Audience Tools
Master of Library and Information Science

Resources:

MLIS Scholarship Opportunities

iSchool Scholarships

All applicants who submit a complete MLIS program application by the deadline each year are automatically considered for an iSchool merit-based scholarship. Each year, 10-15 scholarships are awarded, and may range from covering a quarter's worth of tuition costs to a year's worth or more. If there is additional information you would like to provide the committee that you feel is relevant to your being considered for a scholarship, you can use the optional Scholarship Information section on the online application to tell us. (Please limit this response to 500 words.)

We also award scholarships to continuing students, so there will be more opportunities to receive funding after you have started the program.

Additional Scholarships

MLIS students are eligible for dozens of scholarships from national and regional organizations and businesses. Deadlines vary and details may change, so please consult each scholarship’s website for more information.

ALA/ MLA/ NLM Spectrum Scholarship

Amount: $5,000 scholarship and $1,500 toward professional development
Approximate Deadline: Early March
Limited To: African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander individuals attending ALA-accredited library schools

Alaska Library Association Scholarship

Amount: $3,000
Approximate Deadline: Mid-January
Limited To: Alaska resident planning to be enrolled in a graduate school library media specialist certificate program during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received. Recipients must make a commitment to work in an Alaska library for a minimum of one year after graduation as a paid employee or a volunteer, or for two semesters for one semester’s financial assistance.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarships

Amount: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Mid-April
Limited To: Students must be a full-time, sophomore or beyond; be currently enrolled in an accredited degree-granting institution; and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 ("C+" average).

American Library Association Scholarship Program

Amount: Varies
Limited To: ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for study in a master's degree in library and information studies from an ALA accredited program, or for a master's degree with a specialty in school librarianship that meets the ALA curriculum guidelines for a Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited unit.

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund

Amount: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Limited To: Students of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity as defined by the U.S. Census; Be a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Be enrolling in a U.S. accredited college or university. Must apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1.

Association of Jewish Libraries Scholarship

Amount: $1,000
Approximate Deadline: Early April
Limited To: Students accepted in an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent (see application form for details) for the next academic year or students planning to continue their studies into the next academic year.

Google Anita Borg Scholarship

Amount: $1,000-10,000
Approximate Deadline: February
Limited To: Applicant must be a female student entering her senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate program at a U.S. university; be enrolled in computer science or computer engineering program, or a closely related technical field as a full-time student; maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale or equivalent in your current program.

Graduate Student Assistantships

Amount: Stipend and tuition waiver
Approximate Deadline: Late February/early March
Limited To: Students who have applied to the UW iSchool

Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Scholarships

Amount: $5,000
Approximate Deadline: October
Limited To: The applicant must be a member in good standing of HIMSS. The primary occupation of the applicant at the time the scholarship is awarded must be that of a full-time student enrolled in an accredited undergraduate, Masters or PhD program related to the healthcare information management systems field. The specific degree program is not a critical factor, however, students enrolled in a MIS or Healthcare Administration-like program highly preferred. Undergraduate applicants must be at least a first-term junior when the scholarship is awarded.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Amount: $1,000-2,500
Approximate Deadline: Mid-December
Limited To: The scholarships are available on a competitive basis for community college, four-year college, and graduate students of Hispanic background who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and attend an accredited postsecondary institution. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 and have completed at least 15 college units.

Karen Gersten-Sternheim Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $3,000
Limited To: Must be a member of the SLA-SCC, must demonstrate an interest in a career in special libraries, must be currently enrolled and taking classes in an ALA-accredited master's program.

McKinstry Fellowship

Amount: 50% tuition and fees
Limited To: Underrepresented MLIS students from Native American, Hispanic American, African American, Asian American and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander heritages.

Microsoft Scholarships

Amount: Varies
Limited To: Students entering computer science-related fields who meet eligibility criteria (diversity, leadership, interest in software industry, financial need).

Paul Evan Peters Fellowship

Amount: Varies
Limited To: U.S. citizen or permanent resident, entering or enrolled in a master's or doctoral program in information science.

PMI Educational Foundation Scholarships

Amount: Varies
Approximate Deadline: May 1
Limited To: The program is open to any student preparing to enter or already attending an accredited degree-granting college or university. Scholarships are available for students at the bachelors, masters or doctoral level.

Reference Service Press Fellowship

Amount: $3,000
Approximate Deadline: Late May
Limited To: Applicants must be California residents or residents of any state planning to pursue graduate work as an ALA accredited institution in California.

REFORMA Scholarship

Amount: Up to $1,500
Approximate Deadline: Mid-March
Limited To: Any current or newly entering graduate library school student [M.L.S. or Ph.D.] may apply for its scholarships. Must provide proof of enrollment to an accredited library school. Full-time status is not a requirement.

Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Amount: Up to $25,000 in maintenance grants and $20,000 a year in tuition
Approximate Deadline: Early November
Limited To: Permanent residents or naturalized citizens if born abroad; otherwise children of naturalized citizen parents

United Negro College Fund Scholarships (Multiple)

Amount: $500-10,000
Approximate Deadline: Varies
Limited To: Each program has its own eligibility criteria, open/close dates and required documents. In order to apply for a UNCF Program Services Scholarship, you must apply through the online application process.

Washington Library Association (WLA) Graduate Scholarship

Amount: Varies
Approximate Deadline: Early-mid August
Limited To: Current membership in the Washington Library Association, Washington State residency, Satisfactory completion of at least one semester or quarter in an ALA-accredited program leading to the Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Demonstration of potential for leadership in the profession and commitment to libraries and library service, Current or previous involvement with WLA, or plan to be active in WLA during the academic year in which the scholarship is awarded (e.g., serve as intern to Alki editorial committee, contributor to Alki, student liaison to WLA Board, active in WLA interest group, involvement with WLA or WALE conference programs).

Resources: