Gateway to Graduate Education

Gateway to Graduate Education

Interested in pursuing graduate school in the Big Ten Academic Alliance? Check out our graduate programs!

Big Ten Academic Alliance member universities offer more than 1,850 different programs of study and the Big Ten Academic Alliance has a nationally-renowned portfolio of dynamic programs and initiatives that enrich the offerings available to students, faculty, and administrators at each university.

When you join a Big Ten Academic Alliance university, your opportunities expand exponentially across the breadth of the member universities.

Gateway to Graduate Education

University of Chicago

A top research university in a world-class city, the University of Chicago is known for its distinctive culture of intellectual freedom and critical inquiry. Since 1890, University of Chicago scholars have redefined their fields with such discoveries as the structure of DNA, the theory of black holes, and pioneering practices in education. More than eighty-five recipients of the Nobel Prize have been students, researchers, or faculty at the University of Chicago.

Graduate Programs

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana in east-central Illinois, near the cities of Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis.  The University is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty.

Graduate Programs

Indiana University

Indiana_University_-_small673eIndiana University attracts students from around the globe who want the ideal college experience—great traditions, a gorgeous campus, international culture, Big Ten sports, and an active academic climate. Innovation, creativity, and academic freedom are hallmarks of IU Bloomington and its world-class contributions in research and the arts.

Graduate Programs

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is a major national research university located on a 1,900-acre campus in Iowa City in southeast Iowa, on the Iowa River. The University has world-renowned research programs in genetics, hydraulics, and speech and hearing, and has recorded major innovations in agricultural medicine, biocatalysis, biomedical engineering, biomedical sciences, and pharmacology education.

Graduate Programs

University of Maryland

University of Maryland Situated just miles from Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland is one of the premier centers for graduate education, research, scholarship, and creative activity in the United States. Maryland houses over 200 graduate degree programs, including 83 doctoral programs, enrolling nearly 11,000 students from every state in the union and from around the globe. The University confers approximately 600 doctoral degrees and 2,200 masters degrees annually.

University of Michigan

University_of_Michigan_-_small9c58World-class faculty. Groundbreaking research. An exceptional health system. Beautiful surroundings. A robust cultural life. Welcome to the University of Michigan, a place with a storied past and a boundless future. The University of Michigan invites you to explore the diverse and vibrant community that makes The Michigan Difference come to life.

Graduate Programs

Michigan State University

Michigan_State_University_-_small364fMichigan State University is one of the top research universities in the world—on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we're a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.

Graduate Programs

University of Minnesota

University_of_Minnesota_-_small8c49The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is world-renowned for its great academics, great opportunities, great location, and great value. As a member of the esteemed Association of American Universities, the University of Minnesota is proud to offer the highest quality academic programs to students in a vibrant campus community.

Graduate Programs

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University_of_Nebraska_-_small4d49The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is one of the nation's leading teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities. Offering a unique combination of success, support, collaboration, community, balance, and possibilities UNL is a place where students can thrive and excel.

Graduate Programs

Northwestern University

Northwestern_University_-_small8da5Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Northwestern University provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago. Northwestern's 10 graduate and professional schools offer more than 100 graduate degree programs.

Graduate Programs
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The Ohio State University

Ohio_State_University_-_smallb51bThe Ohio State University is one of America’s largest and most comprehensive institutions. Students select from 170 undergraduate majors and more than 250 master’s, doctoral, and professional degree programs. Rated one of the nation’s top-20 public universities, the Ohio State University is further recognized by a top-rated academic medical center and a premier cancer hospital and research center.

Graduate Programs

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania_State_University_-_smallf6f7Penn State is a world-class public research university with a broad mission of teaching, research and public service. Ranked as one of the world’s top universities, Penn State serves more than 98,000 students and attracts nearly $850 million in research support annually. Through its 24 campuses, which include a medical college, two law schools, an online World Campus and a school of graduate professional studies, Penn State also generates more than $17 billion in economic impact.

Graduate Programs

Purdue University

Purdue_University_-_smalla100Purdue University is an internationally-renowned university located in West Lafayette, Indiana.  The University offers over 70 graduate programs with more than 600 research and study areas organized in 10 colleges and schools within the Graduate School.


Graduate Programs
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Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Rutgers is dedicated to teaching that meets the highest standards of excellence; to conducting research that breaks new ground; and to providing services, solutions, and clinical care that help individuals and the local, national, and global communities where they live. With 10,000 graduate and professional students from around the globe, Rutgers is a leading research university in one of the world’s great metropolitan region.

Graduate Programs

University of Wisconsin-Madison

University_of_Wisconsin-Madison_-_smalld9b2The University of Wisconsin is a world-class university, nationally and internationally recognized for our academic excellence, incredible students, inspiring faculty, exceptional value, and an amazing campus and community. Our world-class faculty will teach you how to use what you learn in the classroom in the real world.

Graduate Programs
Why Wisconsin?

Big Ten Academic Alliance Resources and Programs

Summer Research Opportunities Program
Through the Big Ten Academic Alliance SROP program, students can enhance their academic and research skills by working one-on-one with a faculty mentor from top-ranked research institutions. Undergraduate students gain experience and exposure to Big Ten Academic Alliance graduate departments as SROP participants to increase their advantages as a graduate applicant

FreeApp
FreeApp, the Big Ten Academic Alliance's graduate application fee waiver program is designed to expand participation of underrepresented students in graduate education. It enables prospective students to request a graduate application fee waiver for Ph.D or Master of Fine Arts programs at participating universities. 

Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Institute Fellowship
The Big Ten Academic Alliance and Smithsonian Institute have partnered to provide opportunities for graduate students to conduct research in association with the members of the Smithsonian professional research staff and to utilize the resources of the Institution. These one-year fellowships are in order to support research in residence at Smithsonian Institution facilities. Fellowships carry a stipend of $30,000. All fields of study that are actively pursued by the museums and research organizations of the Smithsonian Institution are eligible.

Traveling Scholar
The Traveling Scholar program enables doctoral students to spend up to a full academic year pursuing specialized courses of study, researching unique library collections, and working in advanced laboratories and facilities at other Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions —with no change in registration procedures from their home university or additional tuition

Reciprocal Library Borrowing
Students at Big Ten Academic Alliance universities have over 120 million volumes at their disposal thanks to member university library agreements that allow undergraduate and graduate students borrowing privileges at any Big Ten Academic Alliance member library either in person or through a request for delivery.

Big Ten Academic Alliance Directory
The Big Ten Academic Alliance Directory offers doctoral alumni from Big Ten Academic Alliance universities increased exposure to potential employers. Doctoral degree recipients who are members of groups underrepresented in the higher education and who are alumni of the universities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance can submit their listing to the Directory.