Funding and assistantships
Travel and research grants, scholarships and graduate assistantships.
Loan forgiveness for special education teachers
- Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education
The department points special education students to federal loan forgiveness of up to $17,500 for teachers who serve five years in a low-income school. Eligibility depends on your loan type and when you borrowed. Check the federal rules before you count on it.
Special education scholarships in the COE
- Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education
Several College of Education scholarships favor special education students, including one only for special education graduate students. Amounts typically run from about $1,000 to $5,000. Apply through the college scholarship form when the cycle opens.
COE Graduate Student Professional Development Scholarship
- COE
- Deadline: Dec. 1 (for January to June activities) and May 1 (for July to December activities)
COE graduate students can get up to $500 a year for conference travel, registration, workshops and similar costs. There are two application cycles a year, plus emergency requests for late conference acceptances. Priority goes to students without other funding.
College of Education graduate assistantships
- COE
The college offers state-funded teaching and research assistantships, externally funded research assistantships and community internship assistantships. State-funded GAs get a stipend and reduced registration fees for up to nine credits a semester. Master's and Ed.S. students can hold a state-funded GA for up to two years, and doctoral students for up to four.
College of Education scholarships
- COE
The college awards donor-funded scholarships each year, many open to graduate students. Applicants must show financial need through the FAFSA or the Institutional Aid Application. The 2026-27 cycle has closed. Sign up for the Ed Exchange newsletter to hear when the next one opens.
Emergency Retention Grants
- UNLV-wide
Graduate students facing a sudden financial emergency, such as car repairs, medical bills or a forced move, can apply for emergency funding from the Graduate College. You apply in the Grad Rebel Gateway and must document the hardship. Regular costs like rent are not covered.
GPSA Annual Awards
- UNLV-wide
The Graduate and Professional Student Association gives yearly awards for community impact and for outstanding scholarship. Student awards carry a $300 scholarship. Self-nominations are welcome.
GPSA Sponsorship Program (travel, research and professional development)
- UNLV-wide
The Graduate and Professional Student Association funds conference travel, research materials and professional development for enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students. Students can request up to $2,500 a year, with a $1,250 limit per application. Lifetime caps are $2,500 for master's students and $5,000 for doctoral students.
Graduate assistantship benefits and policies
- UNLV-wide
Graduate assistants get a stipend, and state-funded GAs get registration fees covered for up to nine credits a semester. Out-of-state GAs do not pay out-of-state tuition while under contract. GAs must carry health insurance and can apply for a short-term GA loan of up to $500 a semester.
Graduate College fellowships and scholarships
- UNLV-wide
- Deadline: Dec. 1 for most 2027-2028 awards
The Graduate College awards merit-based fellowships and scholarships through the Grad Rebel Gateway. Awards range from scholarships of a few hundred dollars to doctoral fellowships worth over $20,000. Most awards for 2027-2028 list a Dec. 1 application deadline. You need a CV, a statement of purpose and at least one recommender.
Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards
- UNLV-wide
- Deadline: College nominations due to the Graduate College Dec. 1, 2026
Each college can nominate one thesis and one dissertation each year. Winners receive $2,000 for a dissertation or $1,500 for a thesis. Students apply through their own college first, which then submits its nominee.