina.
This scholarship is open to students attending Tufts University (Massachusetts).
Full Scholarships: International Students
We have several special scholarships/partnerships available for students from specific countries. Admission of international students studying outside of the U.S. will be limited to applications from the following scholarships.
Please see the Full Scholarship Overview tab for further application details.
This full scholarship is available to several students from Hungary in the summer.
Through the generosity of the Hungary Foundation, full scholarships and generous living expense stipends are provided.
Through this scholarship fund, TFAS is able to provide a full scholarship plus a generous travel and living expense stipend to a student from Poland to attend the summer program.
Through the generosity of the Netherland-America Foundation, 4-5 full scholarships will be provided to students from the Netherlands to attend the summer program.
Through this scholarship named in honor of George Viksnins, a long-time and beloved TFAS economics professor, a full scholarship is offered to 1 Latvian student to attend the summer program.
Through the generosity of the DeJoy Wos Family Foundation, 1 full scholarship along with a generous travel stipend is offered to 1 Estonian student to attend the summer program.
The following full fellowships are open to students interested in the topic of focus. Each fellowship provides a full scholarship. Please see the Full Scholarship Overview tab for further application details.
At least 10 full scholarships are available to students with a demonstrated interest in studying and pursuing a career in defense and national security. This scholarship opportunity is open to students who are applying to and admitted into the International Affairs track.
This scholarship opportunity will provide full scholarships to at least 10 students involved in the liberty movement. Several fellowships are reserved for students attending college or university in Arizona.
This fellowship is open to students enrolled in the Business + Government Relations program track and provides 4 students with a full scholarship that covers 6-credits, housing and program fees, along with a $1,000 stipend. Students will be given the opportunity to apply for this fellowship upon enrollment in the program. Applicants will be asked to submit several additional short essay prompts.
The fellowship is open to students with experience or interest in information technology, computer science and public policy. Fellows will be interning in the government affairs offices of one of the following technology organizations:
HP Enterprise
Technology CEO Council
Computing Research Association
Dell Inc.
Intern supervisors provide mentoring, hands-on experience and valuable high-tech public policy training. Fellows have an opportunity to observe the development and advocacy of significant policy issues in Congress, the Administration and industry associations. They also have the opportunity to participate in projects of their own, focusing on current critical issues facing the tech sector.
One of the fellowships is named to honor the memory of Thurmond Woodard, Dell’s former vice president of global diversity and the chief ethics, privacy and compliance officer. Applicants interested in this fellowship will submit an additional essay prompt on diversity and ethics. The selected fellow will intern at Dell for the summer.
Partner Organization Scholarships
TFAS partners with a number of organizations to provide full scholarships to attend the summer programs. Please see the Full Scholarship Overview tab for further application details.
Full and partial scholarships are available to alumni of the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) summer programs.
This scholarship opportunity is open to students who are receiving a Sumners Foundation scholarship at an identified university. Interested applicants should email Mary Stankus to notify her of their intent to apply.
6 full scholarships will be awarded to cadets of the U.S. Air Force Academy annually. Interested cadets should contact the academy directly for application instructions.
Other Sources of Funding
While 85% of students receive scholarship support from TFAS, including some full awards, most students will have a remaining balance due. It is important to think about how you will fund your Washington experience early in the application process.
We encourage you to take the following steps:
Talk with your parents, guardians and other family members about their ability to contribute to your participation in the program.
Research scholarship opportunities on your campus and in your community, including the honors college, academic departments or other offices that offer scholarships for enrichment programs. Community organizations such as the Rotary Club and churches often assist students in financing their DC experience.
Meet with the financial aid office at your home university to discuss the possibility of transferring any federal aid to a summer or semester of study. Aid may be transferred through a consortium agreement. A consortium agreement is a form that allows one academic institution to verify the credit hours and costs of another academic program before a transfer of funds can occur.
Your TFAS admissions counselor will also serve as your tuition payment counselor as you research additional funding opportunities. Questions regarding consortium agreements, transferring aid and applying for educational loans may be directed to these staff members and admissions@tfas.org.
