Funding and Support

Funding and Support

We know a big part of your graduate school decision hinges on funding, both for your education and for research in your chosen field. We are dedicated to fully covering our Graduate students' needs, with most of our PhD students receiving a stipend and full tuition coverage.

Washington University is committed to funding most PhD students for 4-6 years, depending on the time needed to complete their particular program. Funding typically consists of full tuition remission and a 9 to12 month stipend to defray living expenses. The amounts and vehicles of financial support for graduate students are usually decided by individual Schools. Monetary support may come from the University or from outside sources, and it may be administered by an individual faculty member or by the staff of the program or School. Very few aspects of graduate student financial aid are fully centralized.

The majority of full-time students receive financial support through financial assistance, grants, loans, or Federal Work Study Program opportunities. Financial assistance in the form of fellowships and mentorship are offered annually on a competitive basis through the Graduate School from government, private, unrestricted or endowed sources. Also available are scholarships, fellowships, and clinical internships in applied social sciences; grants and fellowships in national competition and loans.

Washington University encourages and gives full consideration to all applicants for admission, financial aid, and mentorship. The University does not discriminate in access to, or treatment of mentees in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability or genetic information.

Inquiries about compliance should be addressed to:
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
Washington University
Campus Box 1184
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130

Specific information may be obtained from the departmental or administrative unit to which the student intends to apply.

Financial Aid FAQs

Guidelines, best practices, and additional information can be found in our Financial Aid FAQs

Visit FAQs

External Funding

external fellowships are a prestigious and valuable acknowledgment of intellectual pursuit and promise.

explore external funding opportunities

Student Loans

Students are encouraged to explore external funding opportunities before applying for loans. Please visit the University Awards page, Research page and U.S. Department of Labor Scholarship page for funding opportunities.

FAFSA

Students who would like to apply for federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year. The FAFSA is available on October 1 of each year and should be completed with the student’s prior-year tax information, using the Washington University Federal School (OPEID) code of 002520

Loan Repayment

Before taking out a loan, students are encouraged to utilize the loan simulator to estimate monthly repayments, which will begin after the grace period has ended.

Federal Direct Loan, Unsubsidized (Stafford)

This loan is available to all graduate students. The maximum award for each academic year is $20,500, with an aggregate total not to exceed $138,500 (undergraduate and graduate combined). For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Stafford loan has an origination fee of 1.057% and an interest rate of 7.05% which begins accruing when the loan is disbursed to the school. Students are not required to begin paying on the principal or the interest until after they complete their program or drop below half-time status. This loan has a six-month grace period.

 

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

This loan is available to students needing financial assistance beyond the Unsubsidized (Stafford) loan. This loan is credit-based, has an origination fee of 4.228%, and an interest rate of 8.05% for the 2023-2024 academic year. The PLUS loan begins accruing interest when the loan is disbursed to the school. Like the unsubsidized loan, students are not required to begin repayment until after they complete their program or drop below half-time status. This loan also has a six-month grace period.

The Federal Direct unsubsidized loan and the federal direct graduate PLUS loan have a variable fixed interest rate. The interest rates for these loans may vary between academic years, however, once a loan has been processed, the interest rate for that loan is fixed for the life of the loan.

 

Federal Student Loan Application Documents (submitted for each academic year)

Please submit the following items to Janna Schmitt

 

 

Competitive Fellowships

Chancellor's Graduate Fellowship

All Chancellor's Graduate Fellows receive full tuition remission and a 12-month living stipend. Awards are contingent upon satisfactory progress towards their degree.

Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship

All Olin Fellows receive full tuition remission, a 12-month living stipend, and a $600 annual travel award for the duration of their program length. Awards are contingent upon satisfactory progress towards their degree.

Elite Honors Society

The application deadline for the Bouchet Honor Society is February 10; visit the Bouchet Honor Society page for more information, and to apply. 

Additional University Awards

A list of  more awards and fellowships available at WashU

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