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Home > Applying > Finances & Aid
Finances and Aid
Funding Resources: SI | Around U-M | Employment | Outside U-M
The School of Information offers substantial, yet highly selective funding
opportunities for students entering or enrolled in the Master of Science in
Information program. SI funding is in the form of merit-based tuition
scholarships. SI continues to seek and secure additional scholarship
funding through corporate and alumni endowments.
SI master's students (new and continuing) have also been successful when
applying for external funding. In recent years, awards received by SI
students have included Center for the Education of Women Scholarships, Rackham
Non-Traditional Fellowships, American Library Association Spectrum
Scholarships, Association for Women in Computing Scholarships, and more. All external tuition scholarship awards are eligible for matching funds from SI, up to a maximum of $10,000 and subject to availability of funds.
Advising on funding your degree is available to prospective students (contact Laura
Elgas at lauramb@umich.edu) and current students (contact Xiao-Wen Zou at zxwen@umich.edu or Judy Lawson at jmlawson@umich.edu). See our tips on securing funding, at the
end of this page. Announcements received regarding scholarships or
fellowships from any source are E-mailed to all SI students.
School of Information Funding Sources
School of Information Scholarships
Students who apply by the early deadline for the desired term of admission
(February 1 for Fall term, October 1 for Winter term) will receive first
consideration for SI's merit-based tuition scholarships. These deadlines
are for SI scholarships only. Students are encouraged to apply for need-based aid from the U-M Office of Financial Aid.
SI scholarship decisions are made by the faculty serving on the master's admissions committee and
are based on the full set of application materials; no additional forms are
needed. SI tuition scholarships are selective and all SI awards are offered
prior to the first term of admission. Most awards cover one-half of
SI tuition for four terms.
School of Information Opportunity Scholarships
The School of Information works to foster a supportive community for all
students and believes a broadly diverse student body enriches the
learning environment. As part of our commitment to diversity, SI makes
some tuition scholarship offers based on criteria that, in addition to
recognizing academic achievement and merit, promote diversity at the School.
SI Opportunity Awards are tuition scholarships granted on the basis of academic achievement and merit to students who also meet one or
more of the following criteria:
- come from a cultural, geographic, or socioeconomic background
that is underrepresented in graduate study at the School of Information;
- have demonstrated commitment to diversity in the academic,
professional, or civic realm through their research interests, work
experience, volunteer engagement, leadership of student or community
organizations, or other service to diverse and disadvantaged communities;
- have experienced financial hardship as a result of family
economic circumstances;
- are first-generation U.S. citizens or are the first generation in
their families to graduate from a four year college;
- have demonstrated the ability to overcome other significant
personal obstacles in order to further their education;
- have specialized skills and abilities that can help promote
diversity and enhance cross-cultural communication.
SI Matching Funds for External Tuition Awards
SI master's students who receive tuition scholarships from external
sources such as associations, foundations, and corporations are eligible
for matching funds from the School of Information. For example, tuition
scholarships such as the American Library Association's Spectrum Award
would be eligible for these matching funds.
MSI students who receive an external award prior to their first term of
enrollment or through their first year (12 months) of enrollment are
eligible for up to $10,000 in matching funds, depending on the award
amount, the level of funding already awarded by SI, and the availability
of funds remaining in the annual matching funds budget. Admitted students
who receive an external award should submit the original award statement
(keeping a copy for personal records) to SI Admissions, 304 West Hall,
1085 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107. Current students
who receive an external award within 12 months of initial enrollment
should submit the award statement to Xiao-Wen Zou, 402A West Hall. All SI
matching funds will be applied towards student tuition expenses within
the two-year (four-semester) MSI program.
Note that SI matching funds apply to tuition scholarship awards
only, not to tuition support provided via employee benefit programs or
government sponsored tuition payment programs.
The U-M Library System, in conjunction with the School of Information, appoints several individuals each year (fall admission only) for the University Library Associates (ULA) program. This highly selective program includes full tuition, a stipend for a two-year assistantship in one of the U-M libraries, health insurance, and additional staff benefits. To apply, submit the ULA application form (PDF) along with your other application materials.
Graduate Student Research Assistantships
Once enrolled at the School of Information, students may be hired as a Graduate Student Research Assistantship (GSRA). Positions are competitive and awarded by individual faculty who have funded research projects. Taking courses taught by faculty whose research interests you, discussing mutual interests during office hours, or offering to work as an hourly research assistant are strategies for increasing your competitiveness for GSRA positions, which cover tuition and offer a substantial stipend and health insurance. Learn more about SI's extensive research endeavors.
Sources of Funding Around U-M
The U-M Office of Financial Aid administers need-based aid and educational loans, whereas funding from SI is merit-based. The application process and decision process for these two types of funding are separate, and you can apply for both. If you receive a merit award from SI, it will impact your need-based financial aid package. You are strongly encouraged to apply for need-based aid and educational loans, since SI's merit funding and other merit-based funding is highly competitive, meaning even students with outstanding credentials may not receive SI merit-based funding. Apply for need-based aid close to the same time you apply for admission; if admitted, you will then receive notice of your need-based aid package. Based on your need analysis, you may be eligible for a Work-Study award, which offers the opportunity to earn funds from part-time work performed for employers who qualify for the Work-Study financial aid program → under federal or state guidelines. For information specific to international students, visit the Office's international resources page →.
The U-M Rackham Graduate Studies Fellowship Office administers a number of fellowships for U-M master's and doctoral students and provides information on external fellowship sources. Try the fellowship finder to search for fellowships you may be eligible for, as an entering or continuing student.
Some SI students with relevant backgrounds have obtained Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions teaching undergraduates in other departments (such as psychology, communications, English, chemistry, etc.). These positions can cover tuition and offer a stipend and benefits. Contact departments that you may be qualified for, and/or see posted positions →.
The Center for the Education of Women offers a scholarship program for women returning to school. Scholarships are available to part-time and full-time undergraduate or graduate students who are entering or continuing in any U-M program of study.
The International Institute and its constituent centers and programs offer or coordinate a range of funding opportunities that contribute to internationalizing undergraduate and graduate-level education at the University of Michigan. The International Institute Web site has a comprehensive overview of these opportunities, including Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships administered by area studies centers and funding opportunities for international students.
Residence Education in University Housing employs over 250 students in roles as diverse as resident advisor, academic peer advisor, and minority peer advisor. Residence Education will hire approximately 130 students who will begin their positions in August.
Employment Options and Resources
Part-Time Employment
Part-time jobs are plentiful on and around campus. Nearly 100 percent of SI
students seeking part-time positions secure them before or within the first
two weeks of the term they enroll. SI Career Services offers direct assistance
to incoming and current students with securing relevant part-time employment
within SI, on campus, and/or in the local community.
Part-time positions are posted on the iTrack job and internship finder. Students admitted for fall term are also invited to participate in the SI Employment Information Fair during Visiting Days@SI, held in March. Individual consultation is always available to help students find a position that meets their individual needs. Contact Joanna Kroll, assistant director, SI Career Services, at jckroll@umich.edu for assistance.
The U-M Library hires students to work in the Graduate, Undergraduate, and the divisional libraries (not including the Law and Business School libraries). Apply at the Library Human Resources Office, 404 Hatcher North (764-2546). If you are interested in working at either the Business or Law School Libraries, you need to apply to those libraries directly. Most students work in student assistant positions that pay hourly rates but do not provide tuition reimbursement.
Work-Study Jobs
Students who apply for need-based aid through the U-M Office of Financial Aid may be eligible for Work-Study funding as part of their need-based financial aid package. A Work-Study award gives eligible students the opportunity to earn funds from part-time work for employers who qualify for the Work-Study Program under federal or state guidelines. The Student Employment Office → in the Student Activities Building posts work-study positions and others for students.
U-M Job Postings
Some students work in full- or part-time clerical or professional-technical positions at the University while attending SI. U-M job postings → are available online. Submit applications to the Ann Arbor Campus Employment Services Office, Wolverine Tower, Room G250, 3003 South State Street (764-6580). Submit two copies of your resume for each position of interest; a cover letter is recommended.
Outside Sources of Financial Assistance
Professional Organizations
A number of professional organizations offer scholarships. Over the years, many SI students have received scholarships from such groups. Such external scholarship awards are eligible for matching funds from SI (for students who have not already received an SI tuition scholarship), up to a maximum of $10,000 and subject to availability.
For application information for external awards, you should contact the organizations directly; we suggest you consult the Encyclopedia of Associations. Also see:
-
American Library Association (ALA) Scholarships →
The American Library Association (ALA) and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA-accredited program. Among ALA's scholarships is the Spectrum Scholar program for minority students. Students apply for these competitive and prestigious awards directly to ALA. As with other external scholarships, these awards are eligible for up to $10,000 in matching funds from SI.
- Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Diversity Scholars →
The ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce offers a stipend of up to $10,000 to attract students from underrepresented groups to careers in academic and research libraries.
- Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) A.R. Zipf Fellowship →
This $10,000 annual CLIR fellowship is for a student early in his or her graduate career who shows exceptional promise for leadership and technical achievement in information management.
-
Library & Information Technology Association (LITA) Scholarships →
LITA offers a number of scholarships including minority scholarships.
- Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWT) →
The MCWT Foundation offers scholarships to women graduate students in information systems, MIS, computer science, or computer engineering. One $5,000 graduate school scholarship, annually renewable for up to three years, will be awarded.
- LIS Access Midwest Program (LAMP) →
LAMP is a regional network of academic libraries and ischools that promotes LIS careers by outreach to promising undergraduate students at its member institutions (including the School of Information at U-M). Efforts and resources include summer institutes and internships, peer and professional mentorship, and financial assistance. LAMP specifically seeks to encourage the participation of students from statistically and historically underrepresented populations.
-
Special Libraries Association (SLA) Scholarships →
SLA offers scholarships for master's students studying librarianship. As many as three $6,000 SLA scholarships are available each year.
Other Scholarships and Fellowships
- Roger K. Summit Scholarship →
Each year The Dialog Corporation honors its founder, Dr. Roger K. Summit, by sponsoring a $5,000 scholarship for graduate students in the field of library or information science.
Web Resources
These Web resources may assist you in searching for additional funding opportunities. Keep in mind that your local bookstore or library may have books which list a variety of other funding opportunities.
- Tuition
Pay → This commercial Web
site is devoted to an explanation
of its services, which includes
loans and monthly tuition payment
plans.
- College
Board Online → This site
includes a scholarship search
database, financial aid calculator,
and college search database.
- CollegeNet →
This site has information about
general college resources, including
scholarship search, financial
aid scholarships, academic resources,
and college searches.
- FastWEB!
-- Financial Aid Search Through
the Web → This site boasts
a searchable database of more
than 275,000 private sector scholarships,
fellowships, grants, and loans.
- FinAid:
The Financial Aid Information
Page → This page provides
a free, comprehensive guide to
student financial aid. It is maintained
by Mark Kantrowitz, author of
The Prentice Hall Guide to
Scholarships and Fellowships for
Math and Science Students,
and is sponsored by the National
Association of Student Financial
Aid Administrators. This
site has many resources.
- MOLIS
Scholarship Search (Minority On-Line
Information Scholarships/Fellowships) →
This search service provides information
about scholarship opportunities
for qualified minority applicants.
- National
Association of Graduate-Professional
Students → This is the
Web site for the NAGPS, but it
also has a section on financial
aid.
- Nellie
Mae → For student loans.
This site focuses on the Nellie
Mae loan program.
- SallieMae →
For student loans. A general guide
to financial aid. Includes several
financial aid calculation forms,
a glossary of financial aid terms,
and a lender search engine.
- U.S.
Department of Education →
This site has a section on student
financial assistance which provides
some useful information regarding
government support.
Last updated: Nov 16, 2007
Home > Applying > Finances & Aid
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Securing Funding:
Tips for Success
- Start early. As you prepare to apply, begin researching funding sources.
- Invest time to search for funding. Students who have looked for funding
more proactively have found new and unexpected sources from places such as
professional organizations, state agencies, and local or community
organizations. Explore funding search engines and additional links from above.
- Remember that securing funding for graduate education is a process that
begins when you are an applicant but that can continue as you complete your
degree.
- Stay in touch with SI admissions and once you are enrolled, with SI's
financial aid advisor. Tell us about your needs and we will work with you
to help you uncover new sources and leads for funding.
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