If you’re looking to pursue graduate studies in the United States without worrying about tuition and living costs, Pennsylvania is an excellent state to explore. Known for its strong academic institutions and rich cultural history, Pennsylvania houses several universities that offer fully funded Master’s and PhD programs across diverse disciplines—from the humanities to sciences and engineering.
Below is a detailed list of 20 fully funded programs in Pennsylvania, including key funding highlights and what each school offers.
1) University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
Most PhD programs at UPenn provide full funding for 4–5 years, covering tuition, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of about $39,000–$41,000.
Examples: Psychology, Education, Biomedical Studies, and History.
2) UPenn Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS)
All PhD students receive tuition remission, health insurance, and a stipend (around $41,500 per year). The funding is guaranteed throughout the duration of the program.
3) Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
CMU offers numerous fully funded doctoral programs. For instance, the English (Rhetoric) PhD provides full tuition, fees, and a $31,000 yearly stipend, with no teaching requirement in the first year. Other departments like Philosophy and Chemistry offer similar packages, with stipends reaching $36,000.
4) University of Pittsburgh
Most of Pitt’s PhD programs are fully funded for up to 5 years, covering tuition, stipends, and health insurance.
• The Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience PhD programs provide around $41,200 per year.
• Fields like Physics, Linguistics, and Education also offer strong assistantship packages.
5) Penn State University (University Park)
Penn State guarantees full funding for most doctoral students, including tuition remission, health insurance subsidies, and living stipends.
• The English MA/PhD program provides 6 years of support through teaching assistantships.
• Departments like Biobehavioral Health and Human Development offer assistantships and fellowships covering tuition and stipends.
6) Penn State Harrisburg
The Public Administration PhD and related programs offer merit-based assistantships, including tuition coverage and a 9-month stipend for teaching or research assistance.
7) Thomas Jefferson University
PhD students in Biomedical Sciences receive a living stipend of about $37,595, full tuition coverage, and health insurance. The funding is renewed annually based on academic progress.
8) Drexel University
Most doctoral programs at Drexel offer assistantships and fellowships that cover tuition and stipends. Students in engineering, computing, and health sciences often receive multi-year funding.
9) Lehigh University
Lehigh’s PhD programs, especially in Business and Economics, guarantee four years of full funding with tuition remission and a 9-month stipend, often extending into a fifth year.
10) Villanova University
Graduate assistantships at Villanova provide tuition remission and stipends for students pursuing Master’s or PhD programs in fields like Engineering, Education, and English. Assistantships are available through teaching or research work.
11) Temple University
Temple offers competitive assistantships and fellowships for doctoral students, covering full tuition, health insurance, and stipends for up to five years. Strongly funded areas include Education, Public Health, and Political Science.
12) West Chester University
Although smaller in scale, West Chester provides graduate assistantships for select Master’s students, offering tuition waivers and stipends for 10–20 hours of weekly service in academic departments.
13) Duquesne University
PhD students in Humanities and Sciences at Duquesne are supported with assistantships or fellowships that include tuition waivers, health insurance, and stipends for teaching or research duties.
14) Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
IUP’s PhD programs in English, Criminology, and Psychology offer teaching assistantships covering full tuition, health insurance, and stipends for up to four years.
15) Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr offers fully funded doctoral programs in fields such as Social Work, Classics, and Chemistry, including tuition remission, health insurance, and stipends for five years.
16) Swarthmore College (in collaboration with UPenn)
Graduate partnerships allow students to pursue joint PhD programs in Education, Public Policy, and Science through UPenn, with full funding packages available.
17) University of Scranton
Graduate students may access assistantships and fellowships that offer partial or full tuition waivers and stipends, especially in counseling, health administration, and education.
18) Bloomsburg University
Select Master’s programs offer Graduate Assistantships that include tuition remission and stipends, primarily in Education, Communication, and Psychology.
19) Widener University
Doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology and Engineering offer fully funded assistantships that cover tuition and provide stipends for teaching or clinical work.
20) Shippensburg University
Graduate assistantships here provide tuition remission and stipends, particularly in business, public administration, and environmental science.
Why Choose a Fully Funded Program in Pennsylvania?
1. Financial Freedom: Full tuition coverage and living stipends relieve you of financial stress.
2. Professional Experience: Many funding packages come with teaching or research opportunities, building your academic résumé.
3. Networking Opportunities: Pennsylvania’s academic hubs like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh connect students with global industries and scholars.
4. Cultural and Career Diversity: From Ivy League research to public university teaching, you can find a program that aligns with your academic goals.
Final Thoughts
Pennsylvania offers one of the widest varieties of fully funded graduate programs in the U.S. Whether your interests lie in humanities, sciences, or professional fields, you can find generous funding opportunities across both private and public universities. The key is to apply early, meet all assistantship requirements, and research department-specific funding policies before submission.
