Endowed Student Financial Aid
"Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire."
- William Butler Yeats
These words of William Butler Yeats reflect a major goal of the Stanford University School of Education and a reason students seek an education here: to help all people to achieve maximum benefit from their educational experiences. Yet, with all their enthusiasm for lighting a fire, in today's economy there is little financial incentive for talented students to attend a graduate school of education like that at Stanford.
Stanford graduate tuition for the 2005-2006 academic year ranges from $27,590 to $33,273. Living expenses are estimated between $19,992 and $30,328. Since all students attend the school full time, the ability to offer fellowship support is critical in order to attract and retain top-caliber students. Endowed fellowships and expendable fellowships funds enable students who are preparing for a career in teaching or educational reform to do so without beginning their employment with the burden of a significant debt.
Fellowships may be provided in several ways:
Doctoral Student Support
$800,000 creates an endowed, named fellowship for doctoral student support in perpetuity.
While all first-year doctoral students are fully funded, a top priority is to increase support for second- and third-year doctoral students. The school is unable to fully fund advanced PhD candidates, who need full support as they embark on the critical phases of doctoral research. In the absence of financial support, many students stop out, take extended leaves of absence, and take longer to earn their degree. The unmet need for second- and third-year doctoral students remains high-typically $50,000 per year. Endowed fellowships ensure that students have financial support in each year until they earn their PhD.
$50,000 provides expendable support for two or more doctoral students within any one academic year by guaranteeing a substantial level of support.
Master's Student Support
$250,000 creates an endowed, named fellowship to support one master's student in perpetuity.
Nearly half of our master's students receive no financial assistance from the School of Education, and those who do, receive just small "inducement" awards of $500 - $3,000. An endowed fellowship earmarked for master's students will provide $6,000 each-a significant contribution toward their cost of attending the School of Education.
$12,000 provides expendable support for two master's student.
For more information about faculty support in the School of Education or to discuss gift opportunities please contact Rebecca Tseng Smith at Rebecca.t.smith@stanford.edu or (650)723-1383.
