How to Pay for Grad School at the University of Mississippi
There are many ways to make graduate school at the University of Mississippi more affordable, including fellowships, grants, assistantships, and more.
What Funding Can Graduate Students Get Before They Have a Department Assistantship?
If you are a new applicant or incoming student, you don't have to wait for a department assistantship to secure financial support; other options include the Academic Excellence Fellowship, Graduate School Access Fellowship, and Access Tuition Scholarships.
The Graduate School's New Graduate Student Funding Opportunities page highlights options designed specifically for incoming students:
Academic Excellence Fellowship: Provides $1,000 per semester for master's students or $1,500 per semester for Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and doctoral students. Academic department chairs and Graduate Program Coordinators nominate eligible candidates for this award.
Graduate School Access Fellowship: Matches the same award amounts as the Academic Excellence Fellowship ($1,000 per semester for master's; $1,500 per semester for MFA/doctoral). A selection committee awards these fellowships to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Access Tuition Scholarships: Provides partial tuition support for eligible students who do not hold a department assistantship. Full-time students can receive 44% or 75% tuition coverage depending on eligibility, while part-time students can receive 44% or 50% coverage.
How Much Does a Graduate Assistantship at the University of Mississippi Pay?
Graduate assistantships and instructorships represent the largest single source of financial support at UM. These positions allow you to gain professional experience in teaching, research, or administration while earning income and reducing your educational costs.
Details from the Graduate Assistantships page establishes baseline funding levels for standard nine-month academic appointments:
Quarter-Time Appointment (10 hours per week): Includes a minimum stipend of $7,500 per academic year, along with a 75% tuition scholarship for regular graduate tuition.
Half-Time Appointment (20 hours per week): Includes a minimum stipend of $15,000 per academic year, along with a 100% tuition scholarship covering full regular graduate tuition.
Nonresident Fee Scholarship: Both quarter-time and half-time assistantships include a full nonresident fee scholarship during the regular fall and spring semesters, waiving out-of-state tuition surcharges.
Mandatory Term Fee: All graduate assistants pay a $55 fee per academic term, keeping out-of-pocket costs predictable and minimal.
Program Variations: Certain academic departments set higher minimum stipends above the university baseline based on field standards.
Important program notes applying to assistantships:
Online programs are not eligible for graduate assistantships, tuition scholarships, or nonresident fee waivers at this time.
Students enrolled in Accountancy and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs should check directly with their program regarding professional fee differentials, as standard Graduate School tuition scholarships do not cover these extra fees.
Are There Scholarships for Specific Degree Programs at the University of Mississippi?
Beyond university-wide aid, UM features degree-specific grants and named scholarships tailored to particular academic tracks. As outlined on the Degree-Specific and Other Funding Opportunities page, options include:
MBA Diversity Scholarship: Supports qualifying candidates in the Master of Business Administration program.
Sumners Grant: Assists eligible Mississippi residents pursuing specific graduate degrees.
Andrea Scott International Scholarship: Provides financial support for international graduate students.
You can review complete details and eligibility criteria for these awards on the Graduate School website.
What Funding Is Available After You Are Already Enrolled?
Financial support continues throughout your time on campus. As listed on the Continuing Student Funding and Opportunities page, enrolled students progressing through their program can apply for competitive continuing student opportunities:
Dissertation Fellowship: Awards $8,500 plus a tuition reduction for one semester. This competitive fellowship relieves doctoral candidates of teaching or service duties so they can focus entirely on completing their dissertation writing.
Eligible applicants must be enrolled full-time, hold approved candidacy status, have a prospectus on file, and be within one year of completion.Summer Graduate Research Assistantship: Provides $3,000 for doctoral and MFA students, or $2,500 for master's students in departments without a doctoral program.
This award supports ten weeks of focused summer research on campus.
Participation in the university's Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition is a mandatory prerequisite for both the Dissertation Fellowship and the Summer Graduate Research Assistantship.
Can University of Mississippi Graduate Students Get Funding to Attend or Present at Conferences?
Sharing your scholarship at professional conferences is an important step in your academic career. The University of Mississippi helps cover these expenses through dedicated awards detailed on the Graduate School Awards & Grants page:
Graduate Student Research Award: Offers up to $600 to support thesis or dissertation research expenses when matching funds of at least $300 come from your department, college, or external grants. Without matching funds, the maximum award from the Graduate School is $200.
Graduate Student Travel Grant: Provides up to $300 for students presenting original research as first authors at professional conferences, provided your department or college contributes at least $300 in matching support. Without matching funds, the grant provides $200.
Applications for travel grants must be submitted at least 10 days before your travel date. If you submit after the 10-day deadline, the funding amount drops to $50. You must submit all final receipts within 30 days of returning from your trip to remain eligible for future travel support. Students may receive one travel award per fiscal year.
What Outside Funding and Loan Options Exist for Graduate School at the University of Mississippi?
While institutional awards and assistantships cover a significant portion of costs, you can also explore national fellowships, private grant search engines, and federal financial aid to fund your education. As referenced on the Graduate School's New Graduate Student Funding Opportunities page, domestic and international students have several external funding avenues to consider:
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Completing the FAFSA is the vital first step for domestic students seeking federal financial support.
Submitting your FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal loans and ensures the University of Mississippi's Financial Aid Office can compile a comprehensive aid package for your graduate study.Federal Grants and Loans: Through Federal Student Aid, domestic graduate students can access federal funding options. While federal grants for graduate students are limited to specialized areas (such as the TEACH Grant for qualifying education fields), most graduate students utilize Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500 per academic year) and Direct PLUS Loans (which can cover remaining educational costs up to the full cost of attendance).
National Science Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP): One of the most prestigious national awards available, the NSF GRFP supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or STEM education.
The fellowship provides three years of financial support over a five-year period, including a generous annual living stipend and a tuition allowance paid directly to the university.Fastweb: A leading free search platform, Fastweb matches graduate students with personalized private scholarship opportunities, national grants, and industry-sponsored awards based on academic discipline, career goals, and demographic background.
Scholarships.com: A massive, searchable directory, Scholarships.com allows prospective and enrolled graduate students to filter through thousands of external funding sources, private grants, and professional association scholarships to supplement university support.
FAQs
Yes. As noted on the Admissions Graduate Aid & Assistantships page, formal admission to the University of Mississippi Graduate School is required before any official financial award, fellowship, or assistantship contract can be finalized.
However, you do not have to wait until you receive an official acceptance letter to start the conversation.
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out to their program's Graduate Program Coordinator while preparing their application.
Discussing your interests early allows department chairs to keep you on their radar for department-level assistantships and nominate you for competitive options listed on the New Graduate Student Funding Opportunities page as soon as your admission is processed.
It depends on your appointment level. Details on the Graduate Assistantships page establish that a half-time assistantship (20 hours per week) covers 100% of regular graduate tuition, while a quarter-time assistantship (10 hours per week) covers 75%.
Both assistantship levels include a full nonresident fee scholarship for out-of-state students during the fall and spring semesters, eliminating out-of-state tuition surcharges.
However, all graduate assistants are responsible for a mandatory $55 fee per academic term.
Additionally, standard Graduate School tuition scholarships do not cover professional fee differentials associated with specialized programs, such as those in the School of Accountancy or the MBA program.
Currently, fully online degree programs at UM are not eligible for Graduate School assistantships, institutional tuition scholarships, or nonresident fee waivers, as outlined on the Graduate School Funding & Opportunities hub. Institutional funding sources are reserved for campus-based students who contribute directly to on-campus teaching, laboratory research, and departmental operations.
Students enrolled in online graduate programs are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to access federal financial aid options—including Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans—or explore private scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and external grant opportunities.
The primary distinction comes down to work expectations and service requirements:
Graduate Assistantships are employment positions requiring 10 to 20 hours per week of service, such as teaching undergraduate classes, grading, conducting lab research, or providing administrative support. In exchange, you receive a regular stipend check and a tuition scholarship.
Fellowships (such as those featured on the Graduate School Funding Opportunities page) are merit-based or access-based financial awards that provide direct financial support without requiring any work hours or service duties, allowing you to devote your full attention to coursework and research.
Because each office manages distinct parts of your financial package, reaching out to the right office directly will get you the fastest answers:
Contact your Graduate Program Coordinator or Department Chair for details regarding teaching or research assistantships, local departmental stipend rates, and nominations for university recruiting fellowships.
Contact the Graduate School Funding Office (via gschool@olemiss.edu or through the Graduate School Funding & Opportunities hub) for questions about Access Fellowships, Access Tuition Scholarships, Dissertation Fellowships, Summer Research Assistantships, or Research and Travel Grants.
Contact the Office of Financial Aid via the Admissions Graduate Aid & Assistantships page or review the Cost of Attendance Estimator for help with FAFSA processing, federal direct loans, work-study eligibility, and official university cost calculations.
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