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Graduate Financial Aid

A variety of financial aid opportunities are available to VPA students. In addition to those listed below, current graduate students in VPA may take advantage of various support and funding opportunities.

Merit-Based Awards

Merit-based financial awards are determined by department and include tuition scholarships, fellowships, and various forms of assistantships and employment opportunities. There is no separate application for merit-based awards; however, applicants are asked on the online application to briefly describe their qualifications for some of these awards. Interviews may be required for students under consideration for merit-based financial support. Your complete application package is carefully evaluated during the award process. International students are eligible for many of our merit-based awards.

If you are applying for a graduate award, we urge you to submit your complete admission application as early as possible.

Applicants to our graduate programs often receive substantial tuition scholarships. These awards support graduate education for students with superior qualifications. Tuition scholarships are awarded at varying levels.

Assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching assistants. Students holding a full assistantship render a service to the University for an average of 10 or 20 hours a week during the academic year. The assistant receives a stipend, which is determined by the college. Teaching assistants also receive tuition scholarships and a salary.

The number of assistantships available to the college’s graduate students is not determined by the number of graduate students who need support, but rather by the justifiable needs of the college and the resources available to meet those needs.

This award supports graduate education for those with truly outstanding qualifications and the potential to make significant contributions in their future professional or scholarly endeavors. The college nominates two students each year for the University fellowship, which consists of a stipend and full tuition scholarship.

There are a number of special scholarships and awards within the college that may be awarded to new and returning students with outstanding qualifications and the potential to make significant contributions in their future professional or scholarly endeavors.

Forever Orange Scholarship

The 2025 Forever Orange Scholarship provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2025 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.

Financial Aid

Federal Loans are available for domestic applicants. Federal Unsubsidized Loans are available annually for up to $20,500. Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans are also offered as a financing option. Students who require additional assistance may apply for education loans through private lenders.

After you’re admitted to Syracuse for graduate study, you’ll receive instructions for accessing MySlice, your secure virtual gateway to life at Syracuse. Your MySlice Financial Aid To-Do List will house your Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Application and requirements.

  1. Please file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by July 1 for fall/spring aid.
  2. Please complete the Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Application on your MySlice To Do List.
  3. When your completed FAFSA and Syracuse University Graduate Financial Aid Applications are received, your MySlice Financial Aid will be updated with the amount(s) of your federal loan eligibility:
    1. Students attending summer session will be updated beginning in April.
    2. Students admitted for the fall semester will be updated beginning mid-April.
    3. Currently enrolled students will be updated beginning mid-June.

Please note that federal financial aid will disburse to your Bursar account when all financial aid and admission requirements are met, including receipt of official degree-bearing transcripts.

External Funding

The funding sources below are not endorsed by the College of Visual and Performing Arts but are provided as examples of places our students have found success receiving funding. The Graduate School’s website also provides information on other funding opportunities.

Tuition Cost and Fees

Graduate programs at Syracuse University charge tuition by the credit hour. Please refer to the current Tuition and Fees Bulletin to learn the tuition cost and fees. The Cost of Attendance is an estimate of what it will cost for a graduate student to attend Syracuse University for an academic year. Further questions can be directed to admissg@syr.edu.