Numerous sources of financial assistance are available to graduate students entering the School of Planning and Public Affairs. A number of students receive departmental funding through graduate assistantships and fellowships, dependent on available funding, to help cover tuition and living expenses. Estimates for these expenses are available for both URP and MPA students. 

The Funding Application/Award Form must be submitted early in the year. The admissions committee will start reviewing applications on January 15th and continue until all funding has been awarded. Students receiving aid will be informed as early as possible of their award and will be advised of their assistantship duties at the beginning of classes.

 

Fellowships

Fellowships are offered primarily to new students and are a flat sum of money. There is no work requirement for a fellowship.

 

Graduate assistantships

Students must take at least 9 semester hours of planning (URP prefix) or public affairs (PBAF prefix) courses during the first two semesters in order to be eligible for a graduate assistantship.

  • The typical departmentally supported assistantships are 1/4 time with a 10 hour/week work requirement.
  • These are accompanied by a tuition scholarship.
  • Quarter-time assistantships qualify students to pay the in-state tuition and fee rate, with in-state tuition covered by the tuition scholarship.
  • Spouses of students with assistantships also qualify for the in-state tuition rate.
  • The stipend for 1/4 time assistantships in 2025-26 is $11,314 per year (payable through direct deposit in ten monthly payments of $1,131 per month), and will be accompanied by the 100% tuition scholarship for the each semester.
  • You will receive a scholarship for 50% of the mandatory student fees assessed to you per semester. You are responsible for the other half of the mandatory fees assessed and for 100% of all other non-mandated fees.
  • Graduate students with assistantships are awarded a health insurance allowance to be applied toward the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or the UIGRADCare plan.

 

Assistance for current students

The James B. Huling MPA Experiential Learning Fund was established by James “Jim” Huling (MPA ’80), an early graduate of the Master of Public Affairs program. The fund provides financial support to students pursuing unpaid internships, helping offset living expenses while they gain valuable, real-world experience in the field.

By reducing financial barriers, the fund enables students to pursue meaningful public service and mission-driven opportunities that strengthen their academic and professional preparation. In addition to supporting internships, the fund also provides resources for student travel to professional conferences and other professional development opportunities, expanding access to networking and career-building experiences.

The fund reflects Jim Huling’s belief in the power of hands-on learning to shape the next generation of public service leaders. Awards are available to current School of Planning and Public Affairs students who meet eligibility requirements and are selected through a competitive application process each summer. Applications are accepted by the SPPA director.

 

Other support

Other sources for funding your education are available.