Funding for Graduate School

CU-Boulder administers various forms of financial assistance for graduate students: fellowships, traineeships, scholarships, research and teaching assistantships and awards from outside agencies.

Financial Aid for Graduate Study

The University of Colorado offers several types of financial assistance for graduate students who demonstrate financial need. Students apply for assistance by submitting a financial aid application (the FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1.

Colorado residents may be eligible for the Colorado Graduate Grant program and the Graduate Fee Grant program. Both are automatically considered with the FAFSA application.

Graduate students may apply for long-term loans through the Stafford Loan (formerly GSL) program or the Perkins Loan program (formerly the National Direct Student Loan) and for part-time jobs through the college work-study program.

Graduate Part-Time Instructors and Teaching Assistants

Many departments employ graduate students as graduate part-time instructors (GPTIs) or as teaching assistants (TAs). GPTIs must possess a master’s degree or the equivalent and have demonstrated competence in classroom teaching. Teaching assistants are not required to have previous teaching experience. In order to be eligible to be a GPTI or a TA, one must be a full-time enrolled graduate student, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. Compensation is based on the percentage of time worked, and includes a tuition waiver and partial insurance benefit.

Research Assistants

In many departments, research activities provide opportunities for graduate students to work part time as research assistants. All research assistants must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 and be full-time regularly enrolled graduate students. Compensation is based on percentage of time worked and includes a tuition waiver and partial insurance benefit. 

Other Funding Opportunities

Graduate Students are encouraged to seek funding by applying for fellowships and awards. While there are a number of fellowships and grants that are funded through the University, the majority are awarded by governmental agencies, private foundations and corporations. 

A partial list of extramural and University fellowships can be found on the Graduate School’s website: www.colorado.edu/GraduateSchool/funding/student.html. Students should also consult with directories of funding sources, such as the Annual Register of Grant Support and The Grants Register, both available in community or university libraries.