Some kinds of financial aid are available to graduate students who meet all entrance requirements. Some of these aids provide an opportunity for desirable professional experience as well. Conditions for financial aid are subject to change. Aid received through the Financial Aid Office is based on need, enrollment status, scholarship and, in some cases, program director recommendation. Eligible enrollment status is a degree-seeking student, enrolled on at least a half-time basis at UW-Stout and maintaining satisfactory academic progress. All awards will be adjusted so as not to exceed the determined need.
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Assistantships
Graduate Program or Project Assistant — This title designates a graduate student employed to assist with research, training, or other academic programs or projects.
Graduate Assistant — The graduate assistant teaches in a classroom or laboratory in an instructional department.
To become eligible for an assistantship, a student must first be admitted to a graduate degree program (dual-level students are not eligible). Completion of the form Application for Graduate Assistantships is recommended. Students who have made application for graduate assistantship and have been admitted to the Graduate School generally have the best opportunity to make their qualifications known to the various supervisors who employ graduate assistants. Each spring a list of assistantship positions available the next academic year will be posted on the Web and in the Graduate School office or sent by request. Early application is essential. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the supervisor indicated on the list for more information on the positions and to set up an interview. The department offering the position sends a completed ES-6 form to Human Resources of the graduate applicant to be hired. Human Resources officially offers the position to the prospective applicant.
Assistantships are normally filled on an academic year basis although some assistantships may be for one semester or a partial semester only. The following indicates the number of hours required to work and credit load limitations for assistantships.
Assistantship Work Requirement |
||
% appointment |
hours per week |
academic year total |
1/2 time (.500) |
20 |
640 |
1/3 time (.333) |
13.3 |
426 |
1/4 time (.250) |
10 |
320 |
All Assignments |
|
Credit Load (A condition of employment) |
Minimum Load/Semester (Credits applying toward degree) |
1/2 Time Assistantship |
6 |
1/3 Time Assistantship |
6 |
1/4 Time Assistantship |
6 |
Financial Aid Office
The Financial Aid Office administers financial aid funded primarily from State and Federal resources. Application for aid should be filed by April 1, preceding the academic year, or March 1, preceding the summer session.
Applicants for federal or state aid must complete a financial statement, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to calculate financial need. Applicants for other programs may need to submit additional application materials.
Graduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to retain enrollment status and financial aid eligibility. Refer to the Graduate School Office for Progress Policies. The Financial Aid Office administers the following programs.
Assistantship Connected Tuition Waivers are available to graduate students from states other than Wisconsin and Minnesota, who hold assistantships of 1/3 time or more. Eligible students may be awarded a full waiver of the nonresident portion of tuition. Students with a waiver for two consecutive semesters, or a waiver for spring semester, may also receive a waiver for the regular summer session.
Advanced Opportunity Grants are available to a limited number of minority/disadvantaged students. Preference is given to Wisconsin residents. The amount of the award varies but is generally the amount of resident tuition. Application is made by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA) are available to U.S. citizens who can establish need and proof of at least 1/4 Native American descent as certified by application to the appropriate tribal or BIA agency. This grant has no set limit amount and is renewable for up to five years total undergraduate and graduate study.
Wisconsin Native American Student Assistance Grant (Wig) awards up to $2200 for Wisconsin residents who are American Indians and demonstrate financial need. This grant is renewable for up to 10 semesters total undergraduate and graduate study. Contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.
Federal Stafford Loans are available through private lenders (banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions). The maximum amount a graduate student may borrow is $8,500 per academic year. The loan is interest free until six months after graduation, termination of university attendance or change in enrollment status to less than half-time. Interest is charged during the repayment period up to 10 years. Application is made by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available in the Financial Aid Office. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are also available and are non-need based.
Federal Perkins Loans are available to graduate students if their primary source of borrowing as an undergraduate has been this program. The maximum amount that can be borrowed including undergraduate work is $30,000, $5,000 annually. The loan is interest free until nine months after graduation, termination of attendance, or change in enrollment status to less than half-time. Interest of five percent is charged during the repayment period, normally up to 10 years. Application is made by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available in the Financial Aid Office.
International Student Tuition Waivers are available to international graduate students who demonstrate need, high academic achievement and university/community involvement. Eligible students may be awarded a partial or full waiver of the nonresident portion of tuition subject to availability of funds. Applications are available at the Office of International Students and the Financial Aid Office.
Non-Resident Tuition Waivers are available to a limited number of non-resident graduate students who demonstrate financial need. Application is made by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
UW-Stout Foundation Scholarships are available through the Foundation Office. The scholarships vary in amount and awarding criteria. Application.
The Federal Work-Study Program offers job opportunities to eligible graduate students. Under this program students earn an hourly wage up to a yearly earning limit determined by the Financial Aid Office.
State Payroll jobs are available on another university employment program. Students earn an hourly wage as determined by the employing department.
Residence Hall Positions
Opportunities are available to graduate students to serve as a resident advisor on a floor community or as an assistant hall director of a hall. Resident advisors receive remuneration in the form of room and board. The assistant hall director position is salaried. Application for both positions should be made to the Residence Life Office in the Price Commons.