Graduate Scholarships

The College of Graduate Studies offers $1,000 academic competitive scholarships based on our criteria and recommendations from your department.

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Graduate Scholarship Criteria

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Graduate Studies Scholarship?
The Graduate Studies Scholarship is a competitive scholarship to help support students during their graduate studies. Pending funding availability and student eligibility, graduate students recommended by their department will be awarded a minimum of $1,000, not to exceed $3,000 for master students or not to exceed $5,000 for doctoral students for the entire duration of study.

The scholarship will be disbursed in increments of $500 in the Fall and Spring semesters, not to exceed $1,000 per 12-month period. Receiving the scholarship makes all out-of-state and international graduate studies eligible to receive a non-resident tuition waiver in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
What is a Non-Resident Tuition Waiver?
The Lamar University non-resident tuition waiver is a waiver of tuition and fee rates related to non-residency. Students receiving competitive academic scholarships of $1,000 or more may be exempt from the payment of nonresident tuition rates.

To be eligible for this waiver the scholarship must meet all institutional requirements of competitive awards and comply with all rules governing tuition rates and waivers as established by the State of Texas.
Who is eligible?
Students who are admitted to an LU graduate program, have good academic standing, and register for at least 9 semester hours in the long semesters (Fall and Spring) and at least 6 semester hours in Summer semester are eligible to receive the graduate scholarship on a competitive basis. Note regarding eligibility: Graduate students enrolled in fully online accelerated programs offered in conjunction with Academic Partnerships are not eligible to receive the Graduate Studies Scholarship.

Additional criteria for selection may exist at the department level. Students can speak to department administration to learn more about any additional requirements for eligibility.

NOTE: Students must complete the Student Selective Service form (PDF) form before the funding can be disbursed
Do I have to apply?
No, your admission into a graduate program at Lamar University automatically qualifies you for consideration by your department.

You will not need to select to accept the scholarship within the portal.
How are recipients selected?
The Department that houses your graduate program will review all incoming and continuing graduate students annually. Students meeting the minimum eligibility criteria above and any additional departmental criteria will be selected as recipients. The Department will enter your award into the myScholarships portal.
When is the scholarship awarded?
Scholarships are submitted by departments by the Scholarships deadline. All scholarships must be awarded by the first day of classes, or they will not be awarded that semester.
When is the non-resident waiver applied?
The non-resident waiver is applied (when applicable) within 48 hours of the awarding of the scholarship by the Department in the myScholarships portal.
What is the role of the College of Graduate Studies?
The College of Graduate Studies will conduct a compliance review of scholarship recipients each semester after the 12th class day and will send the results of the review to Departments. The results of the review should be considered for future cycle awarding.

This review will focus on base eligibility requirements (e.g., enrollment and GPA [Grade Point Average] requirements) only. Any higher-level requirements of the Department or College will need to be reviewed by the Department or College.  
Who do I contact if…
- I want to know if I was selected? Your home Department
- I want to know why I was not selected? Your home Department
- I have concerns about the scholarship or waiver not showing in my account? The Scholarship Office
- I have concerns about the scholarship or waiver being removed from my account after it was awarded? The Scholarship Office

Important Notes

Notes regarding eligibility:

Graduate students enrolled in fully online accelerated programs offered in conjunction with Academic Partnerships are not eligible to receive the Graduate Studies Scholarship.
While summer funding will not be provided, non-resident tuition waivers can still be applied in the Summer if you are an out-of-state or international graduate recipient of the Graduate Studies Scholarship in the long semesters (Fall and/or Spring). 
You must stay enrolled and complete the credit hours required of the Graduate Studies Scholarship to keep the scholarship and non-resident tuition waiver (where applicable).
Course enrollments must be part of the degree plan for the degree in which the graduate student is enrolled to meet the credit hour criteria. Courses outside the degree plan will not be included toward the credit hour count to be eligible for the scholarship or the non-resident tuition waivers.
You must maintain the required GPA or other eligibility criteria to keep the scholarship and non-resident tuition waiver (where applicable).
You will be able to view your scholarship in your banner account 24 hours after the scholarship is awarded in the myScholarships portal by your department. 
For out-of-state and international students, the non-resident tuition waiver should appear 24-hours after the scholarship is viewable in your student banner system.