Financial Assistance
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Graduate Tuition Waivers
The School of Music awards a limited number of Graduate Tuition Waivers on a competitive basis to incoming students who show promise for success and who have not received an assistantship or other awards funding tuition costs. The School of Music may also award Graduate Tuition Waivers to current students who show or continue to show growth and promise for success and have made positive contributions to the School. These tuition waivers are awarded upon recommendation of the faculty and approval by the Graduate Advisory Committee, and are contingent upon funding from the University.
Incoming students who have been admitted into graduate programs in the School of Music must be enrolled full-time and have a minimum entrance GPA of 2.8 to be eligible to apply. In addition, incoming summers-only MMEd students may be eligible to receive tuition waiver funds but must be full-time teachers and not already receiving funding from their employing school district.
Current full-time students in the School of Music must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible to apply. In addition, current summers-only MMEd students may be eligible to receive tuition waiver funds but must be full-time teachers and not already receiving funding from their employing school district.
To apply, complete the tuition waiver application (including the Selective Service Statement) and return the application to Dr. Angelo L. Favis in the School of Music Office (CE 230). Tuition waivers may be applied to the cost of tuition only; the graduate student must make arrangements to pay student fees, insurance, or other educational expenses.
The deadline for priority consideration for a tuition waiver for the fall semester is May 1.
The deadline for priority consideration for the spring semester is November 1.
The deadline for priority consideration for the summer semester is April 1.
Review more information about graduate funding options at Illinois State University.