Graduate Scholar Award at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2025

Graduate Scholar Award Overview:

The Graduate Scholar Award offers financial assistance through tuition waivers for academically qualified individuals underrepresented in master’s-level graduate programs and academic disciplines at SIUE. Up to 15 awards are available annually, providing a valuable opportunity to those seeking to pursue higher education.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for the Graduate Scholar Award, applicants must be members of historically underrepresented groups in their desired discipline or within the SIUE graduate program.
• This includes individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, gender, racial, sexual orientation, or disability groups.
• Applicants must meet additional criteria, such as being fully admitted to a master’s program, maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, and applying before the award period begins.
• Note that this award is available for new graduate students, current undergraduate students approved for a combined bachelor-master’s program, or returning graduate students after at least 4 semesters away.

Application Process

• The Graduate Scholar Award application process begins on January 15 and ends on March 1.
• Applicants must submit a statement detailing how they are underrepresented in their field, as well as a 350-word description of a challenge they've faced due to underrepresentation and how their perspective will contribute to breaking down barriers in their academic discipline.
• Selection is based on the quality of responses and the applicant’s potential to enhance diversity within their program.

Benefits and Value

• The Graduate Scholar Award offers a tuition waiver for up to 30 credit hours, covering up to two academic terms with a maximum of 15 credit hours per term.
• While this is a one-time award, it significantly reduces the financial burden of graduate education.
• Award recipients are also expected to contribute to fostering diversity within their academic field, promoting inclusion and different perspectives.
• However, recipients are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and enroll in at least 3 graduate hours each term, with the award forfeited if conditions are not met.