If you’re searching for fully funded master’s and PhD programs in Wisconsin, you’re in luck. While most of the state’s fully funded opportunities are concentrated in major research universities, several smaller institutions offer graduate or departmental assistantships that partially or fully offset tuition costs.

This post highlights the three Wisconsin universities with fully funded graduate programs and introduces other campuses where assistantships help students cover tuition and living expenses.

1) University of Wisconsin–Madison
As Wisconsin’s flagship university and one of America’s top research institutions, UW–Madison offers an extensive range of fully funded graduate programs across disciplines. Most doctoral students receive tuition remission, a living stipend, and health insurance through teaching or research assistantships.

Fully Funded Programs
1. Information School (PhD) – Guaranteed five years of full funding, covering tuition, stipend, and benefits.
2. English Department (PhD) – Five to six years of guaranteed support through fellowships and teaching assistantships.
3. Human Ecology (PhD and MFA) – Four to five years of guaranteed funding for PhD students; three years for MFA students.
4. School of Education (PhD/MFA) – Full-time students typically receive full funding through assistantships or fellowships.
5. Wisconsin School of Business (PhD) – All admitted students are fully funded, including stipends and tuition remission.
6. Computer Sciences (MS/PhD) – Most graduate students receive assistantships with full tuition coverage.
7. College of Engineering (PhD) – All doctoral students are paid stipends with tuition and insurance benefits.
8. Department of Economics (PhD) – Multi-year packages of tuition remission and research or teaching stipends.
9. Department of History (PhD) – All admitted students receive five years of guaranteed support.
10. Department of Sociology (PhD) – Fully funded for five years through assistantships or fellowships.

Why It Stands Out:
UW–Madison integrates research, environmental sustainability, and global engagement, making it ideal for students pursuing interdisciplinary studies such as ecofeminism, digital humanities, engineering innovation, or biomedical sciences.

2) University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Located in the state’s largest city, UW–Milwaukee (UWM) is a research-intensive public university that supports graduate education through assistantships and fellowships. While not all master’s programs are fully funded, many PhD programs guarantee multi-year support.

Funded Programs
11. PhD in Management Science – Offers teaching and research assistantships with stipends and tuition remission.
12. Doctoral Programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences – Provide full funding for PhD students through research assistantships.
13. Master’s in Public Health and Education – Partial to full assistantships available depending on departmental needs.
14. Graduate School Fellowships – Competitive fellowships that cover tuition and living expenses for both MA and PhD students.

Why It Stands Out:
UWM’s funding model prioritizes urban research and applied learning, giving students practical experience in their fields while completing their studies.

3) Marquette University
Marquette University, a private Jesuit institution in Milwaukee, provides fully funded PhD programs and competitive assistantships for master’s students in select fields.

Funded Programs
15. Philosophy (PhD) – All admitted students receive tuition scholarships and stipends for five years.
16. Biological Sciences (PhD) – Doctoral candidates receive full funding via teaching or research assistantships.
17. History and Theology (PhD) – Offers multi-year fellowships and tuition remission.
18. English and Communication (MA/PhD) – Funded teaching assistantships available to highly qualified applicants.

Why It Stands Out:
Marquette combines academic rigor with a commitment to social justice and ethics, offering robust intellectual support for scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and health sciences.

4) Other Wisconsin Universities with Departmental Assistantships

Beyond these three research powerhouses, several University of Wisconsin system campuses offer graduate or departmental assistantships. While they may not provide full funding for all students, these roles include stipends, partial tuition remission, or tuition discounts and valuable academic experience.

Campuses Offering Assistantships
19. UW–Eau Claire – Offers graduate assistantships across disciplines. Students can apply for research or program-based positions that include stipends and tuition reductions.
20. UW–La Crosse – Provides teaching, research, and program assistantships. Positions are awarded within departments, often including tuition remission and stipends.
21. UW–Oshkosh – Departments offer graduate assistant roles that provide paid positions and partial tuition waivers.
22. UW–Stevens Point – Offers graduate assistantships in fields such as natural resources, education, and business.
23. UW–Whitewater – Provides graduate assistantships and tuition remission through university or departmental placements.
24. UW–Green Bay – Competitive graduate assistantships are available for on-campus master’s programs.
25. UW–Platteville – Offers assistantships for on-campus graduate students, often tied to research projects.
26. UW–Stout – Known for applied learning; provides graduate assistant roles through academic departments and career development offices.
27. UW–River Falls – Select programs, such as counseling, offer assistantships that cover partial tuition.
28. UW–Parkside – Departments such as sport management and business provide graduate assistant positions for qualified students.
29. UW–Superior – Offers program-based assistantships and on-campus employment to support graduate students.

Why They Stand Out:
These regional universities emphasize hands-on learning and professional training, making them ideal for students seeking smaller classes, personalized mentorship, and work experience alongside their studies.

5) Medical College of Wisconsin
Finally, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)—a private medical research institution—provides fully funded PhD programs in biomedical and health sciences.
• All full-time doctoral students receive stipends, tuition coverage, and research funding.
• Master’s-level funding varies by department, but scholarships and assistantships are available for qualified students.

Why It Stands Out:
MCW is Wisconsin’s premier hub for biomedical innovation, offering robust research opportunities in medicine, neuroscience, and public health.