Funding for Biostatistics MS at Minnesota, Michigan, UNC?

[iahawks2013]

Has anyone else received information about funding for the MS program in biostatistics at Minnesota, Michigan, or UNC? I haven't heard anything specific about funding yet, and was wondering if I should take that as a sign that none will be offered.

[cyberwulf]

Yep, if nothing's been mentioned, it's usually because they can't promise you any money. But programs do differ in terms of how likely you are to be able to secure RA/TA positions when you show up in the fall, so I suggest you try to look into that.

[biostat_prof]

I know of at least two MS students who accepted unfunded offers to UNC and were offered funding either during the summer or shortly before classes started in the fall. Based on my (limited) sample size, UNC seems to have a pretty good track record of finding funding for MS students. Specifically, I have worked with a couple MS students who chose UNC over Michigan specifically because UNC offered funding and Michigan did not. Again, I'm working off of a tiny sample size, so take it for what it's worth. I know nothing about Minnesota's track record of funding MS students, although my guess is that they have significantly less money to distribute than either UNC or Michigan. I did work with one student who was admitted to the PhD program at Minnesota a few years back, and their funding offer was significantly less generous than the funding offers from UNC and Michigan (both of which also admitted her).

[clamofee]

I know of at least two MS students who accepted unfunded offers to UNC and were offered funding either during the summer or shortly before classes started in the fall. Based on my (limited) sample size, UNC seems to have a pretty good track record of finding funding for MS students. Specifically, I have worked with a couple MS students who chose UNC over Michigan specifically because UNC offered funding and Michigan did not. Again, I'm working off of a tiny sample size, so take it for what it's worth. I know nothing about Minnesota's track record of funding MS students, although my guess is that they have significantly less money to distribute than either UNC or Michigan. I did work with one student who was admitted to the PhD program at Minnesota a few years back, and their funding offer was significantly less generous than the funding offers from UNC and Michigan (both of which also admitted her).

 

At Michigan MS, it seems like even if you don't get funding the first year, it's very likely you get a RA/TA-ship that covers tuition + stipend the second year. No idea about UNC - all I know is they haven't even sent out funding information for all PhD admits, so perhaps that says something? Of the three schools you mentioned, Michigan provides the most generous funding. But then with the sequestration, what can we say!

[biostat_prof]

At Michigan MS, it seems like even if you don't get funding the first year, it's very likely you get a RA/TA-ship that covers tuition + stipend the second year. No idea about UNC - all I know is they haven't even sent out funding information for all PhD admits, so perhaps that says something? Of the three schools you mentioned, Michigan provides the most generous funding. But then with the sequestration, what can we say!

 

Based on my (admittedly limited) experience what you say is definitely true at the PhD level. It does seem like UNC does a better job than Michigan at funding MS students, though. However, as I said, I am basing this on a very small sample size, so take it for what it's worth.