Graduate Funding

Students who have received unconditional admission can be considered. Depending upon available resources and criteria for eligibility, graduate students may receive financial assistance in the form of tuition awards, graduate assistantships including teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), fellowships, scholarships, work study and loans. In certain circumstances, staff employment, including a limited number of positions in the Office of Residence Life, may also be available. 

In order to apply for funding awards, including scholarships and assistantships, students must first contact their program of study for a recommendation for funding. Those recommendations are then sent to the School of Graduate Studies for review. The Graduate Funding Team of the School of Graduate Studies reviews the nominations and will approve or deny them based on the criteria for funding.  Federal work-study and direct loan programs are only available through the University's Financial Aid Office. Students interested in applying for work-study and/or the direct loan program should submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form directly to the University's Financial Aid Office.

CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR GRADUATE FUNDING

To be eligible for graduate funding, a student must, as a minimum, be admitted to and enrolled in a graduate program and pursuing a degree on a part-time (i.e., a minimum of 6 but less than 9 credits) basis. Graduate students who are pursuing less than 6 credits are not eligible for financial assistance unless pursuing thesis seminar or dissertation guidance. Assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships provided by the University or by the State of Maryland may not be used to pay for auditing courses, registration for excess credit, or for miscellaneous charges such as late fees or parking tickets.

An undergraduate average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale is the minimum average considered for awards form applicants without previous graduate study. Matriculated graduate students and applicants with prior graduate study should present a 3.0 or higher (if required by department) for all graduate coursework.  All requests for graduate funding are due to your program of study by March 15 for Fall semester and November  15 for Spring semester.
No awards are made for the summer or winter sessions.

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

A fellowship is financial aid from either the University or from external (grant or foundation) sources awarded to students who exhibit academic merit and promise. Fellowships are paid directly to students in the form of stipends. In addition to stipends, students who are awarded fellowships also receive a Tuition Award for up to 9 credits per semester. Fellowships may be awarded to qualified in-state, out-of-state, or international students.

To be eligible for fellowships students must:

- Be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies;
- Be enrolled full-time, i.e., pursuing a minimum of 9 credits toward their degree;
- Be nominated for the fellowship by the Chairperson (or Graduate Coordinator) of their major and/or the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies; and,
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or the minimum GPA of the student's graduate program, whichever is higher.

A fellowship award will be forfeited if the student falls below the minimum credits required for the fellowship; is not a continuing student (i.e., withdraws or resigns from the School of Graduate Studies for a semester or more); changes classification from full time (i.e., minimum of 9 credits) to part time (i.e., 6 credits) student; is placed on academic probation; or violates policies of the School of Graduate Studies and/or the University. Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the School of Graduate Studies for more than a semester but who expect to continue their studies at a later date should petition the Dean in writing prior to leaving for approval to return and for clarification of their admission status and eligibility for continued financial support.

TITLE III GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

Title III is a federal program that provides aid intended to equalize educational opportunity for disadvantaged students. As a part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (and related amendments), Title III helps minority institutions provide equal educational opportunity to their students.

In order to be eligible for a Title III Graduate Fellowship, a student must:

- Be enrolled full-time (i.e., pursuing a minimum of 9 credits) in an eligible graduate program;
- Be nominated for the fellowship by the Chairperson (or Graduate Coordinator) of their major and/or the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies; and
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or the minimum GPA of the student's graduate program, whichever is higher.
- Graduate fellowships for doctoral and master's degree students pay a stipend ($21,000-doctoral $12,000-master's).

Recipients of the Title III Graduate Fellowship receive a stipend and a Tuition Award of 9 credits per semester. Students should review the section above on Graduate Fellowships for additional information relevant to Title III Graduate Fellowships.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

The School of Graduate Studies offers two types of assistantships including Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships (RAs).

Graduate Assistantships require admission to the School of Graduate Studies and a minimum 3.0 GPA. The department or program in which the student will serve as a teaching assistant or research assistant may establish additional criteria for the receipt of an assistantship. Only Masters and Doctoral students pursuing a degree full time are eligible to receive Graduate Assistantships. Thus, graduate students must be enrolled in courses totaling 9 credits each semester. Recipients provide a minimum of twenty hours per week of appropriate professional service for the department or office to which they are assigned and they may receive:

- A Tuition Award for 9 credits; and
- A stipend or salary for either 9 ½ or 12 months depending on the department, program or office in which the assistantship is located; and,
- A maximum of 2 year award for students pursuing the Master's degree; or
- Maximum 3-year award for students with a Master's degree who are pursuing the Doctorate; or
- Maximum 3-year award for students without a Master's degree who are pursuing the Doctorate.
- Graduate assistantships for doctoral and master's degree students pay a stipend ($21,000-doctoral $12,000-master's) Tuition awards do not pay for university and miscellaneous fees.

Continuation of an assistantship is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties. Additionally, an assistantship (or employment arranged through the School of Graduate Studies) will be forfeited where the student: falls below the minimum credits required for the assistantship (or employment); or, is not a continuing student (i.e., withdraws or resigns from the School of Graduate Studies for a semester or more); or, changes classification from full time (i.e., minimum of 9 credits) to part time (i.e., 6 credits) student; or is placed on academic probation; or violates policies of the School of Graduate Studies and/or the University.

Graduate students pay tuition at the in-state rate only for those semesters that they hold a graduate assistant position on campus. Once the assistantship ends, the student will be charged tuition at the out-of-state rate unless the student's original admission status was in-state or a successful petition for in-state status has subsequently been filed. Students with 9 ½ month assistantships do not receive summer tuition and will be billed at out-of-state rates for summer classes even during years they hold assistantships. Among the graduate students who will not be classified as residents for tuition purposes are:

(a) out-of-state students pursuing a graduate degree part-time; and,
(b) out-of-state students who may be pursuing a graduate degree full time but who do not qualify for a Graduate Assistantship.

Being classified as a resident for tuition purposes is contingent on the students seeking such status and providing all information required by the School of Graduate Studies in order to make the determination.

All graduate students receiving assistantships, fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University or from the State of Maryland are responsible for paying for miscellaneous charges, excess credit, and for auditing courses. Students receiving University or State support for full time graduate study are responsible, therefore, for paying for such credits, and/or charges upon registration. Students receiving tuition awards who drop courses or withdraw from the School of Graduate Studies are not entitled to fee adjustments or to a refund of tuition that would have been paid by the award. Similarly, students who withdraw from the School of Graduate Studies are not entitled to a refund from assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, or other institutional funds that may have been awarded to support their graduate studies. Requests for an extension of an assistantship that has expired must be made in writing to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are available to students who possess the minimum qualifications to teach undergraduate courses. Students who are awarded Teaching Assistantships may also assist University faculty in the preparation of course materials, grading tests or other assignments, or help with laboratory instruction. The availability of Teaching Assistantships depends largely on the needs of the department and/or program in which the degree program is located or the department or program in which the student is qualified to hold an assistantship. Teaching Assistantships:

- Involve 9 ½ months assignments;
- Involve teaching, assisting in grading papers, or assisting in laboratories;
- Include stipends or salaries; and
- Provide a Tuition Award up to 9 credits per semester.

Teaching assistants are regarded as residents for tuition purposes.

Applications for Teaching Assistantships may be obtained from the office of the School of Graduate Studies. Students should review the section above on Graduate Assistantships for additional information relevant to Teaching Assistantships.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

Research Assistants assist faculty and/or external agencies with needed research. The assistance may involve laboratory as well as library research. The availability of Research Assistantships depends largely on the needs of the department and/or program or agencies for which the research is conducted.

Research Assistantships:

- Vary in duration depending upon the research required and/or the source of the funding for the research;
- Require a minimum of 20 hours of research a week;
- Include stipends or salaries; and
- Provide a Tuition Award up to 9 credits per semester.

Research assistants are regarded as residents for tuition purposes. Applications for Research Assistantships may be obtained from the office of the School of Graduate Studies. Students should review the section above on Graduate Assistantships for additional information relevant to Research Assistantships.

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FASFA)

(FAFSA) Federal and State financial aid, including loans, is typically based on income and/or economic need. To determine eligibility for federal or State financial aid, a student must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All graduate students who expect to receive financial aid through federal work-study or through the federal direct loan program are required to complete the FAFSA form. The FAFSA forms are available in (and upon completion should be returned directly to) the University's Financial Aid Office located in Room 209, A Wing of the Montebello Complex. Students may telephone the office at 443.885.3170. Copies of the FAFSA form may also be obtained from the Office of the School of Graduate Studies.

A new FAFSA form must be completed for financial aid each year that a student is enrolled even if a student has previously applied for or received aid.

Students who will be taking at least 6 credits may also apply for federal financial aid for the summer sessions.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM

The Federal Work-Study(FWS) Program provides opportunities for students to work at on-campus or at off-campus nonprofit public service agencies.

The primary purpose of the program is to permit the student to earn funds for the following year. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid form must be on file in the Office of Financial Aid at Morgan State University.

FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM

External Financial Resources

The resources listed here are awarded by entities outside the Morgan State University. Current and prospective Morgan State students are encouraged to consider applying for many of these awards.