Graduate Funding  

Graduate student assistantships

If you are a graduate student, then you most likely will get your education funded by an assistantship.  These assistantships put you out in the real world and allow you to work part-time while still going to school. 

They provide great opportunities for:

  • networking
  • job placement
  • resume-building

Graduate assistant funding is limited. Students are encouraged to apply by February 15 to be considered for either teaching assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA) support for the following fall semester.

The department has a very limited number of in-state and out-of-state tuition scholarships. Applications must be submitted by February 15 for the following academic year.

Applications for assistantships and scholarships are made through the department application forms.

The department frequently has funding to hire class graders on an hourly basis. Please inform the department chair if you are interested in this after your admission to the program.

Additional information

International students 

Due to the limited number of graduate assistantships and scholarships available, we seldom offer these to international students during their first year of study.

In addition, international students must be aware that their visa will require them to take a minimum of 6 units each semester of face-to-face classes.  This excludes online and independent study classes. Because many of our GIS and planning classes are offered online only, your program of study will need to be very carefully constructed.

University financial assistance 

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for information on student loans.

The Graduate College also has a list of Financial Resources for Graduate Students. Graduate assistantships may be available in administrative departments on-campus.

Students are encouraged to apply for work-study aid through the Office of Student Financial Aid. The department often has hourly wage positions for work-study students. 

Most Applied Geospatial Sciences students will pursue careers in public service and non-profit organizations after they graduate. If you secure this type of position after graduation, you may qualify for the 10-Year Public Service Loan Forgiveness program of the Federal Income Based Repayment Plan.