Nov 08, 2024  
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024 - 2025 Graduate Catalog

Raymond A. Mason: Student Financial Aid & Graduate Assistantships


Student Loans

Many students utilize student loans to finance all or a portion of their graduate education. Loan eligibility for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents is evaluated by the university’s Office of Student Financial Aid, as determined by the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. The Office of Student Financial Aid manages all information regarding loan programs and can provide information, if available, regarding loan options for international students. Student loans should be applied for and processed before the beginning of class each semester.

Please visit the financial aid website to apply as a graduate or professional student by clicking here.

Scholarships

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business offers scholarships to selected students who are enrolled in the following full-time programs: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Online Master of Business Administration (OMBA), Online Master of Science in Marketing (OMSM), Online Master of Science in Finance (OMSF), Master of Accounting (MAcc), Online Master of Accounting (OMAcc), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), and Online Master of Science in Business Analytics (OMSBA). Award decisions are based on merit and are listed in student acceptance letters.

Combined degree students in the JD/MBA, MBA/MAcc, MBA/MSBA, MBA/MEd or PhD, and MBA/MPP programs may be eligible for consideration to receive Mason School of Business scholarships.

Military Benefits and Payments

Students eligible for military educational benefits should visit the Office of Student Accounts webpage (Military Benefits) for specific guidelines and requirements.

Additional information about specialized programs to support veterans and transitioning service members can also be found on the Raymond A. Mason School of Business - Center for Military Transition webpage (link provided here) or by contacting the Center for Military Transition:

Jonathan “JD” Due, Executive Director
jonathan.due@mason.wm.edu
757-221-1711

 

Graduate Assistantships

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business offers graduate assistantships to selected students who are enrolled in the following full-time programs: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MAcc), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA).

The selection for graduate assistantship positions is a competitive process that is based on prior academic performance and the match between faculty or administrative needs and student skills and interests. Graduate assistantship awards decisions are based on merit.

Students will be required to submit an application.

Raymond A. Mason School of Business graduate assistantship assignments typically include activities such as working in a research capacity with a Mason School of Business faculty member, serving as a tutor or resource for an undergraduate course(s), and/or working with one of the administrative offices in the School. Assistantship assignments are made in most cases based upon a match between project needs and student skills and interests; the availability of positions is dependent upon funding, resource allocation, and input from business school faculty and staff and may change from year to year.

We generally offer graduate assistantships for 5 or 10 hours per week and graduate assistants are paid on an hourly basis at a rate of $15 per hour, up to $1000 per semester for a 5-hour per week assistantship or $2000 per semester for a 10-hour per week assistantship.  Graduate assistantship positions are typically established for consecutive fall and spring semesters and do not automatically renew.

The assistantship assignment period includes fall, winter, and spring breaks; students may be required to work during breaks and should be prepared to do so if requested by their supervisor(s). Graduate assistants must be registered for 12 or more credit hours of graduate coursework per semester, with a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in the Mason School of Business per semester. If a student’s registration falls below the levels described above the student does not fulfill the assigned hours or assignment(s), or if the student resigns from the assistantship before the end of the term, the student’s assistantship status and payment will be cancelled.

During the course of a graduate assistantship, a student may have access to information that is confidential or protected by privacy laws. Disclosure to unauthorized parties is not permitted. When accessing this information, graduate assistants should only access the information needed to complete a specific, authorized task. By accepting a graduate assistantship position, the student acknowledges receipt of this warning and accepts the associated responsibilities.

If a Graduate Student violates the university’s honor code, then the assistantship will be cancelled.

For full-time MBA students, graduate assistantships may be awarded for the second year. Information regarding second-year graduate assistantships are made available by e-mail to all first-year students at the end of the academic year. Consideration for second-year graduate assistantships is based on a student’s academic performance and contributions to the program and community during the first year of MBA studies. Students will be required to submit an application to the Graduate Assistantship Committee for consideration for second-year graduate assistantships. Decisions regarding second-year aid awards are made by the Graduate Assistantship Committee during the summer after reviewing all final grades from first-year courses. Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the first year to be eligible for a graduate assistantship. Those students on exchange programs or not enrolled full-time in the MBA Program are not eligible to hold graduate assistantships.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business reserves the right to revise the information contained in this section at any time based on funding availability and restrictions, and enrollment goals.