Three-Year Enhanced Funding Package Valued $49,000 to $60,000 Annually
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers an enhanced three-year Ph.D. funding package valued at up to $60,000 annually. Our highly competitive program remains small, with only four or five funded students admitted annually. We also accept a limited number of unfunded students.
Students who receive the enhanced funding package are required to be enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester (not including the summer) and must work in an assistantship for 20 hours a week. In an assistantship, students typically work as a teaching assistant or research assistant for a professor, or teach an undergraduate course.
Funding Package Estimates Each Year for a Maximum of Three Years
The enhanced funding package, which is renewable twice for a total of three academic years of funding, includes the following support from SJMC:
- A graduate assistantship stipend of $30,000, paid semi-monthly over two semesters.
- Tuition coverage ($12,000 for in-state/resident students; $22,000 for out-of-state/non-resident students).
- Required student fees ($2,116 for domestic students; $2,566 for international students).
- The fee for the university-required student health insurance plan ($4,000). Health insurance is mandatory.
- Up to $800 for research and conference travel.
- A one-time $500 appropriation to support dissertation research.
Financial package estimated annual value: in-state/resident students, $48,916; out-of-state domestic students, $58,916; international students, $59,366. ($500 for dissertation research is not included in this total.)
Estimated Total Annual Cost
The estimated total annual cost for attending the Doctor of Philosophy program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina is outlined in the tables below:
Full-Time Doctoral Student Enrolled in 12 Credit Hours Per Year:
| Expenses |
In-State/Resident Rate* |
Out-of-State/Non-Resident Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,867 | $14,880 |
| Required Fees | $5,478 | $5,478 |
| Books and Supplies | $762 | $762 |
| Housing | $11,432 | $11,432 |
| Food | $5,902 | $5,902 |
| Personal | $4,790 | $4,790 |
| Transportation | $2,670 | $2,670 |
| Total | $37,901 | $45,914 |
Full-Time Doctoral Student Enrolled in 18 Credit Hours Per Year:
| Expenses |
In-State/Resident Rate* |
Out-of-State/Non-Resident Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $10,301 | $22,320 |
| Required Fees | $6,036 | $6,036 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,143 | $1,143 |
| Housing | $11,432 | $11,432 |
| Food | $5,902 | $5,902 |
| Personal | $4,790 | $4,790 |
| Transportation | $2,670 | $2,670 |
| Total | $42,274 | $50,293 |
Expenses for Part-Time Doctoral Students
For doctoral students taking less than six credit hours per semester, tuition and required fee costs per credit hour are outlined below:
| Expenses | In-State/Resident Rate | Out-of-State/Non-Resident Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $572.25 per credit hour | $1,240 per credit hour |
| Required Fees* | $92 per credit hour | $92 per credit hour |
Other Expenses for Doctoral Students
* All doctoral students who receive the funding package are classified as In-State/Resident students.
All graduate students must pay a one-time Graduate School matriculation fee of $80. International graduate students are required to pay an International Student and Scholar Support (ISSS) fee of $225 per semester.
Expenses are calculated from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships with adjustments where needed for our program.
Other Funding Opportunities
SJMC Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships
Highly competitive scholarships and fellowships up to $3,000 each.
USC Graduate School Funding Support
The University of South Carolina Graduate School offers travel support on a competitive basis of up to $500 (domestic travel) or $800 (international travel) per year during two years of doctoral study.
Other USC Funding Support
The SJMC is committed to helping students find additional financial support. Our doctoral students have been successful in receiving competitive University fellowships and scholarships including:
- Presidential Fellowship ($6,000 annually over four years).
- Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Scholarship ($4,000 annually over four years).
- Trustee Recruitment Fellowship ($5,000 one-time award).
Summer Funding
Summer funding is not included as part of the financial package or scholarships; however, our faculty are active in research and may have grants or other resources that can be used to support graduate students in the summers.