Scholarships and Awards

SC&I Scholarship for Communication Majors – For full-time Communication majors who are rising juniors or seniors and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Hugh Taliaferro Memorial Scholarship – For full-time Communication majors who are rising juniors or seniors, and who demonstrate unusual aptitude in Communication or render exceptional service to the Department or University community.  Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Todd Hunt Public Service Endowed Prize for Communication – For full-time Communication majors who are rising seniors have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and exemplary involvement and service to more than one group or society.  Students who will be seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Julian Breen Memorial Endowed Scholarship – For full-time Communication majors who are rising juniors or seniors, and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and significant service to the department, the University, and/or the community. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Shaun & Patricia Mickus Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Prof. Todd Hunt - For full or part-time declared Communication majors who demonstrate academic achievement of a minimum 3.0 GPA, community service, and financial need (as determined by the University Office of Financial Aid).

SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for Communication Majors – For full-time Communication majors who are rising juniors or seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Todd Hunt Endowed Scholarship for PRSSA – For an outstanding undergraduate Communication major who is also an active member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). The recipient must show outstanding achievement and financial need. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

SC&I Scholarship for ITI Majors – For full-time Information Technology and Informatics majors who are rising juniors or seniors and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible.  Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for ITI Majors – For full-time Information Technology and Informatics majors who are rising juniors or seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Journalism & Media Studies Department Scholarship (Approximately $1000) - For Journalism and Media Studies major based on academic merit and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

SC&I Scholarship for JMS Majors ($1250) – For full-time Journalism and Media Studies majors who are rising juniors or seniors and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Flip Wilson Memorial Scholarship (Full tuition) – For a full-time journalism student entering the junior or senior year based on academic merit and financial need. Flip Wilson Memorial Scholarship applicants must complete one additional 500-word essay on some aspect of Flip Wilson’s work and impact on television or comedy. Preference will be given to students of African-American descent. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Dick Lloyd Internship Scholarship (Approximately $1000) – For a full-time undergraduate student that will be interning, with preference awarded to applicants completing an internship in sports broadcasting Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Van Wie Ingham Memorial Prize in Journalism ($250) – For outstanding knowledge of journalism. Applicants with overall GPA and department GPA of at least 3.0 will be considered. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required

Richard D. Lane Memorial Award in Journalism (Approximately $1000) – For a full-time journalism student based on academic merit. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

SEBS - Edgar B. Bacon Scholarship ($2000 -$4000) – For achievement in journalism by a continuing undergraduate major enrolled in SEBS school. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Preference for Hudson County resident. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

John H. Cook Scholarship ($9000 - $11000) – For a journalism student with an interest in newspaper writing and reporting. Students who will be seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Must demonstrate financial need. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Kenneth Q. & Viola W. Jennings Memorial Scholarship ($4000 - $5000) – For journalism student who demonstrate promise toward a career in print journalism. Must demonstrate financial need. Students who will be or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Arthur Weissman Memorial Scholarship ($4000 - $5000) – For full-time journalism student, based on academic merit, media-related achievement through academic work, extra-curricular activities, and employment; must submit sample of media or portfolio. Students who will be seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Edward J. Mack Memorial Scholarship Fund ($11000 - $12500) – For a full-time undergraduate student based on academic merit and financial need. Preference is given to students from Hunterdon County with an interest in print journalism. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Journalism & Media Studies Endowed Fund ($3000 - $4000) – For journalism and media studies majors who will be seniors beginning Fall 2025. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for JMS Majors ($500) – For outstanding academic achievement in the program. Applicants with minimum overall GPA and department of 3.0 will be considered. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Must demonstrate financial need. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Barry S. Kramer Endowed Scholarship in Journalism ($6000 - $8000) – For a journalism major based on academic merit; preference for candidate with science journalism interest or background. Must demonstrate financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Elizabeth Molnar Memorial Scholarship ($1000 - $2000) – For journalism major based on academic merit and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Laurie Ackerman Memorial Fund ($1200 - $1500) – For an undergraduate student who intends to pursue a career in journalism or mass communications; student is selected based on proven work, interests in journalism/mass media, and ability to carry out the program’s aims. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Ladley K. Pearson Memorial Prize ($600 - $800) – For a student who has demonstrated outstanding work in print or media-related reporting; with preference for candidate with urban/city affairs interest or background. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Todd Hunt Public Service Endowed Prize for Journalism and Media Studies ($1500 - $1800) – For full-time Journalism and Media Studies majors who are rising seniors, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and exemplary involvement and service to more than one group or society. Students who will be seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Sean Carr Memorial Scholarship ($2000) – For full-time Journalism and Media Studies major who exemplifies a commitment to reporting, researching and writing on the topics of public policy, politics, public advocacy and/or government administration and development, and is committed to understanding the intersection between journalism, politics and public advocacy. Must demonstrate financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Tom and Marti Mattia Endowed Scholarship in Journalism and Mass Communications – For a first-generation Journalism and Media Studies major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need. Students who will be juniors or seniors beginning Fall 2025 are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Manuel Pinho & Mario Teques Endowed Scholarship – Unofficial transcripts, essay, and writing sample are required.

Carol A. & Norman Barham Foundation Scholarship – For a new or continuing graduate student in the Master of Information program. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Francis R. & Janice L. Pattberg Scholarship – For a new or continuing graduate student in the Master of Information program. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Beverly E. Schoen Research Fellowship – For a continuing graduate student in the Master of Information program. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Masters of Library Studies Service Scholarship – For a continuing Master of Information student that has demonstrated outstanding service to the department and school. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

SC&I Scholarship for MI Students – For a new or continuing graduate student in the Master of Information program. Must demonstrate financial need. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

SC&I - LIS Endowment Fund Award – Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Estate of Elizabeth D. Meier Scholarship – For full-time or part-time students in the Master of Information program. Must demonstrate financial need.  New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Helen G. Michaels Merit Scholarship – For an academically talented student studying library and information science at SC&I. Preference is given to students seeking school library media certification. Must demonstrate financial need. New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Jane Torrence Minckler Memorial Fellowship – For students in the master’s in library and information science program, on the basis of academic excellence and financial need.    New or continuing graduate student. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

H. Gilbert Kelley Scholarship – For a Master of Information student that has demonstrated academic excellence.    New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Turock Family Endowed Fellowship – To provide additional financial assistance to ALA Spectrum Scholars choosing Rutgers University’s Department of Library and Information Science for their education. Must demonstrate financial need.  New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for MI Students – For outstanding academic achievement in the program. Must demonstrate financial need.  New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

MI Student Support Fund – To master’s degree students in library and information science who has demonstrated academic excellence.  New or continuing graduate students are eligible. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Ellen Boates Clark Endowed Fellowship – For Master of Information graduate student based on academic merit and financial need. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Collier-Kuhlthau Endowed Fund – Scholarships are to be awarded to an LIS graduate Student specializing in school librarianship. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Collier-Kuhlthau Endowed Fellowship (formerly F.R. Collier CISSL Endowed Fund) – Scholarships are to be awarded to an LIS graduate Student specializing in school librarianship. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

James Doig Anderson Scholarship/LIS Endowment Fund –The award will be given to an MI student who has a strong academic record and who also has a record of empowering the LBGTQA+ community and/or working to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. You must submit evidence documenting how you have worked to empower the LBGTQA+ community, especially in library or educational settings, or have promoted LGBTQA+ rights by working to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Unofficial transcripts, resume, and evidence addressing how you fit the criteria for this award are required.

Dr. Leny Struminger Endowed Fellowship - Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Betty Jane & Jack Hurlbert Endowed Scholarship - Scholarship awarded to MI student concentrating in Library and Information Science. Preference to full-time graduate students who are residents of Monmouth County. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Gladys Palmer Bewley O’Brien Memorial Endowed Scholarship - Scholarship awarded to MI student concentrating in Library and Information Science. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

Douglas N. Woodson, Sr. Endowed Scholarship - Scholarship awarded to MI student concentrating in Library and Information Science. Preference to graduate students from underrepresented populations. Unofficial transcripts, essay, and resume are required.

SC&I Scholarship for Master of Communication and Media Students – For continuing MCM students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need.  Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

SC&I Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship for Master of Communication and Media Students  – For continuing MCM students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial need.  Unofficial transcripts and essay are required.

Several types of financial support are available to highly qualified doctoral students. In most cases, students who apply to the PhD program by December 15 of each year are considered automatically for awards as part of the admissions process. Thus, Ph.D. students do not need to submit an application through the SC&I scholarship application portal. A few awards are also for students further along in their doctoral studies. All awards are highly competitive.

SC&I offers the following highly competitive forms of support:

Teaching Assistantships

• Graduate Assistantships
• Assistant Instructor/PTL positions
• SC&I Fellowships
• Pam Richards Fellowship
• Grant funding
• Hourly graders/research assistants

Many of these include a stipend, general health benefits, and tuition remission. We also provide travel grants/assistance to all students presenting scholarships at scholarly conferences regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Rutgers University also provides various forms of highly competitive support:

• Presidential Fellowships
• Diversity Fellowships
• Bevier Fellowships
• Teaching/Graduate Assistantships in other departments
• Grant funding outside SC&I
• Learning Community Coordinators, Dorm RAs, and other full-time staff jobs

The Rutgers School of Graduate Studies also provides some travel grants/assistance. Notably, they also run GradFund, a fellowship advising service. GradFund helps graduate students at Rutgers learn how to apply for merit-based fellowships and grants to support their graduate studies.

Other forms of support (e.g., Spectrum Fellowships; Fulbright; international government and corporate sponsorships; and part-time, adjunct and full-time teaching positions at nearby schools) may also be available. In many of these cases, the Ph.D. program is able to provide tuition remission or some matching support. Those who are eligible for need-based financial aid should contact the Rutgers Office of Graduate Professional Admissions for additional information.