Student Aid for Geoscience Students to top $2.7 Million in 2008

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Date updated: 2007-11-29
Data Brief 2007-001
Written by Cindy Martinez and Christopher Keane for AGI, November 2007

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Direct support for geoscience students has been rising for the last two years. The trend looks to continue in 2008-2009 with a projected 6% increase in available funds. These opportunities for student support include funds from government agencies (60%) and non-profit societies (40%, which includes support from private foundations and companies).

Graduate student support comprises 91% of all awards in the 2007-2008 academic year – over $2.4 M spread across 570 individual awards. The largest student support program is the NSF Graduate Student Fellowship program. This program provided more than $1.13 million dollars in support to geoscience graduate students in 2007 from a total program budget of $40.5 million.

Several programs have significantly grown in recent years, including the Society of Exploration Geophysicists scholarship program’s 65% increase in awarded support since 2006-2007. Funding for student travel grants has increased by more than $32,000 since that time, though field camp scholarships have remained steady.

Student Aid by Degree Level

Student Aid by Discipline

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