Financial Support

Fellows and Master’s International students awarded graduate assistantships currently receive a stipend of $810-842 per month during the Fall and Spring semesters of their on-campus work, which is usually one calendar year. Graduate Assistants are required to work up to 20 hours per week in exchange for these awards. Some assistantships involve work in their departments, while other assistantships require work with local non-profit organizations or government agencies relevant to community/economic development.

To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, newly admitted students need to have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average for the last 60 hours of their undergraduate coursework. To remain eligible once enrolled, students need to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Graduate assistantships include a full waiver of all tuition charges during that semester and the following summer. Graduate assistants must still pay all student, health insurance, and other fees, as do other graduate students at Illinois State University. Fellows and Master’s International students also receive tuition waivers for the professional practice internship (Fellows) or Peace Corps service (Master’s International), with student fees often reduced (Fellows) or waived (Master’s International). Over a two-year period of participation in the Fellows Programs or Master’s International Program, the tuition waivers are worth up to $15,756.

Fellows currently receive a stipend of $1,600 per month during their second-year 11-month internship. Master’s International students receive the same financial support during Peace Corps service as the other Volunteers in their country and program. These benefits include travel costs to and from country of service, living and housing expenses while serving overseas, medical and dental coverage, vacation time and allowance, and a readjustment allowance of just over $6,000 upon completion of service.

Other on-campus or off-campus assistantships may be awarded, depending on applicants’ eligibility and the availability of awards. University Housing Services also offers residence hall assistantships to graduate students. For other forms of financial aid, please contact Illinois State University’s Financial Aid Office .