Master's funding & financial support

Each year, nearly two-thirds of our residential masters students receive some form of tuition-based fellowship support. The vast majority of this support comes in the form of partial tuition scholarships. Students must apply for admission by January 15th in order to be considered eligible for these awards.

• Merit Based Fellowships: All admitted residential masters students are automatically considered for merit-based fellowships. Awards are competitive and can range from $5,000 per year to full tuition. While not every student will receive merit based fellowships, roughly two-thirds of our class will.
• The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Fellowship: The selected student receives 100% tuition support, a generous stipend, healthcare, internship funding, and more. All admitted MPP students are automatically considered for this fellowship. Learn more here.
• Ford-Rackham Master's Awards (RMAs): One of the Ford School's and the University of Michigan's highest honors. RMAs are awarded to graduate students with outstanding qualifications and tremendous promise. Recipients receive two years of full tuition, a stipend, health and dental care. All admitted MPP students are automatically considered for this fellowship. There are typically 15-17 RMA awardees each entering class.
• The David Bohnett Foundation Leadership and Public Service Fellowships: Students receive two years of in-state tuition support (or the monetary equivalent for out-of-state students) plus a paid internship in the City of Detroit Mayor's Office, and an opportunity to attend the Conference of Mayors winter meeting. Each year, this fellowship is competitively awarded to three incoming MPP students. Learn more and find out how to apply.
• The Weiser Diplomacy Fellowship: Up to $30,000 per year to support up to two years of graduate study focused on diplomacy and related aspects of international affairs. There are typically 3-6 awardees each year. Learn more and find out how to apply.
• The Cyrus M. Quigley Fellowship: Awards of $40,000–$55,000 are available to admitted MPP students who demonstrate courage, integrity, intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Applicants may demonstrate this commitment in many ways, including but not limited to current or prior service through community, nonprofit, government, military, or other public service roles. Examples may include service with the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, any branch of the U.S. military, or similar organizations. Special consideration will be given to students with a demonstrated interest in African affairs.
• Public Service and Leadership Organization Partnerships: Teach for America, AmeriCorps, PPIA Junior Summer Institute, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Govern for America, and Lead for America alumni typically receive a minimum of one-quarter tuition. Applicants with experience from these organizations are also eligible for fee waivers. 

Opportunities exist for MPP students after enrolling at the Ford School. These fellowships are excellent opportunities to continue to fund your education.

• The Riecker Michigan Delegation Fellowship: Students spend time in Washington, DC on assignment with a senator or representative from Michigan. An application is required for consideration, and first year MPP students are eligible to apply. Fellows receive: a monthly stipend, leadership coaching, a relocation stipend, health care coverage, and in-state (or monetary equivalent) tuition for the next fall semester. This fellowship is named for Margaret (Ranny) Riecker, a longtime friend and generous benefactor of the Ford School. Learn more and find out how to apply.
• Rebecca A. Copeland Fund for Social Justice: This fellowship was created in honor of Rebecca, a 2021 graduate of the Ford School and the School of Public Health. Rebecca passed away tragically in July 2021, shortly after completing her Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Health Management and Policy (HMP) degrees. Two (2) $17,000 scholarships will be given to students committed to health equity in the United States through domestic public service. The scholarship also includes up to $2,000 in professional development funding to attend a health policy conference or other related activity, and the opportunity to be involved with the Omenn-Darling lecture. Learn more about Rebecca and the fellowship here.
• Graduate Student Assistantships: Opportunities exist for students to be involved in teaching, research, or employment on campus. These positions are competitive, but carry a strong funding package that may include tuition, stipend, and health benefits. At the Ford School, the most common types of assistantships are Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs). There are typically between 10-15 GSI positions available each semester. The number of available GSRA positions changes based on faculty funded projects.
• Continuing Student Awards: Continuing students may apply for tuition funding through three different awards. Awarded amounts vary, but are likely to be less than $10,000.
  • Hackett Family Award: Funded by James and Kathy Hackett of Grand Rapids, this award honors the friendship between the Hackett's and President Ford. This award is given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional academic performance in graduate studies.
  • Lee C. Bollinger Award: Also funded by James and Kathy Hackett, this award honors Dr. Bollinger's service to the University of Michigan as its 12th President and Dean of the Law School. It is given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional academic performance in graduate studies.
  • Ford School Award: The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy funds this award. The Ford School Award values merit, involvement in the community, and considers level of financial hardship.
• Ford School Emergency Fund: This fund is designed to provide financial assistance to Ford School students who face an emergency situation during their degree program. The typical per student cap is $1,500 per year.
• Hardship Funding: The Ford School has a limited number of financial hardship fellowships available each semester. These awards are used toward tuition expenses. The award amounts vary, but are typically less than $5,000.
• The Dow Sustainability Fellows: This program cultivates the next generation of sustainability leaders through hands-on, interdisciplinary, collaborative project experiences with external partners (non-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and communities). The program brings together masters and professional students from all U-M schools and colleges and fosters the development of collaboration, communication, and analytical skills. Fellows tackle today’s and tomorrow’s sustainability challenges, which are highly interconnected and in need of interdisciplinary, collaborative problem-solving. Selected fellows receive: $25,000 for tuition and other educational expenses, experience with an external partner and interdisciplinary students on a project, funding for project travel and other allowable expenses, monthly professional development seminars, and more. Applicants must be nominated by the Ford School. Learn more and find out how to apply here.
• CEW+: CEW+ scholarships are available to Ford School students. Eligible applicants include students with caregiving responsibilities, those returning to school after an interruption in their education, or students pursuing a STEM degree and actively involved in a Sponsored Student organization (SSO) that supports gender diversity in STEM. Over 70 scholarships are awarded annually, ranging from $2,000 to $12,000, with some larger scholarship awards given. The average award for the 2024-2025 academic year was $8,000. Learn more here.
• Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship: The purpose of the FLAS award is to provide support for extensive language study with language acquisition as the central goal. This award provides summer or academic year support (tuition, registration fees, and a stipend) for language study through the University of Michigan.

Other financial supports come from:

• The Office of Financial Aid are experts on federal funds that may be available.
• A wide variety of external fellowships that are available to domestic and international students.