Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

Financial Information

VA Stipend:

Dietetic interns receive a stipend of $25,200 (pre-tax) paid over the supervised practice portion of the dietetic internship which starts mid-August and runs through the middle of the following July.

Estimated Expenses:

• CWRU Graduate School Application Fee (due if matched to the program in April): $50
• CWRU Tuition¹ ²: $2248/semester hour
  • Fall Semester [8 credit hours]: $17,984 - $2,000 CWRU tuition assistance = $15,984
  • Spring Semester [6 credit hours]: $13,488 - $2,000 CWRU tuition assistance = $11,488
  • 2nd Fall Semester [16 credit hours]: $26,976 – $3,000 CWRU tuition assistance = $23,976
  • Total tuition [30 credit hours]: $58,448 - $7,000 CWRU tuition assistance = $51,448
• CWRU Health Fee³ (will be waived if student has medical insurance): $1890/Semester
• CWRU Activity Fee: $25/Semester
• Estimated Housing: varies by location
• Estimated Books: $500
• Greater Cleveland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GCAND) (student member): $15
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D.) Student Membership: $58
• Fee for Registration Examination to become a Registered Dietitian: $200
• Commission on Dietetic Registration Fee: $70
• VA Parking: No fee to park
• CWRU Parking: Maximum $10/day
• Estimated Gas for daily commute⁴: $700/Internship
• Liability Insurance: VA Dietetic Interns are protected from personal liability while at VA healthcare facilities and affiliated sites.
• Medical exams: Courtesy physical facilitated by HR; no cost to dietetic intern
• Reasonable Suspicion drug testing⁵: No cost to dietetic intern
• Fingerprinting/Background checks⁵: No cost to dietetic intern
• Lab coats: Provided by VA uniform service; no cost to dietetic intern
• Verification of student identity (i.e. distance learning): N/A to program

¹CWRU Tuition information at: Fixed cost of $26,976 for 12-17 credit hours https://case.edu/studentaccounts/tuition-fees/graduateprofessional-tuition-fees/school-graduate-studies

² CWRU Financial Aid information at: https://case.edu/financialaid/graduate-students

³CWRU Health Fee information: https://students.case.edu/wellness/medicalplan/

⁴Travel: the majority of supervised practice rotations are completed at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System main campus. Interns travel to two sites within the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System – Parma CBOC and either the Painesville HBPC or the Lorain HBPC office – and UHCMC for a pediatric rotation. Interns are given the option of doing an enrichment rotation at an affiliated site or spending additional time at VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System to gain further experience in an area of interest to them.

⁵As needed, the Program Director will provide a list of affiliate site requirements which may include additional training, background checks and/or drug testing.

Student Health Services:

According to CWRU policy, all Dietetic Interns are required to have either personal health insurance or to purchase health insurance through the University. At CWRU, dietetic interns may utilize student health and support services, counseling services, and mental health services 

Arriving in Cleveland:

Dietetic interns will be asked to release their contact information to fellow classmates prior to beginning the program. In some cases, students decide to share apartments to decrease living expenses. Current students are always happy to offer suggestions about where to live and what to do first, upon arrival. Students need enough money to pay the security deposit and first month's rent on an apartment and should have access to funds for books and living expenses for a few weeks. They will receive their first stipend payment on the third Friday after the Program's start date. 

Scholarships/Student Loans:

Dietetic interns are categorized by CWRU as degree seeking students and are eligible to apply for scholarships, fellowships and loans.  

Scholarships and fellowships are available for interns or graduate students from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. More information can be found at:
https://eatrightfoundation.org/scholarships-funding/

Parking and Transportation:

There is no charge to park at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC. Parking permits may be purchased for designated areas at CWRU.

Dietetic interns are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the CVAMC and to affiliated hospitals.