Funding Your Education

Funding through the School of Sustainability

Typically, funding can be secured through a combination of 3 funding resources:

Employment: Teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA) positions, graduate student assistant (GSA), grading positions, student, and staff employment

Please note: TA/RA funding is decided along with admissions decisions for our doctoral programs. MSUS students are not awarded TA or RA funding with admission. There is no application for TA or RA for incoming students in the School of Sustainability. Students in search of TA or RA positions can find ASU job listings here.

Grants: Financial awards such as scholarships, fellowships, travel grants, and research grants.
Loans: Funds from government or private sources that students must pay back; usually associated with financial need demonstrated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA; this does not apply to international students).

The Graduate Support Staff send an email digest weekly that includes links to open TA or RA positions, other employment, and grant and scholarship opportunities. Once you confirm that you wish to enroll at ASU, we will be happy to add you to this mailing list!

Tuition and Fees

Students can estimate tuition charges and fees using this tool: https://students.asu.edu/tuition. Select College of Global Futures as your college. MSUS students will choose ‘Sustainability Solutions, MSUS admitted fall 2025 or later’ under Academic programs with undergraduate college fee, differential or program tuition. The following information was retrieved based on 9 credits of enrollment.

- 2025-26 AZ Resident tuition & fees: $15,805
- 2025-26 Domestic non-resident tuition & fees: $30,675
- 2025-26 International tuition & fees: $36,378

If you aren't one already, you may apply to become an Arizona resident (lower tuition) after your first full year living in AZ. This is a petition process, and there is no guarantee your petition will be approved.

ASU Employment

Students can search for staff positions on the ASU Career Portal by clicking on the link for 'Staff opportunities for Non-ASU job seekers'.

Staff who work at least 20-hours a week are eligible for the same benefits as full-time staff, including the tuition reduction program (read the details carefully). This waives tuition up to 9 credits, the fee is $25. However, student employees still pay all graduate student fees and program fees.

Many Sustainability students are successful in obtaining employment at ASU, including staff positions, GSA (grading positions without tuition remission or benefits), and student worker positions. In the past, MSUS students have found jobs that also provide valuable experience in sustainability. For example, we’ve had students work for ASU’s Walton Sustainability Solutions and ASU’s University Sustainability Practices (USP@asu.edu), Sustainable Cities Network and Greenlight Solutions Foundation. Positions are advertised as they become available on ASU's job boards, under staff opportunities.

Students can search for staff positions here by clicking on the link for 'Staff opportunities for Non-ASU job seekers'.

Tips:

- Change the filter to full-time or part-time, but leave the "job family" at the default setting. Staff who work at least 20 hrs/week are eligible for the same benefits as full-time staff, including the tuition reduction program (read the details carefully).
- Several MSUS students have found ‘management intern’ positions to be very beneficial. They are 20 hrs/week and benefits eligible, which waives resident tuition. Management Intern is a generic title for a wide variety of jobs designed for graduate students.
- Click on the job link in each posting to read about the specific job duties and qualifications.

Paid Internships

The Graduate Support Staff regularly send newsletters with updates about potential job opportunities that are specific to Sustainability students. Also, the Career Services Team updates our Careers Connect site with current internship postings as well as recurring

internship programs.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants

Incoming Graduate Student Scholarships are for incoming students that have already applied and if admitted, plan to start the upcoming semester. You have not started any classes yet – this will be your first semester in the program.

ASU uses a scholarship portal called Scholarship Universe, instead of applying for individual scholarships, you'll enter your information into the portal, and you'll be matched with scholarships. The CGF and School of Sustainability scholarships are listed on the CGF financial support page (Deadline: February 15, 2025 for CGF and SOS scholarships).
There is one scholarship designated for MSUS students, which is the Darnall Sustainability Scholarship (Deadline: March 1, 2025)

Funding will be available to you for conference travel, fieldwork and study abroad, project expenses, and completion of your research and culminating experiences through The School of Sustainability, Graduate Student Government (GSG), and The Graduate College, among other sources. There are also funds for everyday and unforeseen expenses.

Accelerated Student (4+1) Scholarships

New American University Scholarship

You can find more information on the New American University Merit Award Commitment here. In order for a student’s scholarship award to remain eligible, they must be admitted and enrolled full time in an ASU immersion graduate degree program (online degree programs not eligible) immediately following their undergraduate degree completion. There must be no gap in enrollment. New American University Scholarship awards may not exceed an eight semester total.

Accelerated Master’s Award

In fall 2024, the ASU Graduate College is launched Accelerated Master's Award to provide funding to Arizona residents in accelerated master's graduate programs. Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree will be eligible for up to two semesters of this award. More information can be found here.

At this time, ASU students are not required to apply for this award. Students who meet eligibility requirements will be contacted to accept the award terms by each semester’s deadline.

Scholarships for International Students

The university scholarship page has a search box and there’s a page for International students that has a number of websites listed at the bottom.

International students should never have to pay to search for or apply to scholarships and should avoid scholarship portals that charge fees. Below are a number of external scholarship search portals (not specific to Arizona State University or the School of Sustainability).

Loans

If grants, scholarships, savings, student jobs and family assistance do not cover the costs of attending college, you might consider loans. If so, don’t hesitate to seek counseling from the main ASU Student Financial Aid Office. This office contains valuable tools and advice, such as cost calculators, loan options, money management tips, and frequently asked questions.

Read how other ASU students have paid for their education.
Financial Aid for Graduate Students
More important financial aid resources
Tools and resources, including repayment plans and calculators, are available from the federal government at studentloans.gov.

Even if you don't think you need loans, complete the FAFSA if you are eligible! Some scholarships are need-based and require a FAFSA on file. It will also provide more options if your circumstances change in the future.

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