New Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
The funding opportunities shown below are specific to new graduate students.
Financial Aid Information for Incoming Graduate Students
The Graduate School administers graduate recruiting fellowships and scholarships, dissertation fellowships, and Summer Graduate Research assistantships.
The largest source of funds for graduate support is from teaching, research, and graduate assistantships offered by academic departments, along with accompanying partial or full tuition scholarships and nonresident fee scholarships.
More information about assistantships is given below; contact your prospective department regarding the availability of such assistantships.
How much does graduate school cost?
The cost of attending graduate school at UM may vary widely based on multiple factors, including your chosen program and your individual financial situation.
- Tuition rates can differ between programs within the same school, and additional expenses like fees, books, and living costs can add to the total cost.
- Some students may qualify for financial aid, assistantships, or other benefits, which can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Note that there are separate costs of attendance for the following graduate student categories at University of Mississippi: Accountancy, MBA, PMBA, and Online, all listed in detail here by the Office of Financial Aid.
Online programs are NOT eligible for fellowships, scholarships or assistantships at this time.
Other ways to afford graduate school
Graduate students can also apply for external grants, awards and fellowships. These funds can be obtained from national, state and local organizations, foundations and agencies.
Additional resources that may help you afford graduate school can include:
The last option is obtaining a loan. To apply for federal loans, you must complete a FAFSA form online.
If you have questions pertaining to loans and other forms of financial assistance not noted above, please contact the Financial Aid Office:
- The University of Mississippi
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848
Phone: 800-891-4596
Email: finaid@olemiss.edu
New Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
The Recruiting Fellowship for Academic Excellence provides funding to exceptional graduate students who have been nominated by their graduate program. This fellowship is intended to support students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and actively engage in professional development.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the fellowship, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Nomination: The student must be nominated by their graduate program.
- Academic Excellence: The nominee must meet at least one of the following:
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.5
- Master’s degree GPA of 3.75
- Other demonstrated potential for excellence in graduate study
- Enrollment Status:
- Must be admitted into a degree program.
- Must not be enrolled in an online program.
- Must be enrolled on the Oxford campus for at least 9 hours of graduate coursework each semester.
- Must not have a full-time job.
- Assistantship Preference: Preference is given to students receiving an assistantship from another university source of at least $2,500 per semester.
Fellowship Award Amounts
The fellowship provides funding for the following:
- Master’s Students: $1,000 per semester for up to 4 semesters
- MFA & Doctoral Students: $1,500 per semester for up to 8 semesters
- The fellowship is paid during the Fall and Spring semesters only.
- Requests for extensions beyond the initial 4 or 8 semesters will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- The fellowship must not result in an over-award of financial aid.
Nomination & Selection Process
- Who Can Nominate? Department chairs or graduate program coordinators.
- How to Nominate? Submit nominations using a Qualtrics form (available from the Graduate School – email gradfa@olemiss.edu for details).
- Deadline: Nominations should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than one month before the student’s first semester of enrollment.
- Required Information:
- How the nominee meets the eligibility requirements.
- Any financial support the department is already providing to the student.
- Review Process: A faculty committee reviews nominations and makes funding recommendations on a rolling basis.
Professional Development Requirements
To continue receiving the fellowship, students must participate in professional development activities designated by the Graduate School. These activities include cultural competency and networking events. The Graduate School will provide a list of qualifying opportunities and promote additional events in the G School Journal.
Year 1 Requirements
During the first year of the fellowship, students must:
- Attend Orientation*
- Complete three additional qualifying events:
- Two professional development sessions
- One cultural competence event (focused on engaging with diverse cultures and perspectives)
*If a student misses Orientation, they must attend an additional qualifying event (total of four events).
- Spring Semester Requirement: At least one event (beyond Orientation) must be attended in the Fall semester. Students may complete all requirements early if they choose.
Year 2 & Beyond Requirements
During the second
- Attend at least four qualifying professional development events per year, including:
- Three professional development events
- One networking event
- Spring Semester Requirement: To receive funding in the spring semester, students must attend at least two events in the Fall semester.
- Students may complete all requirements early if they choose.
Annual Responsibilities for All Recipients
- Understand the three professional development icons and how they apply to different events.
- Attend events on time, starting in the Fall term (or the first term of the fellowship).
- Keep records of events attended (title, date, location, presenter).
The Graduate School Access Fellowship at the University of Mississippi is designed to enhance access to graduate education by providing financial support to qualified students.
Selection Process
Fellowship recipients are selected based on a review of application materials by a faculty and staff committee.- To be considered, students must not be enrolled in an online program.
- Selected students will receive an award letter from the Graduate School confirming their selection for the Graduate School Access Fellowship and Scholarship Program.
- Recipients must follow the instructions in the award letter to provide additional required information.
- Failure to submit the required information will result in ineligibility for the fellowship portion of the Access program.
Fellowship Award Amounts
The fellowship provides financial assistance as follows:
- Master’s Students: $1,000 per semester for up to 4 semesters
- MFA & Doctoral Students: $1,500 per semester for up to 8 semesters
- The fellowship is paid during Fall and Spring semesters only.
- Requests for extensions beyond 4 or 8 semesters will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive and maintain the fellowship, students must:
- Be admitted into a degree program.
- Be enrolled on the Oxford campus for at least 9 hours of graduate coursework each semester.
- Not have a full-time job.
- Ensure the fellowship does not result in an over-award of financial aid.
- Be in an eligible, in-person program (online programs are not eligible).
Professional Development Requirements
Continued receipt of the fellowship requires participation in four different professional development events each academic year.
- These events include cultural competency and networking opportunities, as designated by the Graduate School.
A list of qualifying events will be provided each term and advertised in the G School Journal.
Year 1 Requirements
- Attend Orientation*
- Complete three additional qualifying events, including:
- Two professional development sessions
- One cultural competence event (focused on engaging with diverse cultures and perspectives)
*If a student misses Orientation, they must attend an additional qualifying event (total of four events).
- Spring Semester Requirement: At least one event (beyond Orientation) must be attended in the Fall semester. Students may complete all requirements early if they choose.
Year 2 & Beyond Requirements
- Attend at least four qualifying professional development events per year, including:
- Three professional development events
- One networking event
- Spring Semester Requirement: At least two events must be attended in the Fall semester. Students may complete all requirements early if they choose.
Annual Responsibilities for All Recipients
- Understand the three professional development icons and how they apply to different events.
- Attend events on time, starting in the Fall term (or the first term of the fellowship).
- Keep records of events attended (title, date, location, presenter).
Selection Process
The Graduate School Access Scholarship awards are based upon review of application materials by a faculty and staff committee. Those who are selected for these awards will be notified by the Graduate School of their selection and the specific funding offer.
Scholarship Funding Terms
The tuition scholarship for full-time students (those registered for at least 9 hours of graduate coursework) without a qualifying graduate assistantship is valued at 75 percent of regular graduate tuition and 44 percent of the non-resident fee.
- The tuition scholarship is available for Fall, Spring and Summer Sessions and not applicable for any intersessions.
The tuition scholarship for part-time students (those registered for fewer than 9 hours of graduate coursework) is valued at 50 percent of regular graduate tuition and 44 percent of the non-resident fee.
- The tuition scholarship is available for Fall, Spring and Summer Sessions and not applicable for any intersessions.
Only applicable during Fall, Spring and Summer Sessions. Not applicable to any intersessions. Online programs are NOT eligible at this time.
The Graduate School and academic departments at the University of Mississippi (UM) sponsor up to seven Institutional SREB Fellowships per academic year for doctoral students (scholars) through a combination of Doctoral and Dissertation Scholar Fellowships.
- Learn more about the Southern Regional Education Educational Board and this fellowship opportunity.
- Elite Scholars Program Fall 2025
Departments providing assistantships may nominate scholars to receive one of the awards.
- If selected for the SREB Doctoral Scholar Fellowship, the scholar will be eligible for three (3) years of support under this program. Individuals selected for SREB Dissertation Scholar Fellowships receive one year of support.
The criteria and specific levels of financial support differ for the two types of awards and serve different student groups. Online programs are NOT eligible at this time.