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Money Matters

When pursuing a graduate degree, funding options are usually on the top of a student's list of information to gather. The information provided below is given to you as a courtesy and is for your reference. In response to this courtesy, we ask that you read the information in its entirety and ONLY apply for funding options to which you are eligible.

Remember a graduate degree is both a financial and professional investment in your future. On average, persons who earn a master's degree earn more than those with a bachelor's degree, and persons who earn a doctorate degree earn more than those with a master's degree. The long-term gain on your investment in graduate school may be worth the expense now.

 

Graduate Assistantships

A graduate assistantship is a form of financial assistance awarded on a competitive basis for which a student works for the university in some capacity in exchange for a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. The amount of the stipend varies. A successful applicant must remain a full-time graduate student in order to qualify and may not hold another on-campus job while on assistantship. To apply for a university graduate assistantship, complete the graduate assistantship application found under Downloadable Forms and submit it with your other application materials. All graduate school applicants who intend to enroll full time are eligible to apply for university graduate assistantships. Students admitted on conditional status are not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.

Deadlines for applying for the university graduate assistantships are below:
For fall enrollment - March 1
For spring enrollment - November 1

Other graduate assistantships are offered through various departments around campus. Information on these may be obtained from those departments and offices. Remember to ONLY apply for graduate assistantships for which you qualify and are eligible.

 

Graduate Fellowships

A graduate fellowship is a form of financial assistance awarded on a competitive basis for which a student typically receives a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend. Please be aware that a successful applicant may not have other employment on- or off-campus during the fall and spring semester; however, a successful applicant may work in the summer on- or off-campus.  Additional information on doctoral, master's, and external fellowships are below.

Doctoral Fellowships
UL Lafayette has established a doctoral fellowships program for the recruitment of superior students. Doctoral fellowships are available in the areas of Applied Language and Speech Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, English, and Environmental and Evolutionary Biology. Completed applications must be submitted by February 15 and are available under Downloadable Forms. UL Lafayette uses a portfolio approach for awarding fellowships.

Minimum eligibility expectations for doctoral fellowship applicants include, but may not be limited to, the following:

  • 3.5 undergraduate grade point average with a better average in the major field or 3.7 graduate GPA if graduate hours have been pursued.
  • GRE combined verbal and quantitative score of 1200
  • An international student is eligible ONLY if student earned a degree from an accredited American institution.
  • Applicants should be first-time doctoral applicants. A current doctoral student who first enrolled at UL in the immediately preceding spring or summer semester may be eligible for the fellowship beginning in the fall semester.

The Graduate School administers the Board of Regents/SREB Minority Doctoral Fellowships. These doctoral fellowships are available as annual grant funding is awarded. Eligible doctoral disciplines are Applied Language and Speech Sciences, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, and Mathematics. A successful applicant will come from the Race/Ethnic categories of: 1) Black, Non-Hispanic, 2) Native American, or 3) Hispanic. When available, applications are posted under Downloadable Forms.

Master’s Fellowships
The master’s fellowships program recruits superior students and is not limited to a particular field of study. Master’s fellowship applications are available under Downloadable Forms and must be submitted by February 15 for consideration. UL Lafayette uses a portfolio approach for awarding fellowships. Minimum eligibility expectations for master’s fellowship applicants include, but may not be limited to, the following:

  • An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.5 or have earned no more than 12 hours in graduate school with a graduate GPA of at least 3.3.
  • GRE combined verbal and quantitative score of 1200 (or GMAT score of 600 for MBA applicants)
  • An international student is eligible ONLY if student earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited American institution.

External Fellowships
Other fellowships are available through external funding sources, vary significantly on funding amount, and have various application processes and deadlines. The Graduate School does not maintain a list of externally funded fellowships. Please visit the Council of Graduate Schools for one such list.  The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs also maintains a listing of student support via various grants and fellowships; visit their website to learn more.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards Fellowships and Love of Learning Awards for active members. Click here to learn more.

 

Scholarships

Scholarships in their traditional form are not typical funding options for graduate students. Please contact your academic department to see if scholarship funding is available.

The Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship is awarded once per year to a graduate student. Applications are due February 15.

 

McNair Graduate Scholars Program

Graduate school applicants who participated in and completed a McNair Scholars Program during their undergraduate studies are eligible for an application fee waiver and a tuition and fee waiver. Learn more regarding the eligibility requirements and application process.

 

Loans

Other than assistantships, fellowships, and self-funding, loans are the primary way graduate students fund their education. Remember, graduate school is an investment in your future. Loans are available to graduate students through federal student aid and private lenders; private lenders typically carry higher interest rates than federal loans. Federal loans are awarded through Student Financial Aid office. International students are generally not eligible for federal loans and must have a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen to be eligible.

Graduate students considering loans as a funding option, whether $1000 or $20,000, should schedule an appointment to meet with a financial aid counselor. Contact Student Financial Aid to schedule an appointment or visit their website for more information.

To start the process, you should submit the following materials in a timely fashion.

  • FAFSA
    Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the appropriate deadlines (by April 1 for summer enrollment, by May 1 for fall enrollment, and by mid-fall for spring enrollment).
  • Data Form for Financial Aid
    After you are admitted to graduate school, complete the data form for financial aid through ULink.
  • Complete Entrance Counseling
    If you are a first-time borrower through UL Lafayette, complete Entrance Counseling (click on Loan Info link) after completing the FAFSA.
  • Transcripts
    The Financial Aid office must receive transcripts from all universities you attended.

All students who receive federal loans through Student Financial Aid should regularly check their UL Lafayette email account, especially over the summer, since this is the primary way university offices communicate with you.

Note: Any program of study that does not lead to a degree or a certificate awarded by UL Lafayette is not eligible for financial aid.

 

Tuition and Fees

The current graduate school tuition and fees as well as important payment dates are posted through the Office of the Bursar which is also called the Student Cashiers Center.

All courses taken in a distance format (online or hybrid) are assessed a per credit hour E-learning support fund fee.  This fee is in addition to graduate school tuition.  See the Office of Distance Learning website for more information.

 

Teacher Tuition Incentive and Teacher Tuition Exemption

The Teacher Tuition Incentive program is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to current Louisiana teachers (elementary and secondary only) who are seeking a master’s or doctorate degree in education or the graduate certificate in Non-Public Schools: Administration. At UL Lafayette this program is administered by University College. Please refer to that office for contact information or visit them on campus in Martin Hall, room 169.

The Teacher Tuition Exemption program is now administered through individual school boards. Current Louisiana teachers should contact their school board office directly for more information.

 

Veterans and the G.I. Bill

Are you a U.S. Veteran who served in active duty, whether combat or non-combat, within the last 15 years? Did you know the G.I. Bill applies to graduate school also? Please visit this site to learn more on funding options for graduate school. The Grad School Center through www.military.com may also be of assistance to you.  You may also contact Sammi Zapata in the UL Lafayette Office of Veterans Services at veterans@louisiana.edu or (337) 482-5206.