Scholarships | Fellowships | Waivers
Graduate Scholarships
While less common than undergraduate scholarships, a variety of scholarships are also available to help graduate students afford their education.
Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Scholarship
The recipients shall be the applicant who, in the opinion of the judges, displays the greatest potential for academic and/or professional accomplishment.
Nominees must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.75 in the completed graduate coursework on the approved program of study at the time of application; and they cannot have been a previous recipient of a UNO Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Scholarship. Access the application form.
- Application deadline: 2nd Friday in November
- Award announced: Spring semester
- Amount awarded: TBD
- Number of annual awards: Dependent upon funding
Eligibility criteria for the thesis award include:
- Applicant must have completed 15 credit hours at the time of application and be enrolled during the semester of the award (spring); and
- Applicant must have their proposal approval form or approved proposal topic on file with the Office of Graduate Studies.
Eligibility criteria for the dissertation award include: 1) Applicant must be admitted to candidate status in a doctoral program at UNO and be an enrolled graduate student during the semester of the award (spring); and 2) Applicant must have their advisor’s approval of their dissertation topic.
Summer Graduate Scholarship
The Summer Graduate Scholarship may be offered to a degree-seeking graduate student who has already completed 12 graduate credit hours (with a 3.75 GPA) and is enrolled in at least three (3) graduate credit hours (or is a candidate for a doctoral degree) at the time of application. Letters of recommendation from the graduate program chair (GPC) and at least two other persons who are familiar with their academic or professional performance and potential. Access the application form.
- Nomination deadline: 1st Friday in March
- Award announced: Summer semester
- Amount awarded: TBD
- Number of annual awards: Dependent upon funding
Phi Delta Gamma Scholarship
The Phi Delta Gamma Scholarship is intended to encourage individuals of promising talent and ability to complete the requirements for a graduate degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Ability shall be evaluated in terms of excellence in academic scholarship, character, leadership, and personality.
Access the application form
- Nomination deadline: 1st Friday in March
- Award announced: Fall/spring semester
- Amount awarded: $700
- Number of annual awards: Three (3)
AmeriCorps Scholarship
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is nationally recognized for its commitment to community engagement and celebrates the dedication and spirit of service demonstrated by students who have participated in the AmeriCorps program. In recognition of the commitment shown by AmeriCorps volunteers, UNO is proud to offer students a scholarship opportunity that can be used in conjunction with the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Applicants must be admitted to a graduate degree or graduate certificate program at UNO for the semester of the award, self-identify in the application process as an AmeriCorps Alumni, upload evidence of AmeriCorps service, and be enrolled in a minimum of six graduate credit hours.
- Application deadline: NA
- Award announced: Fall & Spring semesters
- Amount awarded: $1500
- Number of annual awards: Dependent upon number of AmeriCorps applicants
Helen Hansen Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
The Helen Hansen Outstanding Graduate Student Awards are presented to individuals who have been selected as outstanding graduate students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Nominees may not have graduated prior to the immediate spring semester. Nominees must have completed 18 hours of graduate work with a GPA of at least 3.75 and no outstanding incompletes other than ("IP" grades on thesis/dissertation are allowed) at the time of nomination. Nominations are made by the department/school graduate program chair (GPC), faculty, students, or administrators.
- Nomination deadlines: 2nd Friday in November
- Award announced: At the annual UNO Student Honors Convocation (Spring semester)
- Amount awarded: TBA each year
- Number of annual awards: Two (2)
Elton S. Carter Award for Excellence in a Master’s Thesis
The Elton S. Carter Award for Excellence in a Master’s Thesis is presented to a selected individual each spring. Nominations are made by the department/school graduate program chair (GPC), faculty, students, or administrators.
- Nomination deadlines: 3rd Friday in November
- Award announced: At the annual UNO Student Honors Convocation (Spring semester)
- Amount awarded: TBA each year
- Number of annual awards: One (1)
International Graduate Scholarship
The UNO International Graduate Scholarship automatically funds tuition costs for international graduate students after admission. Learn more.
- Application deadlines: Dependent upon graduate program admission deadlines
- Awards announced: NA
- Amount awarded: Starting at approximately $2000/year
- Number of annual awards: Unlimited
Fellowships
The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers graduate fellowships to recruit outstanding prospective graduate students to stay competitive in the national market. The fellowships are awarded competitively and offers may be made at any time but the earliest that students are officially bound by their commitment is April 15.
It is anticipated that most of these fellowships will be offered to supplement the offer of a graduate assistantship, but not in all cases. The students selected for these prestigious fellowships are expected to devote all their time to their graduate studies during the tenure of the award. They will not be allowed to have other employment. Students who accept these fellowships also should be aware they may not be eligible for loan monies.
Competitive Graduate Fellowship
The Competitive Graduate Fellowship award is based, in part, on the likelihood they will contribute to highly qualified students choosing UNO for graduate study. Nominations are made by the department/school graduate program chair (GPC).
- Nomination deadlines: 1st Friday in March
- Award announced: Fall semester
- Amount awarded: $1,000
- Number of annual awards: Four (4) new and Four (4) renewal (must maintain good academic standing)
Master’s Presidential Graduate Fellowship
The Master’s Presidential Graduate Fellowship may be offered to a degree-seeking graduate student who has already completed nine (9) graduate credit hours (with a 3.75 GPA) at the time of application. Nominations are made by the department/school graduate program chair (GPC).
- Nomination deadlines: 1st Friday in March
- Award announced: Fall semester
- Amount awarded: Dependent upon available funding
- Number of annual awards: One (1)
Doctoral Presidential Graduate Fellowship
The Doctoral Presidential Graduate Fellowship may be offered to a degree-seeking doctoral student who has already completed 18 graduate credit hours (with a 3.75 GPA) at the time of application. Nominations are made by the department/school graduate program chair (GPC).
- Nomination deadlines: 1st Friday in March
- Award announced: Fall semester
- Amount awarded: Dependent upon available funding
- Number of annual awards: One (1)
Rhoden Biological Fellowship
The Rhoden Biological Fellowship is intended to support either new or continuing master’s degree students in the areas of biology or psychology.
- Nomination deadlines: TBA
- Award announced: TBA
- Amount awarded: $12,000 annually, $4,000/summer (Subject to change)
- Number of annual awards: One (1) per year, alternating between Biology & Psychology Departments each year.
Waivers
Regents Tuition Waiver
Each year, the Regents of the University of Nebraska make funds available in the form of the Regents Tuition Waiver (RTW) to recruit highly qualified graduate students who are Nebraska residents. RTW’s cover the cost of resident tuition. Students subject to nonresident rates must pay the difference between resident and non-resident tuition rates. Students applying for admission to a graduate certificate or degree program at UNO are eligible for one academic year with an additional year available to students who maintain a 3.0 GPA. Nominations should be submitted on behalf of eligible students by the graduate program chair (GPC). The value of a diverse student body also will be taken into consideration in these evaluations.
- Nomination deadlines: 1st Friday in November (for Spring award); 1st Friday in March/June (for academic year)
- Award announced: Fall/spring semester
- Amount awarded: Dependent upon funding
- Number of annual awards: TBA; 2-year award if student maintains good academic standing