The Educational Opportunity Fellowship (EOF) is designed to enable promising students who are first generation college graduates or who have acute financial need and who do not fare well in conventional competitions for graduate fellowships. Students who have attended marginally adequate or inadequate schools, who have been required to work excessively while attending school, or whose social and economic background make acquiring graduate education an unreasonably difficult enterprise are encouraged to apply.

The fellowship includes a stipend of $1,500 for a given academic year and a tuition reduction. The fellowship entitles nonresident students to pay tuition at the resident rate for up to a maximum or 12 credit hours per semester. A possible summer award includes a $350 stipend and 6 credit hours. Some EOF Fellows are granted stipends for a second year upon reapplication. However, in no case is EOF support available beyond a two-year period.

To be considered for an Equal Opportunity Fellowship, an individual must be:

• first-generation college student (neither parent has a baccalaureate degree) or demonstrate acute financial need
• of promising academic ability even though educational and/or economic background may have hampered preparation for graduate level work
• admitted to or continuing with full-time graduate study at Indiana University at the master's or doctoral level
• a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• By January 12, students should submit a completed EOF student application form to their graduate program.
• File a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline of January 1.