Funding your Graduate Education

Pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment in your future. To help make graduate education more accessible, financial assistance is available from a variety of sources. Each academic year, the Graduate School awards and administers millions of dollars in merit-based funding to support students as they pursue their academic and professional goals.

Contact gradfinaid@marquette.edu for more information.

Types of Financial Assistance

Merit-based financial aid Scholarships, assistantships, or fellowships awarded by Marquette University to students on the basis of strong academic performance. This is the type of aid administered by the Graduate School and is described in more detail below.
Need-based financial aid Money awarded to students in the form of federal or private loans based strictly on their financial situation, rather than academic merit. Refer to Marquette's Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) for more information.
Tuition remission benefits Marquette University employees and their family members are eligible for tuition discounts, as outlined in the University Policies and Procedures.
External Funding Private scholarships and grants funded by institutions and agencies other than Marquette. These awards may be based on merit, need, or other factors. Students can explore a listings of private scholarships on the OSFA webpage and grant opportunities through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP). 

Merit-Based Financial Aid

The Graduate School offers various forms of merit-based financial aid. It is important to understand each type, as well as the application procedures and deadlines. 

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Graduate Teaching Assistantship

About

Graduate teaching assistants may serve as instructors of record, or assist faculty in teaching courses including functioning as discussion/laboratory section leaders or in providing other appropriate professional assistance including grading examinations, problem sets, and/or lab assignments, setting up displays for lectures and laboratory sections, and preparing or maintaining equipment used in laboratory sections.

Requirements and Compensation

Students must be admitted to degree programs by the date of the application deadline, and be registered full-time during their award terms. Assistants work approximately 20 hours per week while school is in session. Assistantships offer full stipends, up to 18 credits of tuition scholarship.

Application Process and Deadlines

New applicants for Graduate School admission should apply online by the appropriate deadline for admission to their program.

Admitted students should apply online in CheckMarq by February 15 for fall, or November 15 for spring.

Additional information about Graduate Assistantships is available in the Assistantship Handbook

Graduate Research Assistantship

About

Graduate research assistants are graduate students conducting academically significant research under the direction of a faculty member. Graduate research assistantships are awarded by departments with faculty members engaged in research projects.

Requirements and Compensation

Students must be admitted to degree programs by the date of the application deadline, and be registered full-time during their award terms. Assistants work approximately 20 hours per week while school is in session. Assistantships offer full stipends, up to 18 credits of tuition scholarship.

Application Process and Deadlines

New applicants for Graduate School admission should apply online by the appropriate deadline for admission to their program.

Admitted students should apply online in CheckMarq by February 15 for fall, or November 15 for spring.

Additional information about Graduate Assistantships is available in the Assistantship Handbook

Graduate Service Assistantship

About

Graduate service assistant positions are awarded for the primary purpose of gaining experience, practice, or guidance that is significantly connected to the students' fields of study and career preparation. Graduate service assistants typically serve the university outside of an academic department and may provide service to off-campus organizations affiliated with the university.

Requirements and Compensation

Students must be admitted to degree programs by the date of the application deadline, and be registered full-time during their award terms. Assistants work approximately 20 hours per week while school is in session. Assistantships offer full stipends, up to 18 credits of tuition scholarship.

Application Process and Deadlines

New applicants for Graduate School admission should apply online by the appropriate deadline for admission to their program.

Admitted students should apply online in CheckMarq by February 15 for fall, or November 15 for spring.

Additional information about Graduate Assistantships is available in the Assistantship Handbook

Tuition Scholarships

About

A tuition scholarship is money awarded to degree-seeking graduate students to pay for 1 or more graduate course credits per term. 

Application Process and Deadlines

New applicants for Graduate School admission should apply online by the appropriate deadline for admission to their program.

Admitted students should apply online in CheckMarq by February 15 for fall, or November 15 for spring.

Additional information about tuition scholarships is available on the financial aid rules and guidelines for scholarships page.

Fellowships

About

Fellowships are funded by gifts from private individuals, corporations, and foundations, and are generally prestigeous in nature and highly competitive. Fellowships do not require a weekly work-schedule as graduate assistantships do, but may require students to participate in certain activities, workshops, or colloquia based on the terms of their fellowship.

Requirements and Compensation

Students must be be registered full-time during their award terms. Fellowships include a stipend and may or may not include a tuition scholarship. 

Application Process and Deadlines

The application process, requirements, and deadlines will vary by fellowship. Information about Marquette University Graduate School's Distinguished Fellowships can be found on our website. 

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) provides resources and training for students to apply for Fellowships and other external funding using PIVOT.

Additional information about graduate fellowships is available on the financial aid rules and guidelines for fellowships page.

Trinity Fellowship

About

The Trinity Fellows Program is a graduate fellowship program dedicated to developing urban leaders with a commitment to social and economic justice. Fellows participate in a 21-month study/work program while earning a master's degree in one of fourteen fields of study.

Application Process and Deadlines

New applicants for Graduate School admission should apply online by January 15 for both admission to their academic program of interest and the Trinity Fellowship.