Funding

Financial Aid

Prospective students should visit the University of Missouri Graduate School Financials page for financial support information.

The University's Office of Student Financial Aid provides information about other types of aid students can obtain, including federally financed student loans.

The MU handbook Funding Your Graduate Education can answer many common questions about the financial aspects of graduate study.

Truman School of Public Affairs Assistantship, Scholarship and Fellowship Information

TSPA offers a limited amount of competitive funding opportunities for first year students beginning in the fall semester. To be considered for the following awards submit your complete application by January 15. Funding opportunities for students wishing to begin in the spring semester are very rare, and students needing funding are encouraged to apply for a fall start date.

For these highly competitive awards, the breadth and depth of each applicant’s academic and professional achievements will be considered. For the Baker and Banning awards listed below, an additional statement must be submitted for consideration.

After January 15, the awards committee will review all applications received by the deadline. Funding decisions are made separately from admissions decisions. Award recipients will be notified by late March or early April.

For Current Students

Generally, funding opportunities are awarded to outstanding incoming prospective students. A limited number of competitive funding opportunities may be available for continuing TSPA students. Interested students can submit the Returning Student Scholarship application here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ReturningStudentApp

Applications received by January 15 for fall and November 15 for spring will be considered for available funding.

Graduate Research Assistantships

MPA students offered a graduate research assistantship (GRA) have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a TSPA faculty on a current research project. Typically a GRA will have a minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Students awarded GRA positions will receive a waiver of tuition fees, a .25 FTE employment appointment with a stipend of $5,100 (earned through the academic year) and a partial health insurance waiver. Students are expected to work an average of 10 hours per week and will be paid an hourly wage that shall not extend the stipend amount.

PhD students offered an assistantship will typically receive a waiver of tuition fees, a .50 FTE employment appointment with a stipend of no more than $17,500 (earned through the academic year) and a full health insurance waiver. Students are expected to work an average of 20 hours per week and will be paid an hourly wage that shall not extend the stipend amount.

Scholarships & Fellowships

Chester A. Baker Memorial Endowment Fund One or more annual awards made to female graduate students in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs. Selected recipients must exhibit financial need. To be considered for this award, please submit your personal statement here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BakerMemorial

Robert D. Banning Scholarship in Public Affairs Provides one or more awards to students enrolled in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs. Selected recipients must exhibit financial need. To be considered for this award, please submit your personal statement here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Banning

Dr. Stanley Botner Memorial Scholarship For the support of MPA student fellowships and assistantships in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs.

Capital City Alumni Scholarship For MPA students that are currently employed by Missouri State Government.

Capital Fellowship Program Provides opportunities for high potential mid-career state employees with at least 3-5 years of progressively responsible work experience to attend our premier In-Service MPA program. Covers in-state tuition for the 11 required MPA courses.

Mel Carnahan Graduate Fellowship for Public Service Provides a fellowship to a current MPA student with a demonstrated commitment and contribution to public service.

Martin L. Faust Graduate Fellowship in Public Administration Provides a tuition waiver to graduate students at the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs.

Henry Hatch Green Scholarship in Administration Provides funding to students in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs with the intent to study public administration. This award is based on academic excellence, citizenship and leadership. Financial need is not a criterion for this selection.

Dr. Charles E. Menifield Fellowship in Public Administration Provides one annual award to African-American graduate students in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs. Selected recipients must exhibit financial need. To be considered for this award, please submit your personal statement here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Menifield

Rich Noll Memorial Scholarship Provides a scholarship to a second year MPA student who has completed an internship in local government or has demonstrated a commitment to a career in local government.

Other Funding Opportunities outside of the Truman School

There are numerous opportunities for funding outside of the Truman School. Many TSPA students hold assistantships with other academic and student services offices around the MU campus. One central resource for locating assistantships is http://hiremizzoutigers.com/ (you must have a pawprint and password to access this site). Students are also encouraged to contact any departments or programs where they have a special interest or skill set to inquire about the availability of assistantships. Academic programs are likely to favor their own students for assistantships, so you may have more luck with student service offices such as the Career Center, the Student Success Center, etc., but you should explore all of your options. If offered an assistantship, it is a good idea to confirm that it includes a tuition waiver and partial insurance subsidy.