If you’re thinking of going back to school, the prospect of paying for another tuition can be intimidating. Here are 11 places where you can begin your search for ways to finance your education.
1. Research Grants and Scholarships
If you will be pursuing research-based studies, look up research councils in your fields. These organizations will often offer grants to graduate students. For example, Postdoctoral and Senior Research Awards are distributed by the Research Associateship Programs in the National Academies to students pursuing the sciences, social sciences, mathematics and engineering. Visit National Academies for more information.
Research grants are also offered by universities and professional organizations and associations in your field. For example, someone studying sociology could look up opportunities at the American Sociological Association or Alpha Kappa Delta – The International Sociology Honor Society.
2. Programs at the Institute of International Education
Interested in going to graduate school abroad? This organization offers a variety of programs to students looking to study certain fields around the world. Their most renowned scholarship is the Fulbright Program, a competitive grant that allows students to live and study abroad. However, IIE offers many other opportunities, like corporate scholarships, grants for engineers wishing to study in another country, and financial support to students specializing in endangered languages.
3. Write to Grant Management Branches
Institutions at private and government agencies, like the National Institute of Mental Health, sometimes fund schools through grants. Request a list of schools that they financially support and apply to those universities.
4. Apply to Diversity/Minority Scholarships
These kinds of scholarships seek to help students from diverse ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds and are sometimes rewarded without taking into account financial need. Look up associations that represent your background, nationality, or religion and ask whether they offer scholarships. Some examples of places you can start your search are The Hispanic Scholarship Fund, The American Indian Graduate Center, or UNCF (United Negro College Fund).
When you are researching, make sure to look for scholarships in your specific field of interest. For example, there are diversity/minority scholarships for graduates pursuing advertising, marketing or public relations (through the LAGRANT Foundation;)nutrition, physical education or culinary arts (through CANFIT😉 and business or public administration (through the Smithsonian Institute).
5. Apply to Disability Scholarships
There are scholarships out there for students with physical, mental, or cognitive disabilities. For example, 180 Medical or the American Association on Health and Disability offer this kind of financial support.
6. Read Related Journals and Magazines
Often, journals and magazines will advertise scholarship and grant opportunities. Make sure to look through publications that are related to your field of interest.
7. Join a Service Program
Becoming a volunteer for a program like AmeriCoprs, Peace Corps, or Teach for America can allow you to receive awards and scholarships at certain schools. Make sure to explore the benefits each program offers before committing.
8. Be a Research or Teaching Assistant
Many universities offer graduate students to make money by collaborating on research with a professor or helping in an undergraduate class. While this option may be time consuming, it’s also a good way to forge relationships with faculty or students who are also interested in your field.
9. Seek Employment at a University
Working full-time for a university can sometimes mean a discount on tuition. This possibility is not available at every school, so make sure to ask whether this option exists at the universities that you are considering.
10. Ask Your Current Employer
If you are currently working, ask your employer about funds or scholarship opportunities that the company may offer as you decide to go back to school. For example, if you are working as a journalist, your employer may allow you to take a leave to pursue the Nieman Fellowship at Harvard.
11. Build Your Network
Reach out to people in your academic and professional network. Contact professors, bosses, co-workers, and advisors you have a connection with and let them know you are thinking of going to graduate school. They may know of scholarship opportunities or put you in touch with someone who does.
For more tips on how to effectively network, read our these articles about networking:
(Last Updated on February 26, 2024)
Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com
FAQs
Tips for Getting More Financial Aid for Grad School
- Ask a School to Reconsider or Re-evaluate Your Financial Aid Offer. ...
- Be Appreciative, Polite, and Concise When Negotiating With Prospective Schools. ...
- Approach One School With a Better Offer From Another. ...
- Calculate What You Need. ...
- Persistence Can Pay Off.
Absolutely. Anyone pursuing their education should apply for FAFSA whether you're just looking for scholarships, or a combination of scholarships, work-study, and federal loans.
How can I make money paying for grad school? ›
7 Strategies to Pay for Graduate School
- Get an employer to pay for grad school.
- Secure a scholarship or fellowship.
- Explore tuition-free grad schools.
- Consider doctoral programs.
- Work for the grad school.
- Reach out to the admissions office.
- Borrow wisely.
There are ways to get through grad school debt-free, including research or teaching assistant positions, merit scholarships, one-year programs, working while going to school, attending a public school, finding niche programs, working before going to grad school, and finding a job with tuition reimbursem*nt programs.
How do you politely ask for scholarship money? ›
Call it negotiation.
Find other ways to say what you're asking for: “Is there any way for you to offer additional assistance?” or, “Are there any additional scholarships available?” will be viewed more kindly than a direct request to match another college's award or “negotiate” a better price.
How do I argue for more scholarship money? ›
Ask the school if it can offer more scholarship money to make your attendance more feasible. Applicants should use family circ*mstances as compelling reasons for the school to reconsider. A substantial income change, medical issues, or childcare expenses could help sway the decision in your favor.
Will FAFSA pay for a master's degree? ›
Yes, financial aid is available for grad students via the online FAFSA form, just as is the case for undergraduates. After filling out your FAFSA, you'll receive a breakdown of your options, which may include federal student loans, work-study programs and school- and state-funded grants and scholarships.
How much will FAFSA pay for grad school? ›
Pell Grant: Up to $7,395 (for grad students pursuing a teaching certification only). TEACH Grant: Up to $4,000. Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Up to $20,500 (or more for professional students, in some cases). Grad PLUS Loans: Up to your full cost of attendance (minus other financial aid you've received).
How much can I borrow from FAFSA for grad school? ›
$57,500 for undergraduates-No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. $138,500 for graduate or professional students-No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.
How does anyone afford grad school? ›
You've probably heard of scholarships. They're one of the most common types of financial aid. Scholarships are financial awards that help fund your graduate study. They're available from schools and a number of different sources, such as private organizations, nonprofits and state and federal governments.
Most students pay for grad school using a combination of savings, scholarships, grants, fellowships, assistantships, and student loans. Depending on your school and your situation, you may also qualify for federal work-study or you may be able to ask your employer to reimburse some of your costs.
How to graduate college debt free? ›
Here are 6 proven steps to building a zero-debt college plan.
- Step 1: Know What It (Actually) Costs. ...
- Step 2: Ask Your Employer About Tuition Reimbursem*nt. ...
- Step 3: Find Free Grant Money. ...
- Step 4: Find Scholarship Opportunities. ...
- Step 5: Claim Your Tax Credits. ...
- Step 6: Pursue Alternative Funding.
What's the average graduate student loan debt? According to a study from the National Center for Education Statistics, the average student loan debt for graduate school is about $76,620. However, debt varies widely based on the type of degree you seek and how long it takes you to complete it.
Is grad school worth it financially? ›
Consider Financial Aid and Job Training Options
Despite the risk of borrowing to pay for graduate school, experts say a graduate education can still make good financial sense. But students should consider the financial aid available to them before choosing to enroll in a graduate program.
How to pay for cost of living while in grad school? ›
Fellowships are merit-based grants awarded to graduate students, and many come with small stipends. So they often cover your tuition as well as room and board and other living expenses. Occasionally, fellowships even cover health insurance.
Is it OK to ask for more scholarship money? ›
We have written a blog on negotiating financial aid awards, which you can read for further advice on that topic. Here, we are going to focus on asking for additional scholarship money. First off, you should know that it is always fine to go back and ask the college for more funds. There is no downside.
Can you get more scholarship money than you need? ›
If you earned scholarships and grants that add up to more than your total cost of attendance, your school may send you a refund of the leftover scholarship money.
Can you request more money from Grad PLUS loan? ›
Note: You can request an increase in the amount of a Direct PLUS Loan you previously requested if it's for the same school and same award year. The loan can't exceed the cost of attendance (COA) minus other aid.
