Tuition
For the 2025-26* academic year, student tuition (known as the program fee), is $43,476 per year and does not include health insurance. Additionally, there are $741 or $801 in university-based fees annually. For example, students entering in fall 2025 and graduating in spring 2027 will have an estimated total cost of $88,554. This estimate does not include room and board or health insurance. Inclusion of student health insurance will increase costs by $6,700-8,600/year.
A breakdown of the Genetic Counseling Program fees for the next academic year is usually posted each July on the UCSF Office of the Registrar/Graduate Division website. Scroll to Graduate Division — Genetic Counseling Program and see “Total” for current charges for the 1st and 2nd Years.
*All tuition and university-based fees are subject to annual increases.
The University of California mandates that all students have continuous health coverage. Students are required to purchase UC’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless they can provide proof of minimum coverage under an approved health plan (such as coverage under a parent or a partner’s health plan). In such cases, students can seek a waiver of this fee. Additional information on the SHIP waiver may be found here.
California Residency
The Genetic Counseling Program is a self-supporting program and full program costs are covered by fees. The Program does not receive state funding, therefore, student costs for the Genetic Counseling Program are the same for California and non-California residents.
Financial Aid
Students should apply for financial aid if they need assistance paying for their education. Please visit UCSF Student Financial Services Office for assistance and comprehensive resources to understand and manage the cost of your education. Students enrolled in the Genetic Counseling Program are eligible for federal student loans. Genetic Counseling students are not currently eligible for Veterans Affairs Education Benefits, UCSF Scholarships or the California DREAM Loan. It is recommended that you start the financial aid process as early as possible.
Housing Assistance
Students can apply to live in UCSF campus housing for up to two years during their educational program. UCSF only offers graduate level education so all campus housing is considered graduate student housing. Learn more about student housing at Campus Life Services.
**Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, UCSF will no longer be providing the COLS (Cost of Living Supplement) Program.**
Scholarships & Work Study
There are no scholarships currently available. Funding to help support the cost of tuition varies each year and is dependent upon GC Program resources.
Scholarships: Details about current funding opportunities for students entering the Genetic Counseling program may be found here.
Work Study: UCSF participates in the Federal Work Study Program. Students qualifying for federal financial aid are eligible for UCSF's work study program. Work study positions currently available to any UCSF student may be found here. The Genetic Counseling Program has also created genetics-related work study positions specifcally for our students. These opportunities provide students with experience directly related to careers in genetics and genomics and details on these positions are presented to students admitted to our program.
Students attending the UCSF Genetic Counseling Program on a F-1 visa are must consult with the International Students and Scholars Office before pursuing any employment opportunities to avoid any potential immigration penalties.
Other Support
The Genetic Counseling Program is able to offset student expenses by providing:
- An education stipend to students. The stipend may be used to cover costs for supplemental education-related activities such as conferences, workshops, travel to conferences and more.
- Stipends to complete student research projects.
- Cost associated with access to Typhon, the clinical case mangement platform.
- Costs of background checks that are required by many of our off-campus training sities.
- Purchasing the ABGC Practice Exam for 2nd year students.
- Most of the texts used in our curriculum are available in digital format and free to students through the UCSF library.
Tuition FAQ
Does the Genetic Counseling Program offer scholarships, work opportunities or other financial benefits for enrolled students?
Financial aid packages vary yearly, and in some years we will have departmental money available to help support the costs of tuition. Scholarship opportunities are posted on this page under the Scholarships & Work Study section. Specifics will also be discussed at the interviews each year.
Why are tuition rates the same for residents and non-residents?
In-state tuition rates for California residents are only available for programs receiving funding from the state of California. The Genetic Counseling Program does not receive state funding and is self-supporting. Therefore, the program costs are the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
Are students required to purchase UCSF’s student health insurance?
The University of California mandates that all students have continuous health coverage. Students are required to purchase UC’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless they can provide proof of minimum coverage under an approved health plan (such as coverage under a parent or a partner’s health plan). In such cases, students can seek a waiver of this fee. Additional information on the SHIP waiver may be found here.
Does UCSF offer a diversity scholarship?
California’s propositions 209 and H eliminated affirmative action. Therefore, as a public institution UCSF is prohibited from preferentially offering admission to individuals based on race, gender, or ethnicity. The Genetic Counseling Program places great value in diversity in our students, as well as our learning environment. We recognize that some applicants have traveled further and encountered more obstacles than others and we honor that distance traveled.
Do students receive other forms of financial support?
GC Program students will receive small stipends for their research project and to assist second year students with travel to a professional or national meeting(s).
Am I able to work during my graduate training?
Students are permitted to work during school, but we consider your academics the priority. The UCSF genetic counseling program has a rigorous curriculum and we encourage students to consider their schedules thoughtfully before committing to additional work hours.