Graduate school is an important investment. We want to connect you with resources to help you identify and understand expenses, find funding and employment, and get the support you need for everything from budgeting through taxes.

Funding Graduate School

Understanding the different types of funding available to graduate students can be tricky, but we have several resources to help you! Keep in mind that most graduate students fund their studies through multiple funding sources, so it’s a good idea to take a look at all of the options that may be available to you. Our web page Types of Funding and our blog “Funding Graduate School” have details on the different types of funding.

If you already have an assistantship or fellowship, make sure you know about the expectations and benefits available to you. If you have any questions, make sure to reach out to your department or the Graduate College for help.

Some students seek out external fellowships to help offset the costs of graduate school. Our Office of External Fellowships staff is here to help you! Check out our web pages to learn more about upcoming workshops, advising, proposal writing resources, and how to find the fellowships that are right for you. Take a look at our GradLIFE blog for more tips for finding fellowships and for interviews with some of our fellows!

Campus Money Management Resources

The Office of Student Financial Aid has information about applying for financial aid, types of aid, cost calculators, and additional resources.

The Student Money Management Center (SMMC) is a service through the University Bursar that provides financial education resources to students. The SMMC has guides for International Students and graduate students, as well as financial literacy badges that allow you to dig deeper into finances. You might also check out their podcast, Making Cents of Money, or their YouTube channel for additional content.

The Financial Wellness for College Students program through Illinois Extension helps students learn how to effectively manage their money and make good financial decisions. Check out their website for resources and fact sheets to help you navigate ways to borrow, spend, earn, protect, save, and invest your money.

If you would like one-on-one help understanding your personal finances, you can sign up to meet with a Money Mentor. You can learn more about this resource and submit a request on the Illinois Extension website.