Scholarships and Financial Support

Graduate Student Scholarships

The USM Foundation awards a variety of scholarships for eligible students through the Golden Opportunity Scholarship and Competitive Program Application System. By completing one application, students are reviewed for any scholarship for which they are eligible. You must complete a new application each academic year.

Graduate Student Awards & Professional Development Opportunities

Travel Award

Each semester, USM Graduate students have the opportunity to apply for the Graduate Competitive Travel Award. The funds may be used to support graduate student participation in a virtual or in-person professional conference, exhibition, or other appropriate venue for purposes of presenting research or other forms of creative work in conjunction with a student’s program of study. Applicants may request up to $500 to be used for virtual conference registration fees or domestic travel or up to $1000 for approved international travel.

See the Professional Development page for more information.

Proposal Project

The Proposal Project aims to strengthen grant-writing skills of graduate students through training and practice and increase the number of externally-funded fellowships and traineeships awarded to graduate students at Southern Miss. Grant-writing workshops will be held each fall and spring semester, providing training to enable students to identify potential funding sources, to prepare competitive proposals, and to navigate the submission process. 

See the Professional Development page for more information.

Dissertation Completion Grant

In partnership with the Jimmy A. Payne Foundation, the Southern Miss Graduate School is thrilled to offer competitive Dissertation Completion Grants for the 2026-2027 academic year. These awards are intended to reduce the burden of dissertation-related expenses for students while helping to decrease students’ time to degree. Applicants may request up to $2,000 to be used within the final year of their doctoral program. This initiative is open to students in all doctoral programs at Southern Miss.

See the Professional Developmentpage for more information.

Academic Common Market

Do you want to pursue a degree program that is not available in your state? Have you found a degree program at an institution that is located outside your home state, but out-of-state tuition is a hindrance?  If so, Academic Common Market could be for you.

SREB Academic Common Market is administered through the Office of Financial Aid.