Financial Aid

The Library and Information Science Program has financial aid available, on a competitive basis, for full-time students entering or continuing in the Program and who meet its academic requirements for admission.

Aid for new students is awarded on the basis of academic achievement and Program needs. Since the number of applicants usually exceeds the number for whom funds are available, the LIS Financial Aid Committee considers specific criteria in making these awards:

academic attainment;
experience and skills matched to Program and/or faculty needs;
experience and skills matched to stated career objectives;
volunteer and community services and activities; and
evidence of financial needs as shown on the Financial Aid application.

Financial aid is usually granted in one of the following categories and requires certain responsibilities on the part of individuals receiving it. Applications for financial aid will ONLY be considered by the Financial Aid Committee when the student has been accepted into the LIS program.

Categories of Funding for MLIS students

The Partners Program

The Partners Program is the primary source of financial aid for MLIS students. Through this unique Program, MLIS students are offered valuable experience at some of the Pittsburgh area's finest libraries, institutions, and businesses. These Partners provide employment opportunities in the field of library science as well as a stipend, while the School of Information Sciences awards partial tuition credit remission.

Categories of Funding for PhD students

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)/Graduate Student Assistant (GSA)

Financial aid is usually granted in one of the following categories:

Graduate Student Assistant (GSA)/ Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)
GSAs and GSRs receive remission of half or full tuition, health insurance benefits, plus a stipend for a 10 or 20 hour workweek assignment in the School. GSAs may be assigned to work with one or more faculty members. GSRs are usually assigned to work on research grants.
Teaching Fellow (TF) / Teaching Assistant (TA)
TFs receive full tuition remission plus a stipend for teaching one course under the direct supervision of a faculty member.
Commonwealth Funds
Each year, the School receives "Commonwealth Funds," which are earmarked to support diversity students in the graduate programs. This program offers both tuition and stipend support. The Commonwealth Funds are distributed through each degree program. If interested, please still apply to any of the other financial assistance opportunities relevant to you, but contact Wes Lipschultz at wpl4@pitt.edu to learn more about this recruitment assistantship possibility.
Diversity Librarian Fellowship and Residency Program 2009-2011 (MLIS)

In addition, the American Library Association provides grant opportunities for students.

Special Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships

Special scholarships are awarded, as available. The Financial Aid Committee makes recommendations for selection and/or selects recipients. Prospective students may apply by writing a letter indicating why they are worthy of a particular scholarship. More details are available here.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Students eligible for financial aid are those accepted for admission or currently enrolled in the degree program, and have not already received three terms of funding. It is University policy that only full‐time students are eligible for financial aid positions. Full‐time enrollment is registration for a minimum of nine credits but no more than 15 credits in the Fall and Spring Terms and a minimum of three credits in the Summer Term.

Priority is given to U.S. citizens in evaluating financial aid applications. All international students are expected to come fully funded for their entire degree program and any advanced study they may undertake in a certificate program or in a second degree program. International students may be granted financial aid in exceptional circumstances such as the awarding of a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) for a funded project.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to providing educational opportunities for qualified minority students through recruitment and financial assistance. In accordance with this policy, minority students are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid. In some cases, aid is specifically designated for the support of minority students.

Application Process for Financial Aid

To be considered for the Partners Program, you must follow the application process described here.

To be considered for other forms of financial aid, you must complete and submit the Application for Financial Aid form; in order to view or download the most recent version of this form, you must create an account in Apply Yourself, our online admissions application system.

The Financial Aid Committee will consider applications for financial aid when the student has been accepted/admitted into the LIS program.

All applications for financial aid are due as follows:

Financial Aid Beginning Term	Application Deadlines	Award Date
Fall (August)	January 15	March 15
Spring (January)	September 15	November 1
Summer (May)	January 15	March 1

Please note that the majority of financial aid becomes available and is awarded for the Fall Term. Financial aid for the Spring and Summer Terms is generally awarded to continuing students, who are given priority over new students.

All applicants are informed of the decision made on their application, by the Financial Aid Committee, by letter.

Continuing students who have not been awarded financial aid must submit a new application, by the deadline, for the term in which they wish to apply for funding.

Duration of Financial Aid Appointments

Other than those participating in the Partners Program, the Financial Aid Committee initially approves full or partial aid for one term with the possibility of renewal up to a maximum of three terms and which may vary according to the category of student and type of aid.

Renewal after the initial award is dependent upon re‐evaluation for:

satisfactory progress toward degree or certificate;
maintenance of a GPA of at least a 3.0 for MLIS and of at least a 3.5 for PhD; and
satisfactory performance of assigned duties for Graduate Student Assistants and Graduate Student Researchers (see the University's Policy Statement for Teaching Assistants, Teaching Fellows, and Graduate Student Assistants and the Policy Statement for Graduate Student Researchers).

Deferral or Reinstatement

Students re-entering the program after an absence of a term or more, or students who have been offered aid but who have deferred their entry to the program, must reapply for aid for that term and any other term if they do not receive aid. Financial aid is subject to availability and cannot be assured in these cases.