Navigating Wayne State University Graduate Professional Scholarships

Wayne State University (WSU) provides a range of scholarship opportunities for graduate students, particularly within the School of Information Sciences (SIS). The annual scholarship application period runs from December 1 to March 1. Students must complete the university's general application and the school's supplemental application via wayne.scholarshipuniverse.com to qualify for the maximum number of scholarships. Scholarships are typically awarded for the fall and winter semesters of the subsequent academic year, with SIS award amounts ranging from $500 to $3000 per scholarship. University scholarship amounts vary.

Scholarship and Funding Opportunities

Beyond the general application, several specific scholarships and funding opportunities are available to Wayne State graduate students. These include:

SIS Writing Award: Application period is February 1 - May 1.
Graduate Professional Scholarship: A tuition award for fall and winter semesters.
Graduate School Funding Opportunities: Various funding options offered directly through the WSU Graduate School.

External Scholarship Resources

Students should also explore funding opportunities from professional organizations such as:

American Association of Law Libraries: Scholarships
American Library Association: Awards and Grants
Society of American Archivists: Fellows, Awards and Scholarships

Lists of LIS scholarships, fellowships, and grants can be found on SISINF/Jobs Listserv and Michigan State University's Grants for Individuals in Library and Information Science. Scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds are also available.

Internal Scholarship Programs

AGRADE Master's Scholarship

This scholarship recruits and rewards AGRADE students who have graduated with their bachelor's degree and are ready to enroll in their first master's-only semester at Wayne State. The AGRADE scholarship pays for up to 4 credit hours of tuition at the in-state Graduate School rate for two consecutive semesters, Fall and Winter OR Winter and Fall (no coverage is provided during the Spring/Summer term). Recipients must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours each term. AGRADE application deadlines come up in April and October of each year. Students who have been admitted to a master's program and who will start their first master's-only semester in either the Spring/Summer or Fall term should apply in April for funding in the Fall cycle. Students who have been admitted to a master's program and who will start their first master's-only semester in the Winter term should apply in October for funding in the Winter cycle.

Read also: Funding Your Graduate Education

AMP Master’s Scholarship

This scholarship aims to recruit and reward students who were admitted to an Accelerated Master's Program as undergraduates, who have graduated with their bachelor’s degree (or will graduate by August 2026 ) and are enrolling in their first master’s only semester at Wayne State in either Spring/Summer or Fall 2026. Please note that students who elect to start a master’s in Spring/Summer 2026 can only use the scholarship for Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 semesters, however they are still eligible to apply. Recipients must register for a minimum of 3 credit hours each term. The AMP scholarship will pay for up to 4 credit hours of tuition at the in-state Graduate School rate for two semesters: Fall 2026 and Winter 2027. If the awardee has also successfully completed one year of SURGE (Success for Undergraduates in Graduate Education) mentoring program, the scholarship will instead pay up to 8 credit hours of tuition at the in-state Graduate School rate for two semesters: Fall 2026 and Winter 2027.

Graduate Professional Scholarship (GPS)

The Graduate School sponsors an annual Graduate Professional Scholarship competition for tuition awards in the fall and winter semesters. The GPS scholarship provides tuition coverage at the in-state rate (differential tuition included, EXCEPT for the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and the Law School where coverage is only at the Graduate School in-state rate). A minimum of 6 graduate credits and maximum of 10 credits can be covered in each of the fall and winter semesters. The review process is conducted by a selection committee of university faculty, and award decisions are not subject to appeal. Applicants must reapply to be considered for subsequent years. Payments are scheduled at 10 credits and then adjusted per enrollment AFTER the census date. Covered courses must count towards degree requirements.

Eligibility: Students pursuing advanced professional degrees (Ed.D., M.S.W.) or graduate degrees (master's, Ph.D.) in all Wayne State University schools and colleges are eligible. Students pursuing the PharmD., J.D. or M.D. are ineligible. New students must be formally admitted to an advanced professional or graduate program by May 1 to be considered. Students admitted to post-bachelor, graduate non-degree and graduate certificate programs are not eligible. Recipients may not hold a graduate assistantship, tuition-paying internship or fellowship, a full-time WSU position with tuition benefits, or a tuition-paying scholarship. Recipients must make satisfactory progress in all courses and must register for a minimum of six graduate credit hours each semester to retain the scholarship award. The scholarship must be used during the period for which it is granted.

Thesis/Dissertation Research Support

Awards are limited to a maximum of $1,000 for dissertation research and $500 for thesis projects. Matching support from the student's department is required. Eligibility is restricted to one award per student per degree. Funds from the thesis/dissertation program must be expended within six months from receiving the funds. Applications must be submitted to and approved by the Graduate School prior to beginning the actual conduct of research activities for which support is requested. All applicants must be in good academic standing and registered for doctoral candidate or maintenance status dissertation research credits, or master's thesis research credits at WSU.

Graduate Student Professional Travel Awards

Students can submit an application for support of travel to present at an academic or professional event. Awards will be made up to a maximum of $1000.

Read also: Graduate Fees at CMU

Heberlein Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching for Graduate Students

These awards recognize Wayne State graduate students for demonstrating instructional excellence. The awards include an honorarium and a citation that will be presented at the Academic Recognition Ceremony. The Heberlein Teaching Award competition is open to all graduate students who are currently enrolled in a Wayne State graduate program and who are employed as graduate teaching assistants at the university. One award is made each year in each of three categories: Ph.D. students teaching lecture sections, Ph.D. students leading recitation/laboratory sections, and master's student instructors. Nominations should be made by the department chair.

Summer Dissertation Award

The Graduate School holds an annual competition for Summer Dissertation Award for advanced Ph.D. students. The award period covers the months of June, July and August, and provides summer support to recipients while they work full time on their dissertations. Consideration will be given to Ph.D. candidates who have an approved prospectus on file and anticipate defending their dissertations within the academic year following the award period. Consideration for awards will be given to Ph.D. students who have satisfied all the requirements for their degrees except the final dissertation defense, have not exceeded the seven-year limit for completion, have completed sufficient work on their dissertation projects, plus have resources and faculty support in place to devote full-time to completing and defending their dissertations by May 31, 2027, have not previously received a Summer Dissertation Award and have been continuously enrolled following a successful prospectus defense.

School of Information Sciences (SIS) Scholarships

The School of Information Sciences offers a variety of private scholarships with varying amounts and criteria. Some of the scholarships include:

Isabel James Bath Scholarship: For students in the School of Information Sciences. Preference is given to students who demonstrate plans to serve as a school librarian in Michigan or who wish to be a public or academic librarian within the state. GPA Requirement: 3.5
Rosemary Benedetti Scholarship: This scholarship fund was established to recognize scholastic achievement and assist students pursuing a career in school librarianship. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Genevieve M. Casey Scholarship: Recognizes scholastic achievement and provides assistance to students in the School of Information Sciences who demonstrate a commitment to serving disadvantaged and under-served communities. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need. GPA Requirement: 3.75
Judith J. Field Scholarship: Award of variable amount recognizing scholastic achievement (minimum 3.0 GPA) and innovation in approach to librarianship. Applicants must submit a statement explaining how they have demonstrated innovative thinking in their career or career preparations to solve problems in the workplace, and what he or she hopes to accomplish as a result of receiving the scholarship. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Gloria A. Francis Scholarship: For any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences. Recipients will be selected on the basis of scholastic achievement with a grade point average of at least 3.0 and qualities of character and leadership. Financial need may be considered. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Paulette E. Groen Scholarship: This scholarship fund was established to recognize scholastic achievement, to encourage continued progress, and to provide assistance to students in financing their SIS education. Recipients must demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate a career commitment to public, urban, children and youth and/or special librarianship. Applications will be accepted from students admitted into Wayne State University’s School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.2
Robert P. Holley Scholarship: Applications will be accepted from students admitted into Wayne State University’s School of Information Sciences. It is the donor's preference that recipients live in urban areas and demonstrate a desire to provide library service to underrepresented minorities. GPA Requirement: 3.5
Miriam T. Larson Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences who has declared a specialization in health sciences/medical libraries. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Margery A. Long Scholarship: This scholarship fund recognizes scholastic achievement and encourages continued academic progress. Applications will be accepted from students admitted into Wayne State University’s School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.5
Joseph J. Mika Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences (minimum 3.5 GPA). GPA Requirement: 3.5
Roger S. and Muriel A. Pepper Scholarship: Award of variable amount, which recognizes scholastic achievement (minimum 3.0 GPA) and provides financial assistance to full-time or part-time graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in or accepted for study in the School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Edith B. Phillips Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Diane M. Rockall Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.5
Robert L. Sherwood Scholarship: A graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences with a specialization in public librarianship. Preference will be given to students formerly employed by the Herrick District Library. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Beth Lynn Stanton Memorial Scholarship: This fund is available to graduate students pursing a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) or a Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) degree in the School of Information Sciences. Candidates who are in good academic standing and have a stated interest in an information career in business settings or in academic or public libraries with an emphasis in business information will be considered. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Cymbrie Pratt Trepczynski Scholarship: This scholarship was established in honor of Cymbrie Pratt Trepczynski who graduated with her MLIS and Archival Administration certificate from Wayne State in 1993 and pursued a career as an archivist working on projects for GM, Detroit Federation of Teachers and the Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs at WSU. GPA Requirement: 3.0
Carolyn R. Williams Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.0
H. W. Wilson Scholarship: Any graduate student enrolled in the School of Information Sciences. GPA Requirement: 3.0

Common Requirements

Several SIS scholarships share common requirements:

GPA: Many scholarships require a minimum GPA, often 3.0 or higher.
Standing: Most are open to graduate students enrolled in the School of Information Sciences.
Financial Need: Some scholarships require demonstrated financial need.
Leadership and Character: Many consider qualities of character and leadership in the selection process.

General Scholarship Application Information

All WSU students can use WSU ScholarshipUniverse to search and apply for internal and external scholarships. Log in with your WSU AccessID to get matched with scholarships tailored to your profile.

Tips for Applicants

Meet the Deadlines: The annual Wayne State University scholarship application period runs from December 1 to March 1 each year.
Complete All Required Materials: Students must complete the university's general application and the school's supplemental application to qualify for the maximum number of scholarships.
Highlight Achievements: Emphasize scholastic achievements, leadership qualities, and relevant experience in your application.
Address Requirements: Carefully review the specific requirements for each scholarship and address them directly in your application.
Seek External Funding: Ph.D. students who have achieved candidacy will not be considered for a GPS if they have not applied for external funding, unless their advisor makes a compelling case that the student could not feasibly do so.

Additional Scholarship Resources

WSU School of Medicine: Medical students can access scholarships through the WSU School of Medicine, including need-based and merit-based awards, and scholarships for underrepresented students in medicine.
WSU Law School: The WSU Law School provides a variety of scholarships for incoming and continuing law students, including merit-based awards, public interest fellowships, and named donor scholarships.

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