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Funding Your Graduate Education

Funding your graduate education is just as important as selecting the right graduate program. As a prospective or current student, it is extremely important to research available funding options for graduate education.  All university funding opportunities are based on the availability of funds.

Graduate Education Assistantships

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) provides students the opportunity to earn while they learn. Graduate assistantships are awarded to qualified graduate students. Duties may include teaching, laboratory supervision, and research or service related to a student’s program of study. Assistantship appointments are at the discretion of the hiring department and subject to approval by the Graduate School. Students should contact their academic departments for assistantship availability and details on the positions.

  • You must have applied for and been admitted, without conditions, to a graduate degree program at NCCU (Executive Master of Public Administration, online and certificate programs, and non-degree seeking students do not qualify).
  • You must earn a 3.0 GPA and maintain at least a 3.0 (B) overall graduate grade point average. If it is your first semester as a graduate student, you will not have a graduate GPA at the beginning of that semester.
  • You must maintain full-time graduate enrollment while receiving a graduate assistantship (full-time enrollment is a minimum of nine semester hours of graduate credit in the fall and spring. Check with your department or the School of Graduate Studies’ Business Officer for summer enrollment requirements).

The stipend for each academic year is as follows: 

  • $4,000 per semester, if awarded a full assistantship
  • $2,000 per semester, if awarded a half assistantship

Assistantships are awarded through each respective department.

 

Graduate Tuition Award

Graduate Tuition Awards are for residents of North Carolina and pay for the cost of in-state graduate tuition. Non-residents may also receive a Graduate Tuition Award to pay the in-state component of tuition. Fees are not covered by these funds.

  • Have a full or half graduate assistantship or provide some proof of service such as Federal Work-Study or NCCU Work-Aid with a value of at least $1,000.00 per semester
  • For continued tuition award support, the graduate student must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 and meet enrollment requirements.

Graduate Tuition Remission is for students classified as non-residents and reduces the cost of out-of-state tuition to that of the in-state rate. Fees are not covered by these funds. To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a full or half graduate assistantship or provide proof of service such as Federal Work-Study or University Work-Aid with a value of at least $1,000.00 per semester;
  • For continued tuition remission support, the graduate student must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 and meet enrollment requirements.

Graduate Student Association

Through the Graduate Student Association (GSA), the School of Graduate Studies offers funding assistance for conference-related travel expenses. This funding is particularly for students who are registered to present their research at a conference.

Students seeking funding for international travel will not receive 100 percent of the travel funds needed to participate in a conference hosted outside of the United States.

For more details, please visit the GSA Office in Room 311 of the Taylor Education Building or call 919-530-6126.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund

NCCU is a Thurgood Marshall College Fund member school (TMCF). The TMCF offers a variety of scholarships to students seeking baccalaureate, graduate, and law degrees.

2025-2026 Tuition and Fees

Estimated costs are based on 9–12 credit hours per semester. Costs are determined by the total number of credit hours taken per semester.

 

Applying for Financial Aid

Eligibility for federal student aid is determined based on financial need in conjunction with several other factors. The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid determines what you are eligible to receive based on your expected family contribution (EFC). To receive financial aid, you must meet certain eligibility criteria.

 

Attendance Verification Required for Financial Aid

Starting Fall 2022, attendance verification will be required for financial aid disbursement. At the beginning of each semester, before financial aid is disbursed, the University must be able to document that you have begun attendance in all your courses. During the first two weeks of class, professors will be asked to electronically report if you attended all your courses. If you are not reported as attending your courses, your financial aid will not be released.