Fellowships
Fellowships are available through the university and other funding agencies. Contact your future major advisor for more information.
Assistantships
Most graduate students are funded through assistantships. Teaching Assistantships (TA) and Research Assistantships (RA) provide a monthly stipend for living expenses, health insurance, and a tuition scholarship. TA positions for students in PPEM are available for various undergraduate laboratory courses in biology and microbiology. Students on RA are expected to work for their advisors for a specified number of hours a week. Most students seeking a degree in Plant Pathology receive a 1/2-time appointment with an annual stipend of $27, 829 (FY 2025). Students in an interdepartmental degree program may be paid either the standard stipend of PPEM or the standard stipend of their major at the discretion of their major professor. Visit the Graduate College assistantships page to learn more.
Tuition and Fee Support
All qualifying Ph.D. students receive a scholarship that pays 100% of their tuition. All qualifying M.S. students are assessed at in-state resident tuition and receive a scholarship that pays, at a minimum, 75% of their tuition. At their discretion, faculty members may cover a greater portion (in part or in full) of their students' tuition.
Graduate students appointed to a graduate assistantship appointment of 1/4- time or more for at least 3 consecutive months in fall and spring terms and for 4 consecutive weeks in summer term receive a 50% award for the Technology Fee, Health Fee, and Health Facility Fee, and 25% coverage of Activity, Services, Building & Recreation Fee.
Travel Support
Attendance and presentation of research results at professional meetings are essential for graduate student training. Funds for travel (to the extent possible) are provided by the Graduate College and the Graduate Student Senate travel grants, as well as your major professor. Major conferences and professional meetings also offer numerous travel grants that supplement a large portion of travel expenses; PPEM students are highly encouraged to apply. The department offers travel awards to PPEM students through the PPEM Graduate Student Travel Awards.