Financial Assistance and Funding
Graduate students fund their education in a variety of ways, including internal funding options housed within the Graduate School and external funding sources from outside the university. Below, you will find resources for both options.
Loyola offers its graduate assistants a competitive package of services and financial aid, as well as learning development resources. These offers reflect our commitment to live our social justice values and provide an exceptional student experience. For more information, please see Loyola For You.
GradSense is a website to help you plan financially for graduate school – whether you’re already enrolled or just considering your options. Learn what funding options are available for which degrees, plan your future with our debt to earnings calculator, and create a budget that will see you through your program. Then, go deeper with interactive quizzes, inspiring stories from recent graduates, and links to additional financial planning resources. GradSense is an initiative of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) generously supported by TIAA.
Graduate Assistantships
Loyola’s mission is to provide all of its students with a transformative education. Graduate Assistants, as full-time student trainees, are engaged in teaching and research that advance this mission as part of their education and through their academic relationship with Loyola. These competitive, merit-based assistantships are an important part of a graduate student’s professional development and source of support for the successful completion of their degree. Loyola’s Graduate Assistants have significant bearing on the University’s strong academic reputation by helping foster a campus culture rich in scholarship, research, teaching, and mentorship.
The Graduate Assistant Handbook provides information related to graduate assistantships that are administered by the Graduate School or another academic unit (including a school, college, institute, or center) at Loyola University Chicago.
Course Assistantships
Course Assistants (CAs) are undergraduate or master’s degree students employed by a department or school on an hourly basis to provide classroom and instructional support to faculty.
Fellowships & Scholarships
Fellowships are similar to assistantships in that they provide stipends, tuition scholarships, and health insurance; however, most fellowships do not require service on the part of the student. Recipients of fellowships administered through the university must adhere to the merit award policies in addition to the requirements of the fellowship.
Applying for Fellowships
Each fellowship has unique application requirements, so it is important to carefully read the guidelines and deadlines for each award.
Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Scholars Fellowship
Each year the Graduate School awards a limited number of Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Scholars Fellowships. The fellowships provide support to PhD students who have demonstrated excellence in all aspects of graduate study and are in the final stage of doctoral work, i.e. completing the dissertation. The fellowships include a stipend, a tuition scholarship, and health insurance.
Crown Fellowship
Each year The Graduate School awards four one-year Crown Fellowships to a graduate student in the departments of English, History, Philosophy, or Theology. The fellowship provides support to advanced Ph.D. students whose research shows how the humanities contribute to our knowledge of the world. The fellowship includes a stipend, a tuition scholarship, and health insurance.
Teaching Scholars Fellowship
The Teaching Scholars program is designed to encourage advanced graduate students in their preparation as scholar-teachers by providing a series of experiences, activities, and responsibilities appropriate to the scholar-teacher. These include mentoring new graduate student teachers as a part of the Graduate School’s Teaching Effectiveness Seminar.
Returning Rambler Scholarship
It’s never been a better time for recent Loyola graduates to return to campus. Check below to see if the Returning Rambler Scholarship can accelerate your career.
Samuel A. Attoh Graduate Fellowship
Created in honor of Samuel A. Attoh, former Dean of The Graduate School, these fellowships are awarded to incoming graduate students nominated by their department. The fellowship provides stipend and scholarship support over nine months and an annual professional development stipend. Awardees are expected to engage in the graduate community.
Contact your Graduate Program Director for more information on nominations for this award.
Summer Mission Fellowship
The Graduate School seeks advanced PhD candidate applicants for competitive summer fellowships. Funding of $6,000 stipend is available in recognition of research that supports or aligns with Loyola’s mission and enduring values.
In order to apply, students have completed all coursework, comprehensive examinations and research tool requirements, and be currently in the process of conducting dissertation research. Applicants should provide a completed application form (see below), an abstract of their dissertation research project, a summer research plan if awarded funds, and a short essay highlighting how this research aligns with Loyola’s mission and enduring values.
Students must be in good standing per Graduate School Academic Policy and not receiving funding from another institutional source during the summer to be eligible. Research must be in compliance with all Office of Research Services policy, including approval from the Institutional Review Board if applicable.
External Funding Sources
Students may obtain support from faculty members who receive funding from sources outside the university (e.g., research grants). The Graduate School normally matches funding from external sources with tuition awards.
The Graduate School also encourages students to apply for funding from sources outside the university. The Office of Research Services provides an extensive lists of searchable databases that contain funding opportunities.
Conference Travel Awards
The Graduate School encourages students to present their work at conferences throughout the United States and abroad. Students may apply for up to $750 (per fiscal year – July 1 through June 30) in travel costs associated with presenting at a conference. To be considered for funding, you must apply on GSPS BEFORE the conference takes place.
Travel awards are only available to students who meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate School
- Students whose programs are housed on the Lakeshore Campus or Water Tower Campus
- Students who have been accepted to present research at the conference
- Students whose conferences fall before their thesis/dissertation defense date (for programs with a thesis/dissertation requirement) or before their final course (for those programs without a thesis/dissertation)
See application and reimbursement instructions below.
Note: as of Fall 2025, travel awards are now allotted per fiscal year instead of per academic year.
Applying for Travel Awards
To be considered for funding, you must apply online BEFORE the conference takes place. To apply, log into GSPS, navigate to Award Forms > Internal Awards section, and click the "Add" button to begin.
You will be required to upload proof of acceptance to a conference (i.e. an email or letter of acceptance from the conference sponsor) and a preliminary budget in one single PDF. The Graduate School will reimburse conference registration fees and poster printing costs. For non-local conferences, the Graduate School will also reimburse transportation, lodging costs, and food (adhering to the university's current per diem rates for food, and excluding alcohol). The Graduate School will not reimburse travel, lodging or food costs for local conferences. Please refer to the Accounts Payable full Travel and Business Expense Policy for more details.
Only $750 in travel funding per student can be granted per fiscal year. The fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.
You will receive confirmation to your LUC.edu email account to let you know if your application has been approved or rejected.
Receiving Travel Award Reimbursement
In order to receive your reimbursement you must submit the following to The Graduate School at gradschool@luc.edu within three weeks of completing travel. Incomplete or incorrect claims will cause a delay in reimbursement, so please make sure that you have filled out the forms completely, and that all necessary materials are included.
Please compile a single PDF file which includes:
- A completed and signed Expense Reimbursement Form (instructions can be found here. Please refer to the Accounts Payable full Travel and Business Expense Policy for full details on allowable expenses).
- Your reimbursement form must include your name and contact information on both pages as well as a Who/What/Where/When/Why description of your reimbursement request under Business Reason for Expense/Comments on the second page.
- All receipts (in the order they appear on your reimbursement form)
- Conference program catalog or presentation confirmation
- If applicable, proof of mileage (maps)
- If applicable, missing receipt forms for any item over $25
- If applicable, currency conversions for any items listed in non-US dollar amounts (each foreign transaction receipt should be followed by a separate page showing the conversion)
- Please note that you may be required to fill out an Electronic W9/W8 Form if you haven’t filled one out in the past academic year.
According to Accounts Payable policy, expense reimbursements submitted more than 90 days following the date of the expense or the last date of travel will be considered taxable income.
Research Funding Requests
Graduate School students who are approved in advance for a Research Funding Request may receive reimbursement of up to $500 for expenses related to the research and preparation of a dissertation, thesis, or major research paper if applicable. The Graduate School will only grant one research funding award per student, and reimbursement for the funds must be claimed within the same academic year. To apply, please submit a Research Funding Request Form.
Once the approved activities are completed, fill out an Expense Reimbursement Form and submit it to the Graduate School along with your original receipts. If your award included gift cards or incentives of some kind, please be aware that IRS rules require that you complete a disbursement log tracking what was distributed. Do not forget that the Graduate School cannot reimburse gift cards purchased with personal or departmental funds. You MUST submit a request for the Graduate School to purchase the gift cards for you. If subjects must remain anonymous, please indicate that on your reimbursement request and list the subject’s study number on your disbursement log.
Note: Research Funding is only available to students in historically underfunded disciplines and whose programs are housed on the Lakeside Campuses. Students interested in submitting a request to purchase a laboratory supply and/or material relevant to the student’s research should reach out to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
Applying for Loans
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) is committed to helping students finance graduate education. Our financial assistance professionals will work with you to create a package that makes the most of the available financial resources. As partners, we’ll work together to reach toward a common goal: making your Loyola education achievable and affordable.
All students receiving any type of award (assistantship, fellowship, or tuition) are encouraged to also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Loyola’s federal school code is 001710. Students without funding, as well as students anticipating supplementing their assistantship or fellowship support with loans, must file a FAFSA. There are no priority filing deadlines for graduate students, but students should submit the FAFSA as early as possible.
Experiential Learning-Internships, Federal Work Study
The Center for Experiential Learning seeks to serve students, faculty, staff and community partners of Loyola University Chicago as a resource for experiential learning opportunities and partnerships. The Center can assist graduate students with finding internships and community based federal work study.
Internships
Internships offer students an opportunity to put their knowledge to work in an applied setting while learning the dynamics of particular workplace settings. Many programs require or encourage internships as part of the degree process. While many of these experiences offer course credit rather than more direct financial remuneration, others offer students stipends to cover their time in the field. Students interested in internships should work with their programs as well as utilize the resources available in the Center for Experiential Learning.
Community-Based Federal Work-Study
Graduate students eligible for work-study as part of their financial aid packaged can work on campus or at a community-based service organization. Per Federal regulations, FWS monies fund 75% of student workers' salaries at community-based service sites; the agency must fund the other 25% of student workers' salaries. For further information visit the Center for Experiential Learning's website.
Job and Assistantship Postings
Many departments in the University hire graduate students on a part-time basis. Listings for these opportunities can be found on Handshake and in our weekly Graduate School Announcements newsletter. Please visit the Career Development Center website for more information about Handshake and other job search services the Center offers.
The Graduate School has created a listserv which features job, fellowship, and internship offerings for Graduate School students and alumni across a wide range of industries. Current Students: subscribe here (note: you must be connected to Loyola's GlobalProtect network in order to access this link.)
Payment Plans - Office of the Bursar
The Installment Plan (iPlan) is an optional arrangement to make educational payments more affordable by spreading payments over a selected number of monthly installments instead of making one payment each semester. Loyola's in-house iPlan is available through LOCUS (Loyola's Online Connection to University Services), to help you and your family customize your budget for the upcoming academic year.
Loyola Installment Plan benefits include:
- Additional monthly installment options
- Clear, step-by-step budgeting process
- Streamlined account information
Loyola's iPlan is available in a variety of monthly options. Click here for more information on The Installment Plan (iPlan).
Rambler Bucks for Textbooks
Students can use the charge authorization form to add Rambler Bucks to your Campus Card for buying textbooks at the Follett Campus Bookstore. You may add funds to your card in increments of $100 to $800 without pre-paying. The charge will be added to your student account and must be paid in full along with all other tuition and fees.
Students can only submit one form per term, and must comply with the assigned deadline for each term. If a student is unsure of the total cost of books, supplies and other expected purchases, the Card Office suggests requesting a greater amount on the Charge Authorization Form. Any funds not used in the purchase of books, supplies, etc. at the bookstore are non-refundable, but can be used at any location Rambler Bucks are accepted, as listed. Graduate Students: If you are a quarter semester student, please contact the Card Office for more information.
If you have questions, please contact the Campus Card Office at campuscard@luc.edu.
Students should also familiarize themselves with the Financial Aid Office's statement on student rights and responsibilities.