What's the real total cost?
It's a fair question — schools publish a tuition number, but the number that actually determines whether this is affordable is tuition plus books, fees, and everyday living costs while you study. Here's the fuller picture, each figure sourced so you can verify it yourself.
It's a fair question — schools publish a tuition number, but the number that actually determines whether this is affordable is tuition plus books, fees, and everyday living costs while you study. Here's the fuller picture, each figure sourced so you can verify it yourself.
Program tuition (as Five Branches publishes it)
| Program | Total tuition | Length | Per year/trimester |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAcHM/MAcHM dual-degree | $72,822 | 3,435 hrs | ≈$18,205/yr or $6,068/trimester |
| DAc/MAc dual-degree | $56,127 | 2,647.5 hrs | ≈$18,709/yr or $6,236/trimester |
| Postgraduate DAOM | $25,000 | 1,280 hrs, 2 yrs | (alumni get 20% off) |
| DAcHM/DAc Bridge Completion | $8,505 ($6,804 for FBU master's grads) | 315 hrs | billed by trimester |
The DAcHM/MAcHM and DAc/MAc figures are as published in the school's DAcHM Catalog for the 2025–2026 academic year (Tuition & Fees page last checked 08/2026) — tuition is set trimester by trimester, so it can move; the DAOM and Bridge numbers are current published figures (checked 08/2026).
On top of tuition: books run roughly $1,000 total; malpractice insurance, student council, and similar fees add a few hundred dollars a year; the application fee is $100 domestic. None of this includes room, board, or daily living.
Living costs (MIT Living Wage Calculator, Feb 2026; HUD Fair Market Rent FY2026):
| San Jose (Santa Clara Co.) | Santa Cruz Co. | |
|---|---|---|
| Required income before tax (1 adult) | $79,043/yr | $89,400/yr |
| 1-bedroom rent (median/typical) | ~$3,005/mo | $3,298/mo |
Two things worth knowing: tuition is billed per term, so you only pay for the pace you choose — part-time keeps both tuition and living-cost overlap smaller — and the Financial Aid Office can build an actual budget against your own situation once you're applying.
What would help most right now — a deeper look at one specific program, or thinking through part-time vs. full-time pacing?
Sources
- Five Branches University — Financial Aid checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University, DAcHM-MAcHM-DAc-MAc-Catalog-2026-1, pp. 27-30 (Program Description (www.fivebranches.edu) checked 2026-07
- The school's own published catalog and website checked 2026-07
- Five Branches University — Tuition Fee checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Tuitions And Fees Bridge checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — University Directory Footer checked 2026-08
Last reviewed: