To maintain the focus needed to complete the degree, the University discourages PhD students from seeking outside employment and offers financial support through research and teaching assistantships, which cover tuition and pay a stipend, and fellowships. The University also provides a modest research budget.

Financial aid is structured so that each student is typically a research assistant for 3 years and a teaching assistant or instructor for 1 year. In this way, each student gains important developmental experience in both teaching and research.