The Soll Center for Student Opportunity

How to Pay for Graduate School

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:

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.

See Timeline for Applying to Graduate Programs

Quick Resource Guides & References

The Soll Center for Student Opportunity provides many resources to help our students achieve their personal and professional goals. Below are a few of our most popular resources.

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