Finances

Financing a graduate or professional education can be expensive. Finding the resources to meet these expenses can be a challenge. Ideally you should begin your research in your junior year. This is because many organizations that do have funds will have applications due in the fall for the following year.

Types of awards/assistance available
Sources of awards/assistance
When looking for financial assistance, you should explore all options—federal, state, institutional, departmental, professional associations, national and state agencies, and private sources.
How to apply
1. Traditional forms of financial assistance. If you plan to access assistance available through traditional financial aid (mostly loans at the graduate level), you should contact the financial aid office of the institution you plan attend to obtain the correct forms. These will probably include the FAFSA and perhaps institutional forms.
2. The university. Most universities have fellowships and other awards managed through the institution. When writing for information about admissions, you should request information about these awards. They may be administered through one office or through numerous offices, so you need to ask. Each program will probably have its own application form/deadline. The Office of Graduate Studies can help you identify opportunities as FSU.
3. The department. Teaching and research assistantships are usually administered through the academic departments. When contacting the department about admission, you should ask about these and the application procedure. If you are interested in assistantships in other areas (housing, advising, orientation), you should contact those departments directly.
4. National Scholarship/Fellowship Programs. There are numerous national and international programs, such as Rhodes Scholarships, Fullbright Scholarships, Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships. Though you will use these at your graduate institution, most are initiated from your undergraduate institution or through the granting organization directly. Inquiries should be made early, as some have application deadlines as early as September preceding entry into graduate school. At FSU, the Office of Graduate Studies can help you identify these.
5. Your academic field. Some forms of aid are available through scholarly/professional organizations associated with certain academic areas. Some private and public entities also fund projects in certain academic areas. In exploring possible forms of assistance, you should check these out. Either your undergraduate department or your graduate department may be able to help you identify possible programs. Each program would have its own application procedure and deadline.
6. Other sources. We often hear of aid that goes unclaimed because no one has applied. Though perhaps not as plentiful as the media would have us believe, there may be assistance for you if you look hard enough--but you have to work at it! Your search should begin by the end of your junior year, as many programs will have very early due dates. It is generally thought that the fee-based scholarship services are not worth their fee. However, there are good resources available both in print form and over the internet. At FSU many of these resources are available in the STAR Center, Office of Financial Aid, 4474 A University Center.
Some sources available over the Internet include:
  • FinAid. This gives you a menu of other sites to explore
  • Financial Aid Resource Center. Gives you general information about graduate aid as well as access to FREE scholarship search services.