Funding for Students

Scholarships and Financing

Students enrolled as a mathematics major are part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). The cost of attending University of Colorado Denver as a graduate is based on the number of course hours students take during a semester, which college they are enrolled in at the university, and their residency status. For information on the current tuition and fee structure, visit the Bursar's tuition and fees site.​​

Teaching and related opportunities 

The Mathematical and Statistical Department retains students to grade, help run calculus and college algebra recitation sections, and to work in the MERC Lab (NC 4015). Qualified graduate students can also be assigned to teach a class for a similar pay as lecturers. Appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis.

Teaching Assistantships

Full assistantships are normally only awarded to students in the doctoral program. Applicants to the M.S. program with a strong interest in teaching may be considered for partial funding depending on the availability of funds. Full assistantships currently consist of renumeration for teaching supplemented by a stipend, for the total of $18,000 per academic year plus tuition. Summer teaching may also be available.

To be considered for a TA, the application packet of new students must be accompanied by a letter indicating interest in a TA and describing prior teaching or tutoring experience.​ Existing students should apply to the graduate committee with letters of support from faculty.

The usual term of a teaching assistantship is one academic year, with the understanding that renewal for the second semester depends upon the satisfactory completion of duties and satisfactory academic progress during the first semester. Renewal for up to a maximum of 5 years of department support of any form is possible subject to satisfactory performance, progress in the program, and availability of funds. 

TA duties consist of teaching one course per semester and/or assisting in the Mathematics Education Resource Center (MERC) computer lab. Occasionally other duties may be assigned. Details related to teaching assistantships are explained in Policies Regarding Teaching Assistants.

Deadlines for applying for a TA position for current students: 

  • February 1 to apply for a Fall TA position

  • October 1 to apply for a Spring TA position

Out-of-state students who are U.S. residents are expected to gain Colorado residency by the beginning of the second year of study.

Research Assistantships

Research assistantships are available depending on the contracts and grants of individual faculty members. Appointments are made and duties assigned by faculty members with external funding. The typical workload for these appointments is 20 hours per week.

Visit our Faculty Page to explore our faculty research areas and to contact individual members about possible opportunities.

Other Funding

The University of Colorado Denver offers​ many opportunities available for students. For additional information about current scholarship offerings, contact the Scholarship Resource Office.​ In particular, all students are strongly encouraged to fill FAFSA​ to apply for Financial Aid. 

Aside from full Teaching Assistantships, opportunities are available for other graduate students to earn income by teaching a recitation, grading, and other teaching-related duties. Please contact the Associate Chair Steve Billups to apply. These students, however, do not receive the additional stipend and tuition paid like TAs. Students may also work at hourly rates in various assignments in the department and elsewhere at the University. Please contact the department office to explore opportunities. All students are strongly encouraged to find out if they are eligible to be employed as Work Study, which will greatly enhance their employment opportunities at the University. All MS applications are evaluated for possible President’s Graduate Fellowship at the level

  • International students: $5000 per year in each of the first two years
  • Domestic out-of-state students: $7000 in the first year only
  • Domestic in-state students: $2500 per year for the first two years

These offers will be made only to highly competitive students who might not come to CU Denver otherwise. This might translate into especially high undergraduate GPA, though this could be variable with different undergraduate institutions and other factors that make the students especially competitive. Each MS program can submit to the Graduate School at most  two applications.

Funding is available​ in numerous forms to assist students in their quest for a graduate degree. There are many external sources of funding including:

The Department of Education has published a guide (PDF) to sources of information for funding your graduate education

Lynn Bateman Memorial Teaching Award and Fellowship

Photo of Lynn BatemanThe parents of Lynn Bateman donated the funds that support these two awards. They did so to honor their daughter, Lynn, who was an excellent teacher for the Department of Mathematics, 1985 - 1988. We remember Lynn for her dedication to the teaching of mathematics and her commitment to our department.​