Financial Aid Availability

The Department of Human Development makes every attempt to assist students in obtaining financial assistance in pursuing a graduate degree. However, many more students are admitted than can be awarded fellowships or assistantships. Almost all awards of fellowships and assistantships at the graduate level are based on previous academic performance, with little attention to need. Students who do not receive a fellowship or assistantship from the Department may contact the University Financial Aid Office at (301) 314-9000 for information about other sources of financial support.

Departmental Financial Aid for Entering Students

Recruitment Fellowships

Fellowship awards are decided on the basis of a student's Statement of Purpose, letters of reference, academic background, research experience, and an on-campus interview. In recent years, only doctoral students with undergraduate GPA's of 3.6, GRE score above the 70th percentile, and strong letters of recommendation from academic references have been successful in obtaining recruitment fellowships.

Recruitment Fellowships are often awarded for two academic years. Students receiving these fellowships must be enrolled fulltime and must limit other paid employment to ten hours per week. A student who receives a two-year fellowship also will be offered a Departmental assistantship for two additional years.

Departmental Graduate Assistantships

The Department of Human Development sometimes has funds for two kinds of Graduate Assistantships (GA) -- teaching assistantships and administrative assistantships. Awards can be for one semester or for one academic year, though recipients may reapply for succeeding years. Assistantships can carry work expectations of either 10 or 20 hours per week, depending on the assignment. Graduate Assistants receive tuition remission for up to 10 hours of coursework per semester, plus a stipend, which varies in amount based on degrees earned and the GA's progress made toward the degree he/she is seeking.

Grad School Financial Aid (projected)

Tuition Waivers

The Graduate School offers tuition waivers to match fellowship offers from organizations or associations outside the University or by endowed or gift funds; the fellowship must have been awarded on a competitive basis. For a full 10 credits tuition remission per semester, the outside stipend should be equivalent to the salary of a Step I graduate assistant; fellowships of approximately $5,000 are usually matched by 5 credits remission per semester. There are no restrictions on the year, residency, or citizenship of students nominated, though students must be enrolled full-time. Only the Department may apply for these tuition waivers on behalf of students. Written notification of the award of an outside fellowship, and criteria for awarding it, must be provided directly to the Director of Graduate Admissions for the EDHD Department by May 15.

Financial Aid Available from the Office of Student Financial Aid

Work-Study and Tuition Grants:

Students who can demonstrate financial need may apply for work-study positions through the Office of Student Financial Aid, Room 2130, North Administration Building. Students sometimes receive a combination tuition grant/work-study award. Graduate students who receive work-study grants may ask for particular assignments, appropriate to their academic goals and levels of expertise. The program is open only to citizens and permanent residents. Students should apply at the earliest possible time for these grants.

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