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University of South Carolina-Columbia Graduate Assistantships

2264 Students Awarded with Graduate Assistantships
923 Students Awarded with Teaching Assistantships
950 Students Awarded with Research Assistantships
1250 Graduate Assistantships Awarded to Female Students
1014 Graduate Assistantships Awarded to Male Students
590 Graduate Assistantships Awarded to International Students

Scholarships and Assistantships for Criminology and Criminal Justice Graduate Program

StipendGraduate StudentsCareer DevelopmentFull-time

The University of South Carolina offers several GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS for both new and current students seeking advanced education in criminal justice. Among these scholarships are:

  • The Robert A. Wilbur Police Scholarship is specifically designed for a Columbia police officer with at least three years of sworn service. This scholarship supports officers committed to furthering their education in criminal justice, either as undergraduates majoring in the field or as students in the M.A. Program. Successful applicants must be admitted to the University of South Carolina and demonstrate a commitment to continuing their careers in police service. The scholarship provides $500 each semester and is renewable for up to three years, provided that the recipient maintains a "B" average or higher. The total four-year value of this scholarship is $2,000.
  • The J.P Strom Non-Resident Scholar Award targets continuing students (sophomore, junior, senior) majoring in criminology and criminal justice at USC's Columbia campus. Eligible students must have completed at least 30 credit hours at USC, including six hours in criminology and criminal justice, and must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and service. Sophomores and juniors receive $250 per semester, while seniors receive $500 per semester. This award is renewable for three years subject to the student maintaining a "B" average, leading to a cumulative three-year value of $2,000. Non-residents who apply and meet existing university rules may also benefit from a significant tuition reduction.

Both scholarships reflect the university's dedication to supporting educational advancement and career development in the field of criminal justice.


The University of South Carolina-Columbia offers competitive GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS to new master's and Ph.D. students in Criminology and Criminal Justice, contingent on resource availability. Assistantships include a full tuition waiver, a stipend, and possible partial health benefits for a workload of 20 hours per week. Renewal each year is based on academic performance, satisfactory progress (e.g., maintaining a "B" or better, passing comprehensive exams), and a positive evaluation of assistantship duties, with master's funding capped at two years and Ph.D. at four, barring special exceptions.

Assistantship consideration requires no separate application; it is given to all full-time applicants expressing funding interest and admitted to a graduate program. Reviews of Ph.D. applications start post-December 1 and M.A. applications post-March 1 for the fall term. Due to the competitiveness of the awards, early application submission is recommended.

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