The O’Neill School offers a variety of different types of fellowships to incoming students in all degree programs. Available funding options vary by program—explore the options we offer for the degree you are pursuing.
Be rewarded for your achievements
We offer incoming students a generous amount of funding through a competitive award process each semester—approximately 50 percent of incoming students receive fellowship awards from O’Neill.
The O'Neill School provides partial tuition remission awards starting at 25%, for those who qualify, and several competitive fellowships for higher amounts may be available. The O'Neill School does not provide full funding or full tuition.
Students must be in a full graduate degree program to be considered for fellowships. Unfortunately, certificate programs are not eligible for departmental funding.
To apply
Submit your complete application by the priority deadline for early admission and fellowship decisions. You will need to answer the Financial Aid questions found in the Program Materials section of the online application to be considered for all opportunities. We strongly recommend that you provide information in the Financial Aid section that accurately reflects your financial need. We encourage you to be as comprehensive as possible. Please note that answers to questions in this section of the application will not influence an admissions decision, but rather will be utilized in the fellowship decision process.
The decision process
Academic and professional achievements, extracurricular and volunteer activities, recommendation letters, and responses to application questions are among the factors considered when selecting fellowship recipients. Decisions are made based on how your overall credentials compare to those of other applicants in that current year.
Award notification
O'Neill School Fellowship offers are made on a rolling basis, approximately 2-3 weeks after admission.
*Priority deadlines for each program can be found on the How to apply page.
Your O’Neill School Fellowship may include a placement in our O'Neill Leadership Program, formerly known as Service Corps, to provide additional financial support while offering the opportunity to gain real-world experience.
The O'Neill Leadership Program is available to students pursuing their Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES), MPA-MSES, Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA), and MAAA-MPA.
Learn more about the O'Neill Leadership ProgramStudents selected for the Environmental Justice Fellows Program spend a year learning about environmental justice issues and developing their personal leadership skills.
We offer many graduate and teaching assistantship positions throughout the academic year right here at O’Neill. These positions support classroom instruction, faculty research, and administrative functions. These positions are typically 10-15 hours/week and pay approximately $16/hour.
Assistantships are not awarded with fellowship offers. Rather, our fellowships are solely funding offers while assistantships are solely part-time hourly work opportunities. Assistantships do not come with additional tuition assistance or funding, beyond the hourly pay.
Indiana University funding resources
In addition to these IU resources, you can find additional funding opportunities through the IU Foundation.
A clearinghouse of services, resources, and funding support.
More informationPrimarily for first-year graduate students, who are first-generation college attendees or whose economic backgrounds made educational pursuits difficult. Recipients are selected through O’Neill’s merit-based aid process.
If you intend to make your career in college or university teaching, government service, or other employment where knowledge of foreign cultures is a prerequisite for success. Generally five IU programs—African Studies, East Asian Studies, Russian and East European Institute, Central Eurasian Studies, and Western European Studies—apply for institutional FLAS funding. Contact the appropriate program for information.
More informationSearch scholarships and financial assistance specifically for international students.
More information
More information
Available only to IU Achievement Scholarship recipients who complete their undergraduate degree in three years—apply the remaining year of your Dean’s or Provost’s scholarship funds toward your first year of graduate coursework at O’Neill (Accelerated Master’s Program candidates are eligible for this award).
More informationGraduate assistantships that usually provide room, board, and either a fee scholarship, stipend, or both. Selection is based on undergraduate academics and qualifications for working with in a residence hall setting.
Locations and availability vary, but normally include a stipend and fee scholarship. Graduate assistantships include the Alcohol-Drug Information Center, Student Activities Office, Career Development Center, Student Academic Center, Health and Wellness Education and Office of Student Financial Assistance. Application deadlines range from February to April.
More informationFunding sources internal to IU and external, as well as advising on funding proposals.
External funding resources and partnerships
These are just a few external funding opportunities specific to the degree programs and interests offered through O’Neill. We encourage you to look for additional fellowships online, filtering based on your intended field of study and specific background. The IU Office of Scholarships is a great place to start.
Go to the IU Office of Scholarships
The O’Neill School provides Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leader program participants and alumni an application fee waiver and a 25% tuition reduction.
Join an intimate cohort of 12 participants for a nine-month program, with each cohort encompassing a wide range of communities, interests, ideologies and experiences.
The O’Neill School provides McNair Scholars and alumni an application fee waiver and a 25% tuition reduction.
The O’Neill School provides PPIA participants an application fee waiver and a 50% tuition reduction.
Individuals working in public service professions for 10 years may be eligible to have any remaining interest and principal forgiven on their Federal Direct Loans, including Ford Federal Direct, Federal Direct Grad PLUS and Federal Direct Consolidation Loans. You must have made 120 payments as part of the Direct Loan program for this benefit.
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs program provides Rangel Fellows with over $80,000 in financial benefits over two years toward a two-year master’s degree. The O’Neill School provides all Rangel nominees with an application fee waiver. In addition to the financial benefits offered by the Rangel Program, the O’Neill School provides Rangel Fellows with a financial aid award valued at a minimum of $10,000 per year.
More informationThe Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program provides Pickering Fellows with over $80,000 in financial benefits over two years toward a two-year master’s degree. The O’Neill School provides Pickering Fellows, or finalists for the Pickering Fellowship, with an application fee waiver. In addition to the financial benefits offered by the Pickering program, the O’Neill School provides Pickering Fellows with a competitive financial aid award valued at a minimum of $10,000 per year.
More informationIU is a partner school with the Pat Tillman Foundation. Applications for this benefit typically open in early February and are due in early March for the following academic year.
In addition to the financial benefits offered by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, O’Neill will provide Truman Scholars with a competitive merit-based financial award, valued at up to $30,000 over two years of graduate study ($15,000 each year). This award package is comprised of partial tuition remission, along with a paid assistantship position. O’Neill will also waive the application fee for these applicants.
The Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program provides Payne Fellows with over $70,000 in financial benefits over two years toward a two-year master’s degree. The O’Neill School provides Payne Fellows, or finalists for the Payne Fellowship, with an application fee waiver. In addition to the financial benefits offered by the Payne program, the O’Neill School provides Payne Fellows with a competitive financial aid award valued at a minimum of $10,000 per year.