Funding Options

Overview

The Department of Education Reform offers graduate assistantships and can nominate successful applicants for competitive merit-based fellowship awards. Graduate assistantships offer qualified applicants a full tuition waiver, a health insurance benefit plus an attractive annual stipend. They allow the student to gain valuable experience by participation in supervised large research projects for 20 hours per week in EDRE.

Many other avenues for financial assistance exist as well. More information may be obtained from the Graduate School's Costs and Funding page.

Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships

Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships are combined with graduate assistantships to provide a package of stipends totaling $40,000 per year (2021-2022), a tuition waiver and further benefits. The DDF may be renewed for up to three years following the initial year while maintaining normal progress in the Education Policy degree program.

The DDF stipend is valued at $22,000 and paid out in 12 equal monthly installments while enrolled. Distinguished Doctoral Fellows concurrently hold a half-time, 12-month graduate assistant position in the department, requiring 20 hours of research work per week. This assistantship comes with an annual stipend of $18,000 while enrolled, a full tuition waiver for degree-related coursework and a partially subsidized health insurance program. Students are responsible for miscellaneous fees. The assistantship stipend is in addition to the DDF stipend for a combined annual income support of $40,000. In order to be considered for a DDF, all application materials must be on file at the department no later than Jan. 10.

As of the Fall of 2024, the Graduate School will allot some Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships for early nomination. To be considered for early nomination, an applicant must meet the Graduate School's critical criteria, and have all application materials on file at the department no later than December 1st. The critical criteria are a GPA of 3.75 or higher for undergraduate, and if applicable, graduate school, and a GRE writing score of at least 5.0. Applicants who do not meet these criteria may still qualify for a DDF but need not apply earlier than January 10.

Doctoral Academy Fellowships

Doctoral Academy Fellowships are combined with graduate assistantships to provide a package of stipends totaling $30,000 per year (2021-2022), a tuition waiver and further benefits. These awards may be renewed for up to three years following the initial year while maintaining normal progress in the degree program.

The DAF provides a $12,000 annual stipend. Doctoral Academy Fellows concurrently hold a half-time, 12-month graduate assistant position in the Department of Education Reform, requiring 20 hours of research work per week. This assistantship comes with an annual stipend of $18,000, a full tuition waiver for degree-related coursework and a partially subsidized health insurance program. Students are responsible for miscellaneous fees. The stipends are paid out in 12 equal monthly installments while enrolled. The combined annual income support for a Doctoral Academy Fellow is $30,000. In order to be considered for a DAF, all application materials must be on file at the department no later than Jan. 10.

The fellowship support is intended to permit students to focus on mastering the content of the program and progressing towards their degree. Students are prohibited from working outside of the department while in the doctoral program unless they receive written approval.