Illinois stands out as a state with many universities that support their scholars through robust funding packages. From elite private universities to regional public institutions, opportunities abound for those seeking tuition waivers, stipends, and health insurance coverage.
1. University of Chicago
Doctoral students are typically guaranteed multi-year support that covers tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend.
2. Northwestern University
PhD and MFA students receive full tuition remission and a stipend for a set number of years.
3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduate assistantships come with tuition waivers, while undergraduates may qualify for the Illinois Commitment program, which covers tuition and fees for in-state families who meet eligibility requirements.
4. University of Illinois Chicago
Assistantships of at least 25 percent often bring full tuition waivers for graduate students.
5. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Graduate assistantships combine stipends with tuition waivers, making advanced study accessible in a smaller college town.
6. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Graduate assistants typically receive tuition waivers along with stipends.
7. Illinois State University
Graduate assistants earn a stipend and full tuition remission, with many also receiving a “summer-after” waiver.
8. Northern Illinois University
Assistantships are structured around stipends and tuition waivers, ensuring affordable study.
9. DePaul University
Graduate assistants in certain colleges can receive stipends alongside tuition grants.
10. Loyola University Chicago
Doctoral students benefit from assistantships and fellowships that combine stipends with tuition remission.
11. Illinois Institute of Technology
Graduate students can compete for teaching and research assistantships that carry stipends and tuition scholarships.
12. Rush University
The biomedical sciences PhD program guarantees accepted students both a tuition scholarship and a stipend.
13. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
The psychology PhD program provides a four-year tuition waiver along with a stipend.
14. Western Illinois University
Graduate assistantships cover tuition and include stipends for living expenses.
15. Eastern Illinois University
Graduate assistants receive monthly stipends plus tuition waiver scholarships.
16. University of Illinois Springfield
Graduate assistants are awarded stipends along with tuition and service-fee waivers.
17. Governors State University
Assistantships include stipends and tuition waivers, helping students manage graduate costs.
18. Northeastern Illinois University
Graduate assistants earn stipends and course tuition waivers based on their appointment level.
19. Chicago State University
Graduate assistantships provide stipends and tuition waivers, varying by department.
20. Roosevelt University: Graduate assistantships may come with partial or full tuition grants plus stipends.
Across these schools, the definition of “fully funded” often includes full tuition remission, a stipend for living expenses, and sometimes health insurance. For PhD programs, this type of support is standard at research-intensive universities such as UChicago, Northwestern, UIUC, and UIC. At the master’s level, funding depends more on assistantships, which typically require part-time teaching or research work in exchange for tuition coverage.
