Financial Aid

Graduate Associateships

Each year, Ohio State employs several thousand graduate associates including graduate teaching associates (GTAs), graduate research associates (GRAs), and graduate administrative associates (GAAs). GTAs, GRAs and GAAs are the primary source of financial assistance provided to graduate students. GTAs may be asked to teach, assist with laboratory work, and/or perform other related activities. GRAs are assigned to research projects supervised by graduate professors. It is usually possible to carry out thesis and dissertation research on such projects. GAAs perform a variety of administrative and management duties.

Most graduate associates work 20 hours per week for 9 months, and receive a monthly stipend and a fee authorization for tuition. Ohio State offers stipends that are competitive with other universities of similar size and scope.

Associateship positions generally begin in the Autumn Quarter and are renewable, depending upon the student's job performance, grades, and availability of funds. The availability of graduate associateships varies from program to program. To be eligible for consideration, you must meet all of the admission requirements of the graduate program and apply by the appropriate program application deadline.

If you wish to be considered for a GTA and your native language is not English, you are required to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE).

Graduate Fellowships

Most graduate fellowship awards provide a monthly stipend and payment of resident and non-resident fees. Terms and renewability vary, however, with the type of fellowship awarded. Graduate fellowships are limited in number and are awarded on a competitive basis each year to applicants who show outstanding scholarly accomplishment and exceptional potential for graduate study. Fellowship appointments generally begin autumn quarter.

To be eligible for fellowship consideration, you must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.10 out of a possible 4.00 in both undergraduate and graduate work. Most of the fellowship programs require a higher GPA. The GRE General Test or the GMAT is required if you are applying for either the Ph.D., M.A., M.S., or D.M.A. degree programs. For more information about eligibility for Ohio State Graduate School Fellowships, go to the index of our website under "Financial Aid."

Each graduate program selects the most highly qualified applicants and places their names in nomination to the Graduate School in mid February. Fellowship awards are announced March 15. Recipients' acceptances of the awards are due April 15.

Federal Loans

US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for government-sponsored loans (which must be repaid). The maximum subsidized Stafford Loan available to graduate and professional student with financial need is $8500. An additional $12,000 in unsubsidized loans may be borrowed by students who qualify. Graduate and professional students may also apply for the credit-based Graduate Plus Loan. Applicants should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov to be considered for these loan programs. To learn more about these programs, please contact:

Office of Student Financial Aid
340 Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Tel: 614-292-0300 (outside 614 code area: 1-800-678-6440)
E-mail: sfa-finaid@esue.ohio-state.edu
Web site: http://sfa.osu.edu/