Funding Sources for Graduate Students
Most graduate students finance their education through a combination of these funding sources:
- Assistantships are usually campus-affiliated work assignments (e.g., graduate teaching instructor or research associate) that provide an individual a stipend and often waive tuition and/or other matriculation fees.
- Fellowships are typically granted to individuals to cover their living expenses while they carry out research or work on a project. Awards may be single or multiyear. Awards are usually based on an individual's merit as measured by grades, GRE scores, publications, and letters of recommendation.
- Grants are most often awarded to cover expenses associated with carrying out research or other specific projects, such as travel, materials, or computers.
- Scholarships are awarded based on one or more criteria: merit, financial need, discipline of study, career goals or membership within a minority group.
- Loans are available from the government and other private sources.
Graduate Financial Aid Resources
Here are some useful links for graduate school financial aid resources:
- FastWeb launch: free scholarship searches & financial aid tools
- ProFellow launch: directory of fully funded graduate programs and full funding awards
- FinAid launch: the smart student guide to financial aid
- Paying for grad school launch
- FAFSA launch for graduate students
Graduate Financial Aid Resources for International Students
Here are some links that are designed specifically for international students:
Next Step to Apply to Graduate School
3. Timeline for Applying to Graduate Programs
For students who want to apply to graduate or professional programs during their final year at CMC, we recommend following the suggested timeline outlined below.
