Graduate Student Funding

Students may apply for financial assistance to cover some costs of tuition and earn a stipend while enrolled in our graduate programs. The primary funding source is from the department; however, some awards are available from the Graduate School for those students who meet specific criteria.

Graduate assistantships from the department are competitively allocated among students accepted to the Ph.D. program. Returning students are eligible to apply for renewal, which is based on satisfactory progress in the program and assistantship duties. Eligible students should expect no more than five years of funding from the department. Applications for new graduate assistantships are due to the department no later than February 15.

Each assistantship award includes a waiver of instructional fees (but not personal fees) and a stipend. Most students are hired as teaching assistants for the department faculty and, per university guidelines, are expected to enroll in at least nine credit hours per semester and work no more than 20 hours per week.

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Contact Us

Department of Economics
Zulauf Hall 515
815-753-1031
815-752-1019 (fax)
Wei Zhang, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Studies
Zulauf Hall 505
815-753-1031
wzhang1@niu.edu
Debra Woolbright
Zulauf Hall 515
815-753-1032
woolbright@niu.edu

Office Hours

By appointment only