Graduate School Funding Affiliates

These programs are both internal and external affiliates of the Graduate School. In some cases a student may apply, and in other cases a student must be nominated for the program.

WRDP | NIH Biotech | DGRP | ARCS | GDAPP

Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)

The WRGP allows master’s graduate certificate and Ph.D. students who are residents of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states to enroll in any participating programs within the participating institutions and pay resident tuition. The average savings is about $14,900 per student.

How to apply

Apply for admission and identify yourself as a WICHE WRGP applicant to be considered for the discounted tuition rate. Programs give a limited number of reduced tuition seats each year, so apply early.

NIH Biotech Training Grants

The NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Program at WSU offers interdisciplinary training to enhance the graduate experience and produce versatile scientists and engineers to address the future needs of biotechnology in academic, industrial, or government service. The program provides state-of-the-art training in basic science relevant to biotechnology and education in the applied aspects of biotechnology with a particular emphasis on protein science.

Trainees in the Program are admitted for graduate studies through one of the participating academic units, then nominated for a traineeship:

• Department of Chemistry
• School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
• Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
• School of Molecular Biosciences
• Program in Molecular Plant Sciences
• Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology

Trainee positions are supported by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the NIH, and contributions by WSU.

PNNL-WSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program

Washington state is home to several research institutions, and Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are paving the way in clean energy, smart manufacturing, sustainability, and national security innovation. And they’re seeking fresh minds.

Through the PNNL-WSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program (DGRP), Ph.D. students will earn a stipend along with benefits, funded by their WSU and PNNL advisors, while working under a prestigious graduate committee on nationally relevant research. It is a unique opportunity to tap into the knowledge and world-class research infrastructure available at both institutions.

DGRP students will work with faculty at WSU and scientists at PNNL while completing their graduate coursework and subsequently transfer to PNNL for the remaining years of their PhD program to gain hands-on research experience with PNNL scientists. Research opportunities include but are not limited to the following areas:

• Radiochemistry
• Electric power and Smart Grid
• Biofuels, bio-products, and catalysis
• Environmental, water and soil science and engineering
• Current and past areas of research can be found here

ARCS Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS)

In 1999, Washington State University Graduate School was designated as an ARCS recipient school. The first ARCS Fellowships were awarded to the College of Veterinary Medicine through the Seattle Chapter of ARCS. The Seattle Chapter is one of twelve chapters of the ARCS Foundation which has supported graduate education in the natural sciences, medicine, and engineering.

By offering financial incentives to graduate students, the ARCS program further encourages the study of science, medicine, and engineering at the most prestigious universities in the United States. Since 1958, the ARCS Foundation has awarded over $66 million to support research in the fields of science and technology. Nationally, 14 ARCS chapters support graduate fellowships at 43 universities. ARCS Foundation Fellows possess outstanding scholastic records and proven abilities and receive multiple offers to study at other top national universities.

For more information about ARCS, please visit, the Seattle Chapter (ARCS).

Graduate Diversity Assistantship Pathways Program (GDAPP)

The Graduate Diversity Assistantship Pathways Program (GDAPP) intends to increase access and opportunities to graduate education for domestic students from underrepresented groups and increase diversity in our graduate programs. GDAPP assistantships are funded through a partnership between the WSU Graduate School and the student’s program. In addition to funding, recipients become part of the GDAPP Scholar community. GDAPP retention and professional development programming and services are provided by the Graduate School.