Graduate Financial Assistance
Graduate students can receive financial assistance through tuition waivers, graduate assistantships, loans, grants, employment, and scholarship.
When it comes to paying tuition and other costs of graduate school, you have options.
Tuition Waivers
We award tuition waivers to eligible IT graduate students on a semester-by-semester basis.
Eligibility
Full and part-time students can apply for a tuition waiver.
You are eligible to apply for a tuition waiver if:
- You have been admitted to the Information Technology graduate program
- You do not have a graduate assistantship
- You have less than two years, full-time completed or less than 40 credit hours
New Graduate Student Requirements
- Minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA during last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate work
- Minimum revised GRE score of 300 (Verbal plus Quantitative)
Current Graduate Student Requirements
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for graduate courses at Illinois State
How to Apply
Apply during the first two weeks of classes each semester. Complete and submit the graduate tuition waiver application electronically. Send to Sherry Jerome, sjerome@ilstu.edu. An electronic signature is acceptable.
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They facilitate your progress toward a degree while providing important professional development.
Graduate assistants in the School of IT typically teach labs for some of our 100-level courses. Full-time assistants work an average of 20 hours per week and part-time assistants work about 10 hours per week.
We offer a limited amount of assistantships. Illinois State's Graduate School has additional opportunities.
Benefits
IT graduate assistants receive:
- full tuition waiver (includes courses for the following summer)
- monthly stipend
- office space with shared computer workstations
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for an assistantship if:
- You have been admitted to the Information Technology graduate program
- You are a full-time student or are in your final semester and have fewer than nine required credit hours remaining
- You have exceptional communication skills
We do not typically offer assistantships at the time of admission. New students may be interviewed for positions over the summer.
Requirements
- 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA during last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate work
- Minimum revised GRE score of 1100 Verbal + Quantitative (300 for revised GRE)
- Minimum TOEFL of 230 CBT or 88 IBT
Required skills vary based on your teaching assignment, but may include Java programming, Microsoft Office, Python, and/or Fortran.
How to Apply
Apply online for a School of IT assistantship or an assistantship in other departments across campus.
Federal Financial Aid
If you are a United States citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Visit the Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) website or Illinois State financial aid office for more information.
Other Options
Illinois State offers numerous employment opportunities, scholarships, fellowships, and grants. Learn about eligibility requirements and deadlines on the Graduate School website.