Funding Your Archer Fellowship

The Archer Center, The University of Texas System, your home campus, and our supporters are committed to making the Archer Fellowship Program financially accessible for all.

Three Ways Archer Fellows Fund Their Fellowship

1. Applicable Financial Aid

During their semester in Washington, D.C., Archer Fellows are considered in-residence students on their home campus. Students can access funding that they typically use to support their semester expenses including federal, state, campus, and other dedicated funding (rare exceptions apply).

2. Campus Support

Many UT System campuses also provide selected Archer Fellows with additional funding to support their participation in the program.

3. Archer Center Financial Support

Thanks to a significant investment from The University of Texas System Board of Regents, the Archer Center offers generous need-based scholarships for Archer Fellows. Additionally, the Archer Fellow Alumni Association (AFAA) and the Archer Center awards need- and merit-based scholarships of varying amounts.

Jasmine Kaur stands in front of the White House grounds.

Receiving an Archer Center scholarship is a profound honor and privilege, one that I hold in the highest regard. Without the funding I have received from the Archer Center, I wouldn’t have been able to have this incredible opportunity to grow my professional skills and start my career. The Archer Center’s investment in my academic pursuits serves as a testament to their commitment to fostering the growth and development of aspiring leaders. This scholarship not only alleviates financial burdens but also reinforces my determination to make the most of this exceptional opportunity, for me, my family, and my friends."

Jasmine Kaur
Fall 2023 Archer Fellow

Program Costs

Sample Budget

Program Expense	Amount
Tuition & Fees	Waived, $0
Program Fee	$4,900
Housing Fee	$4,700
Meals and Groceries	varies
Personal expenses	varies
Round-trip Flight (estimated)	$500
Metro U-Pass, unlimited D.C. metro	$0
Class materials (estimated)	$100
Total Expenses	varies

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Amount
Federal & State Financial Aid	varies
Campus-Designated Archer Fellow Funding	varies
Archer Center Need-Based Funding	up to $8,000
Archer Fellow Alumni Association Awards	up to $1,000
Other Archer Center Scholarships	up to $2,000
Archer Center Unpaid Internship Support	up to $2,500
Other Typical Semester Funding	varies
Total Funding	varies

Note: Archer Fellows are required to have health insurance coverage for the duration of their time in the program.

Program Fee

While many semester-away programs charge students both tuition and a program fee, Archer Fellows only pay a program fee that replaces their typical tuition and fee bill. The current Archer Fellowship Program fee is $4,900, and it is subject to change in future years.

Housing Fee

Undergraduate Archer Fellows must live in Archer Fellowship Program housing. The current housing fee is $4,700 and is subject to change in future years.

Washington, D.C. Metro University Pass (U-Pass)

For the duration of the Archer Fellowship Program semester in Washington, D.C., the Archer Center provides Archer Fellows with a Metro Card through the Washington Area Metro Transit Authority (WMATA) University Pass (U-Pass) Program. U-Passes provide unlimited rides on WMATA transit throughout the semester and are paid for with student Program Fee funds. The fall and spring WMATA U-Pass have an estimated value of $768. Availability of U-Passes is subject to change in future years.

Prospective Archer Fellows are encouraged to attend an information session. Specific funding questions can be addressed to archeradmissions@utsystem.edu.