Possible Sources of Funding for Your Graduate Education
Listed below are several sources of funding for your graduate education. Most of our graduate students create a package consisting of several sources of support. Please note that financial aid is available for degree-seeking students and some certificate programs.
Departmental Awards
Some departments have additional sources of funds available in the form of scholarships and part-time employment for graduate students in their majors. Many faculty members have research grant funds available for hiring graduate research assistants. These often require that the assistant provide up to 20 hours/ week of service to the research project. Applicants should contact their major department to check for availability.
Financial Aid/Federal Loans
One of the most commonly used sources of support is the low-interest Federal Stafford Loan. To be eligible for federal funding, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled at least half time, and pursuing a degree or certificate program. Loan amounts depend upon several factors: enrollment status, need, and residency. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). For more information contact the Financial Aid web site at http://www.ecu.edu/financial/. Please note that financial aid is available only for degree seeking students.
Graduate School Assistantships
The Graduate School provides resources to academic units to be used as graduate assistantships. These are awarded through most, but not all, of the graduate programs. The assistantships usually require that the student be enrolled full-time (i.e. at least 9 s.h.), and that the student provides up to 20 hours/ week of service to the program. However, the terms and requirements of the assistantships vary by the program, and therefore, the interested student should contact their respective graduate program director for more information. Both teaching and research assistantships may be available.
UNC Campus Scholarships
In the spirit of access, diversity, and opportunity, East Carolina University offers a limited number of UNC-Campus Scholarships to new or continuing doctoral graduate students with solid scholastic records and demonstrated financial need who are residents of North Carolina and come from underrepresented populations on the campus. The scholarship award is designed to assist in the diversification of the university’s graduate student body to include the presence of first generation college students, students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and traditionally underrepresented populations on our campus. The UNC Campus Scholarships will provide a minimum of $1000 per semester to selected students. No funds are normally available during summer sessions. For more information contact the Assistant Dean in the Graduate School.
Out-of-State Tuition Remissions
There are a limited number of out-of-state tuition remissions which cover the out-of-state portion of the student’s tuition. The remissions are highly competitive and each student is awarded the remission via by their respective graduate program. The minimum criteria for eligibility are a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 senior year GPA, and an acceptable score on the standardized exam (ex. GRE (V,Q,A) 1000; MAT 50; or GMAT 500). The prospective student is strongly advised to apply to their graduate program as early as possible in order to be considered for these awards. Please contact the graduate program director for more information.
Out-of-State Tuition Waivers: Military, NC Public School Teachers, Academic Common Market
Military Personnel Stationed in N.C. and Their Dependents
According to N.C. General Statute 116-143.3 certain members of the armed services and their dependent relatives may be eligible to be charged a tuition rate less than the out-of-state rate whether or not they qualify as residents for tuition purposes. It is required that the member of the armed services and any dependent relative claiming the tuition waiver be living together in North Carolina, and that the member of the armed services have an assigned duty station in North Carolina. See the link about “Residency for Tuition Purposes” for more information.
N.C. Public School Teachers
According to N.C. General Statute 116-143.5, public school teachers (or other personnel paid on the teacher salary schedule) who have maintained a domicile in North Carolina for less than one year but are employed full-time by a public school may receive the in-state tuition rate for courses relevant to teacher certification or professional development as a teacher. NOTE: Teachers physically residing out-of-state and some international teachers on certain visas are not eligible for the waiver since the statute requires that a teacher establishes a “domicile” in North Carolina. See the link about “Residency for Tuition Purposes” for more information.
Academic Common Market The Graduate School at East Carolina University participates in the Academic Common Market (ACM), a program of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) that allows its 16 member states to share academic degree programs that are not commonly available. Member states of the SREB are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Through this program, North Carolina residents may pay in-state tuition rates at a participating university in another SREB state while pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree program not available at one of the 16 University of North Carolina campuses. Qualified students from other SREB states may apply through their own state’s ACM Coordinator to pursue North Carolina graduate degree programs not available in their home state’s university system at the in-state tuition rate.
Additional Sources of Financial Assistance
There are many other sources of support from federal grant programs, private foundations, professional associations, etc. One search engine that is often used to locate these sources is through the Community of Science (COS). The COS website is located at http: //www.cos.com/ . Below is a partial list of opportunities to consider.
