Funding & Fellowships

We recognizeÌýthe cost of studying and living in Boulder is an important consideration for students of all levels. Although tuition and fees are set by the university, in the mechanical engineering department,Ìýwe attempt to provide as much financial support as possible for our graduate students. This support includes multi-year Teaching and Research Assistant appointments, hourly employment opportunitiesÌýand travel grants for students giving presentations at conferences. Through these funding opportunities, we attempt to promote educational and research excellence, diversityÌýand community, while ensuring that graduate students are able to complete their degrees without undue or unforeseen financial burdens.

Because tuition and fees are charged at variable rates based on residency, program, student status, and number of enrolled credits each semester, a good understanding of the structure of tuition and fees can help to maximize the return on educational investment. Information on tuition and fees for each of our programsÌýis available on theÌýÌý·É±ð²ú²õ¾±³Ù±ð. Some funding resources are shown below.Ìý

Funding Opportunities by Program

We offer funding toÌýall PhD applicants whom we admit.ÌýOur department anticipates extending full funding to about 70 Fall 2024 PhD applicants. Funding includes a graduate student salary, tuition remission, and 91% health insurance coverage. In your first year, you will beÌýfunded by the departmentÌýas a Teaching Assistant (TA) for one semester and as a Research Assistant (RA) for the other semester. This structure enables youÌýto find a research lab and to practice working in a classroom setting.ÌýFaculty with alternate sources of funding may petition the department to waive the TA requirement for first year students in their lab.

In your second year and beyond, you will be funded by a research advisor as an RA or through other fellowships, pending reasonable research progress and academic performance. If your research advisor has a funding gap, they can apply to the department for gap funding. This way, students have a safety net so that they can continue to be funded throughout their PhD program.

Students admitted to the master’s degree program, including BAM and BS/MS students, are expected to secure their own financial support. Although the department does offer a number of scholarship opportunities recipients will still be expected to cover the majority of their cost of attendance. Scholarship application requirements and timelines may vary but will be marketed through the departmental email listserv for current graduate students.Ìý

Students in the Professional MS program are not eligible for TA or RA appointments but are eligible for hourly employment as course assistants (graders), administrative assistantsÌýand lab/research assistants. The graduate program typically requests students interested in hourly employment complete an Hourly Employment Interest Form that is announced via the Current ME Graduate Student Canvas Course Announcements. Announcements of hiring usually occur three times per year; once each in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. These positions do not provide coverage of tuition, fees, or health benefits, but do provide hourly pay.Ìý

Master of Science Professional students may also wish to contact the Office of Financial AidÌýfor loan information.

Students admitted to the master’s degree program, including BAM and BS/MS students, are expected to secure their own financial support. Although the department does offer a number of scholarship opportunities, a couple of which are detailed below, recipients will still be expected to cover the majority of their cost of attendance. Scholarship application requirements and timelines may vary but will be marketed through the departmental email listserv for current graduate students.Ìý

While MS Thesis students are eligible for TA and RA appointments, these opportunities are rare. There is no formal application process for MS Thesis students to pursue assistantships. A student’s thesis advisor, at their discretion, may offer an assistantship upon demonstration of exceptional promise in research and academics.

Master of Science Thesis students may also wish to contact the Office of Financial AidÌýfor loan information.

Fellowship & Scholarship Opportunities

  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe purpose is to promote the education, recruitment and retention of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in science, mathematics, and engineering studies; the DoD is also interested in supporting the education of future scientists and engineers in a number of interdisciplinary areas.
  • Website:Ìý
  • Deadline:ÌýDecember
  • Eligibility:ÌýThe program is intended for citizens of the United States; students must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for an award.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe fellowship program is sponsored by the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program.
  • Deadline:ÌýDecember
  • Eligibility:ÌýThis program is intended for U.S. citizens at or near the beginning of their doctoral studies in science or engineering programs.
  • Website:Ìý
  • Deadline: September
  • Eligibility:ÌýÌýFor U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens at or near the beginning of their graduate studies.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes provide U.S. graduate students inÌýscience and engineering first-hand research experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan.
  • Website:Ìý
  • Deadline:ÌýNovember
  • Eligibility:ÌýThis program is intended for U.S. citizens at or near the beginning of their doctoral studies in science or engineering programs.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýA competitive stipend, relocation and travel allowances, and a pre-program site visit are offered.
  • Website:
  • Deadline:ÌýDecember
  • Eligibility:ÌýThis program is intended for U.S. citizens who hold teaching or research appointments relating to science and/or engineering at U.S. academic institutions.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe AF SFFP offers hands-on exposure to Air Force research challenges through 8- to 12-week research residencies at participating Air Force research facilities for full-time science, mathematics, and engineering faculty at U.S. colleges and universities.
  • Deadline:ÌýDecember
  • Eligibility:ÌýThis program is intended for US citizens or permanent residents who have an earned doctorate in science or engineering and who hold full-time science or engineering faculty positions at US colleges, community colleges and universities.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe program is designed to significantly increase the involvement of creative and highly trained scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy.
  • Website:
  • Deadline:ÌýRolling deadline
  • Eligibility:ÌýThis program is open to US citizens and legal permanent residents and offers a competitive stipend as well as insurance, relocation, and travel allowances.
  • ºÚÁϳԹÏ:ÌýThe goals of the NREIP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.
  • Website:Ìý
  • Deadline:ÌýOctober
  • Eligibility:ÌýU.S. citizenship required; Permanent residents accepted at certain labs (Please see website for details.)