Financing Graduate School

Fellowships and Grants

Awarded by federal and local governments, private organizations, and individual graduate school institutions, fellowships and grants come in different types and amounts and do not require repayment. Most are granted on the basis of academic merit. In addition to the major national awards, many other lesser-known awards exist. Consult with the Office of Fellowship Programs for further details.

Work Programs

Teaching Assistantships: These are generally awarded to second semester or second year graduate students. Many include a tuition waiver and stipend for work (typically twenty hours per week) involving leading a discussion section, supervising a lab, or grading papers. In some public universities, if an assistantship doesn’t cover the entire tuition bill, out-of-state students may find they are only responsible for in-state tuition.

Research Assistantships: These are also awarded by the institution, typically to second semester and second year graduate students. In return for assisting with faculty research, you will receive a partial or full tuition waiver and a stipend.

Loans

• Federal Stafford Loans: Offering low, fixed-interest rates, Subsidized Stafford Loans are based on financial need, while Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are not needs-based. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible.
• Graduate PLUS Loans: A federally-guaranteed student loan that helps meet financial needs that exceed Federal Stafford Loan limits. Grad PLUS is a credit-based loan. In order to be eligible, you cannot currently have adverse credit. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible.