Financing a Graduate Degree

Empowering Your Financial Journey

Financial assistance can be a crucial part of attaining an advanced degree. Iowa State and the Graduate College are aware of this need and provide services to assist with your financial planning.

We have partnered with the Council of Graduate Schools to help you plan ahead.

    Expenses you may expect to encounter at ISU are:

    Ways in which Iowa State provides assistance with educational expenses include:

    Disability Accommodations

    Iowa State University is committed to ensuring that graduate students receive appropriate reasonable accommodations so that all students are supported in all aspects of their educational experience.

    Assistantship Accommodations

    Individuals with physical or mental impairments who are otherwise qualified to perform their assistantship duties may request reasonable accommodations to enable them to perform duties. The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and Iowa's Civil Rights Act all enable covered individuals to receive accommodations so long as the accommodations are reasonable and do not cause an undue hardship. An individual's specific request for accommodation may not necessarily be granted if there are other effective means of achieving the same result. Individuals must communicate with university personnel to identify reasonable, effective accommodations. In addition, individuals seeking accommodations must supply documentation of their disability by completing a form and asking their health provider to complete a form specifying how the disability limits the individual and the nature of needed accommodations.

    For accommodations in the process of applying for admission to a graduate program, applying for assistantships, or carrying out the duties of an assistantship appointment, please contact the Student Accessibility Services Office (accessibility@iastate.edu).

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    Other Academic Accommodations

    The Student Accessibility Services Office (SAS) at Iowa State University is a unit in the Dean of Students Office that supports students with disabilities related to the services and programs that enable their access to education and university life. SAS assists students in obtaining accommodations needed to succeed in their classwork, internships, and participation in campus activities. SAS believes that equity, social justice, and diversity are essential to creating/maintaining an environment of equal access and opportunity for all. We believe that disability is a naturally occurring aspect of the diversity of life, and that it is an integral part of both society and the Iowa State University campus community.

    Students interested in applying for services should begin the process by reviewing our New Student Information and completing the online Registration Form.

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    Graduate Assistantships

    Most Iowa State doctoral students and many of our master's students are appointed to graduate assistantships (GAs).

    These teaching, research, and administrative appointments are made by departments, graduate programs, research institutes, and other university units.

    Policies concerning GAs can be found in the Graduate College Handbook.

    Graduate Assistantship Insurance Benefits

    Graduate assistants with a teaching, research, or administrative assistantship are enrolled for self-only coverage in Iowa State’s Student and Scholar Health Insurance Program with no premium cost.

    While rare, injuries can sometimes happen as graduate assistants complete their research, teaching, and other duties. This page outlines what to do in case of injury, and how medical expenses may be covered.

    Requirements

    Graduate assistants must:

    • Be admitted to a degree program.
    • Be registered as a student.
    • Devote a specified number of hours per week to the duties assigned.

    In addition, teaching assistants (and other graduate students who have teaching responsibilities) who are not native speakers of American English must take International TA Program tests of oral proficiency before being assigned teaching duties. If test results are below level one, the student must take at least one communication class.

    Stipend

    Stipends dispersed to GAs are determined by the appointing department, program, or unit, which must provide at least the minimum amounts set for the university. The stipend is subject to income tax withholding requirements.

    Tuition and Fee Reduction, and Other Benefits

    • Tuition: Graduate assistants with an appointment of one-quarter time or more for at least three months during a semester, or for at least four weeks during a summer term, are assessed resident tuition for that term. Spouses of graduate assistants are also assessed tuition at the resident rate. Contact the Registrar's Office for the spousal tuition benefit.
    • Tuition Scholarship: Graduate assistants who are on appointment for at least three months during each semester, or least four weeks during the summer, receive a Graduate Tuition Scholarship for a portion of resident tuition unless they:
      • do not fulfill the appointment and leave before the required appointment duration is complete,
      • are on academic probation, or
      • hold a fellowship or traineeship that provides funds for tuition and fee payments.
      GAs appointed at a half-time or greater fraction who are pursuing doctoral or certain professional master's degrees (M.Arch., M.L.A., and M.F.A.), will receive a scholarship award of 100% of the in-state tuition. Master's students appointed at a half-time or greater fraction will receive a 50% tuition scholarship award.
    • Computer fee reduction: GAs are assessed half of the required computer fee for the academic year.
    • Health insurance: GAs on an appointment at least three months during a semester receive single-student health insurance coverage, which includes a prescription drug plan at no charge (additional coverage for a spouse, children, and dental is available for additional premiums). Visit sship.hr.iastate.edu for information on how to enroll, costs, and specific plan information.

    GA support may be provided for limited periods of time (as briefly as one month of a summer). Many graduate students are appointed throughout their graduate programs via a sequence of appointments, each of which may be for a duration of up to one year. International students with a visa should coordinate their GA appointments with the International Students & Scholars Office on the fourth floor of the Memorial Union, Suite 4530.

    Diane Brandt Scholarship

    By Women, For Women

    Diane Brandt, a 1961 ISU alumna, established an endowed fund in 2010 to serve many generations of ISU women in science, mathematics, agriculture, engineering, and in other fields in which women have traditionally been underrepresented. The scholarship honors her academic achievement, community leadership, state service, and life achievements. It is another valuable scholarship created by a woman, for women.

    Eligibility

    You cannot apply for the scholarship as a student. You must be nominated by a DOGE and meet the following requirements:

    • Woman admitted into a Ph.D. program in science, mathematics, agriculture, or engineering.
    • New fall admit. Currently enrolled students are ineligible.

    Scholarship Conditions

    • The scholarship is for one (1) year.
    • The one-time stipend is $5000 ($2500 each semester) and is in addition to all other funding received.

    For more information about funding for your graduate education, please contact your program of interest.

    Employment

    Iowa State University has part-time job opportunities across campus. All hourly employment of graduate students requires prior approval of the Graduate College. Policies about hourly employment and maximum allowable employment can be found at secure.grad-college.iastate.edu/hr/hourly-hire/. Off-campus employment is also available. Job listings are available on the Job Board through AccessPlus.

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      On-Campus Work

      Once enrolled at Iowa State, you are eligible to apply for hourly positions through the Student Employment Center. These jobs are open to all ISU students who meet the requirements shown on the job vacancy listings which are posted on the Online Job Board. By checking with your program and professors, you may find an opening in your field that is not listed with the general vacancies. This possibility applies particularly to research areas, computer services, and other jobs that require specialized education, training, or work experience. 

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        Off-Campus Work

        The Online Job Board also lists off-campus positions from employers in Ames and surrounding communities. Employers in Ames and surrounding communities advertise for such jobs as light yard work, housework, food service, cashier and sales clerk positions, bookkeeping, child care, and farm help.

        Financial Aid

        Financial assistance can be a crucial part of attaining an advanced degree. Iowa State University is aware of this need and provides services to help you plan for graduate education expenses. The Office of Student Financial Aid is one resource that offers a wide variety of financial services to students, including the following:

        • Counseling on methods of financing your education
        • Informing you about on-campus and local employment opportunities
        • Providing information on scholarships and other academic awards
        • Providing consumer information on loans

        Questions about financial assistance can be directed to:
        Office of Student Financial Aid, 0210 Beardshear Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011, Phone: (515) 294-2223

        Scholarships and Grants

        If you are on an assistantship, you will receive a tuition scholarship. In addition, the ISU Office of Student Financial Aid has listings of scholarships and grants available to all students, including those specifically intended for graduate students. The GPSS also offers Professional Advancement Grants.

        Loans

        ISU participates in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan programs. The Federal Direct Stafford Loan program is a student loan that defers the repayment of the loan until after the student graduates or enrolls less than half-time. Graduate students who complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), may be eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loan is not based on financial need and interest on the loan begins to accrue the day the loan is disbursed. Information can also be found about the Federal Graduate PLUS loan.

        In order to apply for either loan, you must complete a FAFSA. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not based on a credit review. The Federal Graduate PLUS loan does require a separate application and credit check; as a result the loan is not guaranteed.

        Other Loan Information

        More information is available on other loans through the Office of Student Financial Aid, Student Loans page.

        Office of Student Financial Success

        The advisors in this office are dedicated to helping students effectively and responsibly understand their personal finances. They can assist students in the following areas

        • effectively manage their money
        • responsibly use students loans and debt
        • understand their credit
        • understand general topics related to personal finances

        Funding for Short-Term Incapacitation

        From time to time, graduate assistants and predoctoral or postdoctoral scholars experience injuries or illnesses during their appointment periods. In these situations, there is sometimes a need to provide short-term funding for a reasonable period to allow recovery, continue financial support, and assure that critical graduate assistantship or postdoctoral duties are covered. Short-term funding is particularly important in the case of graduate assistants, predoctoral scholars, and postdoctoral scholars because of the typically short appointment periods, as well as the short-term, goal-oriented nature of the projects that typically fund their appointments.

        1. The intent of the program is to provide short-term funding for up to six weeks to temporarily replace the normal mission-oriented funding for graduate assistants, predoctoral scholars, and postdoctoral scholars who are temporarily incapacitated by an illness or injury.
        2. Funding will be limited to a total of six weeks. If less time is required for recovery (but a sufficiently long period that a substitute is required to fulfill duties), a shorter time period will be covered.
        3. The maximum period of short-term funding will be for six weeks at the stipend (GAs and predocs) / salary (postdocs) rate of the ill or injured student or postdoctoral scholar.
        4. The graduate student or postdoctoral scholar who is temporarily incapacitated will submit the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Bridge Funding for Temporary Incapacitation form and documentation from their health care provider of their temporary incapacitation.
        5. All graduate assistants and postdoctoral scholars or predoctoral scholars who can document their short-term incapacitation are eligible, regardless of their stipend (GAs and predocs) / salary (postdocs) funding source.
        6. Graduate assistants and postdoctoral scholars or predoctoral scholars shall be allowed to return to their original appointment, according to the terms of their original appointment, following the bridge funding period.

        The Graduate College bridge funding will pay a portion of their stipend (GAs and predocs) / salary (postdocs) but will not pay any portion of tuition (GAs). The bridge funding will be provided by an equal match from the Graduate College and the academic home college of the graduate assistant or by an equal match from the Graduate College and home academic department or equivalent employing unit of the postdoctoral scholar.

        Fill out a Request for Bridge Funding Due to Injury or Illness form.

        1. Graduate assistants, predoctoral scholars, and postdoctoral scholars need to complete and obtain signatures for Section I of the form, Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Bridge Funding for Temporary Incapacitation, and obtain documentation from their health care provider of their short-term incapacitation.
          • Submit to the hiring unit for the next step.
        2. The hiring department/unit needs to complete Section II and submit to the academic (home) college.
        3. The academic (home) college needs to
          • provide an account number and approval, and
          • forward to the dean of the Graduate College (1137 Pearson Hall).
        4. The Graduate College needs to
          • provide an account number and approval, and
          • forward to the department/unit contact to enter EPA.
        5. Postdoctoral scholars need to submit sick leave/vacation to use amounts that have accrued up to the starting date of their bridge funding. Vacation/sick leave will be used concurrently with the 6 weeks of bridge funding.

        • If your bridge funding occurs during the academic year (fall and spring semesters), graduate assistants need to stay registered for at least one credits during that semester. If they are registered for academic classes, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with the professor to complete the course or to receive an incomplete. If they are a TA or an RA, it is your responsibility to keep your Major Professor/Supervisor informed of the dates of your leave.
        • 12-month assistantship appointments - They remain on assistantship and need to register for at least one credit during the summer.
        • 9 or 10-month assistantship appointments - Your assistantship will follow its stated starting and ending dates.
        • Maximum bridge funding is six (6) weeks or 30 working days.
        • Your health insurance and any other benefits from your assistantship/postdoctoral appointment will remain intact during your bridge funding.
        • Postdoctoral scholars need to use your accrued vacation/sick leave concurrently with the bridge funding until they exhaust any accrued time.

        • Benefit costs will transfer with the stipend (GAs and predocs) / salary (postdocs).
        • Postdoctoral scholars need to use sick leave/vacation concurrently with the bridge funding until they exhaust any accrued time. Sick leave/vacation should not go in the negative. Sick leave/vacation continues to accrue during the bridge funding.
        • For some situations (possibly federal funding), part of the tuition scholarship may need to be covered by the college.

        1. Who can request bridge funding for Temporary Incapacitation?
          • Graduate assistants (RA, TA, AA), who have experienced a short-term illness or injury that prevents them from being able to complete their duties.
          • Postdoctoral and predoctoral scholars who have experienced a short-term illness or injury that prevents them from being able to complete their duties.
        2. How do I request Bridge Funding for Temporary Incapacitation?
        3. Are students who are not currently appointed as a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or Administrative Assistant eligible for this program?
          • No. Only students with an LOI appointing them as a paid Graduate Assistant during the current semester are eligible.
        4. How long does the Bridge Funding for Temporary Incapacitation last?
          • Up to 6 weeks will be granted.
        5. Will anyone be denied Request for bridge funding?
          • GAs/Postdoctoral Scholars need to show documentation by their health care provider that they have a temporary condition due to illness or injury that makes them unable to complete their regular assistantship duties for up to 6 weeks.
          • Graduate students not on assistantship, will not be granted bridge funding.
        6. As a postdoctoral scholar, will I need to use my vacation/sick leave during the bridge funding?
          • Yes, they will need to use your accrued vacation/sick leave concurrently with the bridge funding.
        7. As a postdoctoral scholar, what if I don’t have enough vacation/sick leave for the whole 6 weeks of bridge funding?
          • They will be covered up to 6 weeks during bridge funding regardless of how much vacation/sick leave they have accrued.
        8. If I am on a 9-month GA appointment during the academic year, and the injury or illness occurs during the summer, can I apply for bridge funding starting in the fall?
          • The goal of bridge funding is to replace funding that they would have received, not to provide additional funding.
          • If the injury or illness occurs less than 6 weeks before the start of your appointment, they can request bridge funding for the difference between the date of onset of the incapacitation and 6 weeks. Example: If your injury occurs on August 1, and your graduate assistantship begins on August 15, they could request 4 weeks of bridge funding.
        9. Do I have to take the bridge funding all at one time?
          • Yes. Normally, it is expected that the bridge funding would immediately follow the onset of an illness or injury. Submit requests for unusual circumstances to the Graduate College.
        10. Do I have to take the full six weeks?
          • No. Six weeks is the maximum amount that will be covered.

        Tuition Scholarships

         

         

        *Are you on assistantship for more than three months (Fall/Spring) or four weeks (Summer)?

        *Payment of the mandatory fees is not guaranteed as part of the assistantship. Student is responsible for the mandatory fees.

        *You may not be eligible for tuition scholarship if you are on restricted admission or probation.