Hey topatillos and runjackrun, sorry to enter this convo late but I've also been worried about the costs of doing the MESM at UCSB as an out-of-state resident (got accepted- yay! but no funding- booo). They told me the recruitment fellowships might get "redistributed" if they are declined by others, but they won't know until after the SIR deadline. I think it's the only school I'll get accepted into, so I kinda have no choice. I read that the TA/research assistantships are a good way to help pay for tuition and fees. Would you guys happen to know how competitive those positions might be?