We feel it is essential that students receive adequate funding to allow them to devote full time effort to their training. At the same time, it is crucial that students do not emerge from graduate school encumbered by large debt. As such, all students are guaranteed to receive teaching or graduate assistantships during each of the three years they are engaged in their coursework on campus. The GA and TAships include full tuition coverage (at least 36 credit hours for each academic year, including fall, spring, and summer semesters) and funding of approximately $18,348 annually. For the GA and TA positions, students are expected to commit up to 20 hours per week to assistantship duties during the Fall and Spring semesters and 20 hours per week during the Summer. GA and TA duties include teaching an introductory psychology class, scholarship projects, or engaging in administrative tasks for programs in the Department of Graduate Psychology. Students who receive unsatisfactory assistantship evaluations are in jeopardy of losing their assistantship funding. Students who are on campus longer than three years are not guaranteed support.

When on internship, students are required to enroll in one credit (CE 850) during the fall, spring and summer semesters, for which they are responsible. The tuition fees are updated periodically and the most recent is listed on the University Business Office website. Once students complete the course work and internship portions of their program, students are required to continually enroll in one credit of dissertation continuance (PSYC 899) each semester until their dissertation is defended and they graduate. Students are expected to defend their dissertation before their internship ends and thus avoid having to make these payments.

Please go to the Cost of Attendance Calculator to see the estimated cost of attendance for your program of study.

Assistantships

Because of the unique support provided to the program by the University, students can expect to receive GAs or TAs for up to three years. Students requiring more than three years to complete the course work portion of the program must apply for and be granted an extension. All extension requests must be approved by the Clinical & School Psychology Psy.D. Program Committee.

Application for Financial Assistance

If students require further financial assistance (e.g. student loans), students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For assistance or questions regarding completing this form, contact the JMU Office of Financial Aid.

Students need not apply for their assistantships, as this is taken care of automatically by the Core Faculty upon acceptance to the program.