MFA Financing: Anyone have leads on what each school offers?

[Lucky Director]

Tuition waivers, stipends . . . .

 

[Chris W]

Not sure.... Reach out to @TheArsenal1886 as he's the master of MFA knowledge. @Layne Inselman has also compiled some pretty impressive research as well.

 

[Layne Inselman]

I haven't put quite as much effort into this as I did into my research on the schools themselves, but this is what I have for the schools I applied to.
Remember that FAFSA applies to all of these schools.

1. USC - School of Cinematic Arts Scholarships (requires that you fill out an application)

2. Chapman - Fellowships to select students based on their graduate applications, $10,000 a year.

3. FSU - Office of Financial Aid Foundation Scholarships, and Graduate students may receive Fellowships or Assistantships, awarded by a department or an outside agency.

4. LMU - Possible School of Film & TV Scholarship but their link is dead so I will email them if I get accepted.

5. DePaul - Once you’ve been admitted or have enrolled in your graduate program, you will be considered for internal scholarships from DePaul.

6. UWM - Offer Teaching Assistantships to those whom have been accepted into the graduate program (requires materials for that along with application). The Assistantship covers tuition ($23,000) and offers an approximate $7,650 stipend. In addition they apply for UWM Chancellor Awards to offer additional financial support. The Teaching Assistantships are guaranteed for only one year, but we have never not awarded one a second year.

7. Columbia College Chicago - Incoming students are automatically considered for the Graduate Merit Award if they submit a complete admissions application by the application deadline in their graduate program. Award amounts are up to full tuition based on the duration of the program and the strength of the admissions application. International students are considered for this award. The College also offers scholarships to support the work being done by our continuing graduate students. The majority of these awards are merit- and need-based and available both college-wide and within individual departments.

 

[wesross]

Ohio University - The vast majority of graduate students in the Film Division receive some level of funding. Funding comes in two forms - tuition waivers and graduate stipends. Students in their first year generally receive some level of tuition waiver. Many first year students receive a full tuition waiver. By the second year, with a few exceptions, students receive a full tuition waiver and some amount of graduate stipend monies. Compared with the cost of graduate schools elsewhere, we most definitely are a very good financial value. In return for funding, students are asked to complete a service assignment in the school. See: http://ousof.com/application-and-funding-1/#funding-in-the-film-division

 

[DJ]

Chapman offers up to $5k per semester as a "fellowship." You don't have to do anything extra to earn the money. (I know some schools require you to TA or something to earn the money. Chapman doesn't.) I was told they select about 30% of the incoming MFA candidates for these fellowships. I received $4k per semester and I know a few other people who received $3k and $4k per semester, but I never heard about anyone receiving the full $5k or less than $3k. I never really went out of my way to research who received how much though.

 

[IndecisiveElle]

Northwestern has a some solid financial benefits for everyone admitted to their grad program.

Scholarships + Grants | School of Communication

Scholarships
First Year Scholarship:
You will receive a scholarship of $1800 each quarter of your first year for a total of $5400.

Teaching Assistantships (TA-SHIPS):
You will receive a TA-ship for one quarter of your second year. This will cover your entire tuition for that quarter and provide an additional stipend.