Graduate Scholarships, Assistantships, and Financial Aid
We've made financing your degree easier by assembling a list of scholarships, assistantships, and federal financial aid available to graduate students at SUNY Geneseo.
Scholarships and Grants
- Geneseo Promise Legacy Scholarship
SUNY Geneseo is proud to introduce the Geneseo Promise Legacy Scholarship, a $1,000 one-time scholarship designed to support current Geneseo seniors who plan to pursue one of our master’s degree programs. This scholarship celebrates Geneseo’s legacy of academic excellence and promises to help students take the next step in their careers.
By investing in your future, the Geneseo Promise Legacy Scholarship reflects our commitment to fostering the growth of talented individuals who embody Geneseo’s values and spirit.
Scholarship Overview
- Award Amount: $1,000 (one time)
- Scholarship Application: Students do not need to submit a separate application for the scholarship. Simply applying for admission to the respective program will automatically consider you for this scholarship opportunity.
- Scholarship Application Deadline: We employ a rolling admission process.
- Start Dates by Program:
- MA History: Summer, Fall, Spring
- MS Accounting: Fall
- MSEd Reading & Literacy B-12: Summer, Fall, Spring
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a current SUNY Geneseo senior
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.00
- Be admitted to one of the eligible graduate programs:
Eligible Undergraduate Majors
- MA History
- Open to all majors
- Recommended majors: American Studies, Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science
- MS Accounting
- Accounting
- MSEd Reading & Literacy B-12
- Early Childhood/Childhood Education
- Childhood/Special Education
- Adolescence Education
How to Apply
- Complete the application for admission: Apply Now
- Submit required application materials: Admission Requirements
Contact Information
- Email: GradAdmissions@geneseo.edu
- Phone: 585-245-5040
- Office: Office of Admissions, Doty Hall, Room 200
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:15 pm
We're here to assist you through the process. Join us in shaping a promising future with the Geneseo Promise Legacy Scholarship!
- Federal TEACH Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who agree to teach for four years at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families, and to meet other requirements.
Before deciding to request a TEACH Grant, you should carefully read the U.S. Department of Education’s “TEACH Grant Fact Sheet” and refer any questions to the staff of the Office of Financial Aid.
- New York State Master-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship
The New York State Masters-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship Program provides 500 top undergraduate students full graduate tuition awards annually, to pursue their Masters in Education at a SUNY or CUNY college or university.
To be eligible, a student must be enrolled full-time in a master's degree in education program and agree to teach in a New York State public elementary or secondary school (including charters) for five years following completion of his or her degree.
Scholarship recipients will be notified sometime, after the application deadline, quite possibly as early as August. For details on eligibility and applying, check out the application here: New York State Master-in-Education Teacher Incentive Scholarship.
- Geneseo Foundation Graduate Scholarships
The Geneseo Foundation supports a limited number of merit scholarships to undergraduates who plan to attend SUNY Geneseo for their graduate studies. These scholarships are available to full and part-time students of SUNY Geneseo and are funded by annual and endowed contributions from alumni, emeriti, faculty, staff, students, businesses and corporations. Applicants should bear in mind that the total cost of attending Geneseo, which even for students who receive no aid, is still substantially lower than the cost of attending comparable programs at other schools.
Detailed information is available for Education and Accounting scholarships.
- Advantage Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Applications for the 2025 Student Checking Scholarship for students enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school in the 2025 school year are now being accepted. Four $5,000 scholarships will be awarded. Applications must be postmarked on or before April 19, 2025.
Scholarship winners will be notified on or before May 31, 2025.
- Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP)
The Graduate Opportunity Program provides tuition assistance to EOP, HEOP, and SEEK program graduates undertaking graduate study at SUNY Geneseo. Applicants must be enrolled as full-time matriculated students in a graduate program at SUNY Geneseo. Acceptance into the program is determined by the number of scholarships allocated to the campus. Because funding is limited, early application is encouraged.
For more details about this program, please visit the SUNY website. For consideration, please complete and submit the program application.
- AAUW Career Development Grants
Career Development Grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor's degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in nontraditional fields.
For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the American Association of University Women (AAUW) website.
- Grad School Grants: Today's Top Grants & How to Apply
Grants are one way to pay for a portion of your graduate school expenses, but many students don’t know that grants exist or how to access them. Learn the best ways to find grants, which types you qualify for, and how to apply, plus check out our list of grants you can apply for today
- William E. Scheuerman Post Baccalaureate Scholarship
This one-time scholarship of $3,000 is awarded annually to full-time SUNY graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, social justice issues and labor ideals. The award was created in 2010 to honor Scheuerman, who served as UUP president from 1993-2007; applications are reviewed by the UUP Scholarship Selection Subcommittee. The annual deadline is March 1.
For details and an application, click here.
Assistantships and Fellowships
- Geneseo Graduate Assistantships
SUNY Geneseo offers several graduate assistantships each year to well-qualified and highly motivated students enrolled in our graduate degree programs. These positions provide the opportunity to engage in meaningful work on our campus as well as financial benefits to our full-time graduate students. Below are three of the assistantship opportunities you might consider if you plan to attend Geneseo for your graduate studies. The application window for all these positions will open on January 31, 2024, and will close on March 10, 2024. While individuals need to be admitted to and enrolled in a Geneseo graduate program to be offered each of these positions, any candidates who have initiated the graduate school application process will be considered for an interview.
Graduate assistantships provide a stipend and a 12-credit-per-semester tuition waiver for the academic year (fall and spring semesters). Graduate assistants are required to pay college fees. Recipients of full-time graduate assistantships must register for 9 hours of coursework (considered full-time for a graduate student) each semester and are expected to assist their designated department for 20 hours per week. Work requirements vary by assistantship.
SUNY Geneseo Ella Cline Shear School of Education
Graduate assistants in the School of Education must be enrolled in a School of Education master's degree program. Graduate assistants primarily work collaboratively with one another, the program faculty, and the Office of Field Experiences in setting up and supporting field experiences for all education programs. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, outreach programming, undergraduate student support (i.e. TEACH, registration, TaskStream), mentoring, managing social media accounts, and other administrative responsibilities, such as staffing the receptionist desk, clerical support, organizing and supporting School of Education events, etc. For more details and to apply, please visit the Human Resources website.
SUNY Geneseo LIVES Program
The LIVES Program (Learning Independence, Vocational, and Educational Skills) is a four-year transition program located on campus. The LIVES Program provides students with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities the opportunity to become more independent, as well as learn vocational and educational skills within an inclusive community. The assistantship requires candidates to serve as a co-teacher in a classroom setting. Preference will be given to those with teaching experience in special education and/or adolescent, education. Please find more details about the program on our website.
Applicants for these positions must have initiated the application process in the Ella Cline Shear School of Education master's degree program to be considered for interview/selection. For more details and to apply, please visit the Human Resources website.
SUNY Geneseo Office of Advising
The Office of Advising assists current students, faculty, and prospective students to think about plans for successfully navigating Geneseo's curriculum. They help students explore potential majors and "right size" a major that doesn't fit. The assistantship provides administrative support to the office, particularly as the front-desk worker who greets all visitors and answers questions on the phone. Successful applicants will demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills. The graduate assistant in the Office of Advising should understand and practice the office's values for diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring a welcoming environment for all students. For more details and to apply, please visit the Human Resources website.
SUNY Geneseo Graduate Admissions Office
The Graduate Admissions Office of SUNY Geneseo offers a graduate assistantship to a highly qualified, motivated student enrolled in one of the college's master's degree programs. The assistantship provides administrative support to the office, particularly student recruitment, event management, digital advertising, management of the website, competitor analysis, etc. Successful applicants will demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills. The graduate assistant in the Graduate Admissions Office should understand and practice the office's values for diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring a welcoming environment for all students. For more details and to apply, check out the application here: Geneseo Graduate Assistantships.
- Geneseo Diversity Fellowship Program
The Diversity Fellowship Program offers graduate fellowships to students who have been admitted to graduate or professional study and who will contribute to the diversity of the student body in the graduate or professional program in which they enroll. This program will assist the college in the recruitment, enrollment and retention of students in doctoral and master's level programs who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. In awarding scholarships, the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services may consider year-round start students who are of a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented in its graduate and professional programs but may not make awards solely on that basis.
To apply for a fellowship, visit the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services website.
- SUNY Graduate Student Advocate Fellowship
The Graduate Advocate Fellow will identify key barriers and issues affecting SUNY graduate student success and recommend changes to the Chancellor's Leadership Team. The chosen Fellow will also serve as a centralized advocate for graduate students, focusing on areas such as future development and enhancements to graduate education and advocating for issues of importance to current and future students. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Start date depends on the candidate chosen.
For more details and the online application, please visit the SUNY website.
- Geneseo Accounting Assistantships
The MS Accounting program awards two assistantships each year: Barkman Assistantship and School of Business Assistantship. For more details and to apply, visit the MS Accounting website.
- McNair Scholars Program Graduate Assistant
The Graduate Assistant position for the McNair Scholars Program is an essential support role to the McNair Scholars Program Director and Assistant Director. This position is a year round position requiring availability in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. The typical duties for the McNair Graduate Assistant are listed here.
To apply, send your resume/CV, cover letter (including a statement on diversity), and references (including the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references) to mcnair@geneseo.edu. The position is open, until filled.
- Geneseo Residence Director
The Department of Residence Life seeks graduate students to serve as team members for the Department of Residence Life as Residence Directors. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and be enrolled in a graduate program at the college or have planned involvement in an advanced educational opportunity. Experience as a member of a residence hall staff is preferred and candidates should indicate an interest in and understanding of student development and learning. For more details and to apply, visit the Department of Residence Life website.
- New York Grace Legendre Endowment Fund, Inc.
The NY Grace LeGendre Endowment Fund, Inc. (GLEF) is a non-profit corporation that provides a permanent funding source to support fellowships, research and training for New York State women. Through 2021, it has awarded over $186,000 in fellowships to New York State women enrolled in graduate study programs. Starting in 2004, GLEF has awarded 14 Special Grants to organizations to sponsor educational or research opportunities that further the advancement of working women.
For more information and to apply, visit their website.
- AAUW International Fellowships
International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported.
For more information and to apply for a fellowship, visit the American Association of University Women (AAUW) website.
Federal Financial Aid
- Federal Student Loans
Financial assistance is available for those who qualify through the following loan programs: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Student Loan and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan.
- Federal Student Aid General Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements. Some of the general eligibility requirements are that you must demonstrate financial need (for most programs), be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program, and more. Additionally, a student must be enrolled for six (6) credit hours of coursework each semester. Make sure you’re familiar with the basic eligibility criteria, and, if you have any questions about whether or not you qualify, contact the staff of the Office of Financial Aid. Learn more about the basic eligibility requirements for federal student aid at StudentAid.gov/eligibility.
All graduate students seeking financial assistance are required to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SUNY Geneseo FAFSA school code is 2845.
Have questions? Our financial aid staff is welcoming, friendly, and helpful. We encourage you to call, email or stop in with any questions you have.
Contact Financial Aid
1 College Circle, SUNY Geneseo
Erwin Hall, Room 104
Geneseo, NY, 14454
Email: FinancialAid@geneseo.edu
Phone: 585-245-5731
Fax: 585-245-5717