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Graduate School Scholarships
Graduate education is costly. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports an average cost of $20,368 for a graduate degree from a public university. Fortunately, graduate school scholarships can cover all or part of the total cost for your degree. Your university can be a great source for scholarships. There are abundant graduate school scholarships through the private sector, national organizations, and industry-related associations. To help you find the right scholarship for your degree, we’ve listed the top and most-popular scholarships and how to apply for them. Learn about timelines for scholarship applications and what goes into them.
Top 10 Graduate School Scholarships
- Fulbright Scholar Program
- Marshall Scholarships
- Harry S. Truman Scholarship
- Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships
- Paul and Daisy Soros Graduate Fellowships for New Americans
- National Health Service Corps
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
- The Rhodes Scholarships
- Government Finance Officers Association, Daniel B. Goldberg Scholarship
- The Churchill Scholarship
Graduate Scholarships by the Numbers
Borrowing money for graduate school is no substitute for a scholarship, which does not require repayment. The Center for American Progress reports that more than $37 billion have been borrowed by graduate students, creating the nation more than $1.4 trillion in debt. Counterbalancing the loans, Debt.org reports that an estimated $53 billion in scholarships are awarded by the US Department of Education and private sources each year.
One of the best places to find a scholarship is at your university. More than 70 percent of scholarships come directly from the institution. The following factors may organize graduate school scholarships:
- Major
- Professional orientation
- Gender
- Minority Status
- Veteran Status, and more.
Merit-based graduate school scholarships may be based on the applicant’s exemplary professional and public service experience, academic performance, and promise. Need-based scholarships are determined by factors such as student income, family participation, and tuition costs.
How to apply for Graduate School Scholarships
The process for obtaining a scholarship begins with the search. We’ve done a lot of work for you already. Be sure to apply to as many scholarships for which you qualify. Here is a timeline for landing graduate school scholarships.
Gain acceptance to graduate school.
Perform a comprehensive scholarship search
Visit websites of scholarship-granting institutions to gather application requirements. Note application deadlines for every institution.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application establishes your profile that is used to calculate financial eligibility.
Take all required graduate school admission exams if the scholarship requires them.
Organize applications for scholarships for graduate students by the deadline, tackling the earliest ones first.
Compile the supporting documents required for your application (test scores, essays, transcripts, recommendation letters).
Contact former professors and round up recommendation letters.
Complete personal essays required for the scholarship application. Personalize essays for each granting institution.
Begin submitting applications for scholarships with deadlines this month.
Continue applications to scholarships with May deadlines.
Double-check with the scholarship organization to ensure your application is complete and accepted.
Arrange and conduct on-site, telephone, or online interviews if required. That’s it. Now it’s time for the waiting game.
Most Popular Graduate School Scholarships
- Beinecke Scholarship
The Sperry and Hutchinson Company established these graduate school scholarships in 1971 to support students in the arts, social sciences, and humanities. The scholarship awards each recipient $4,000 upon entering graduate school and another $30,000 for the remainder of the program. - Bank of America MBA Diversity Fellowship
The B of A program provides up to $40,000 towards tuition and fees for students pursuing their Masters of Business administration. Applicants must identify as Black/African American, LGBT+, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, military veteran, woman, or disabled student. - Paul and Daisy Soros Graduate Fellowships for New Americans
For more than 20 years, Soros has offered up to $90,000 in graduate school scholarships to each of the 30 fellows selected annually. Applicants must be both high school and college graduates from United States schools. The fellowships are open to immigrants and children of immigrants. - American Library Association Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship
These graduate school scholarships are open to students pursuing an MLS degree. They must be committed to working in children’s librarianship for a population up to 14 years of age. Every year, two $8,000 scholarships are offered. - National Health Service Corps
The NHS Scholarship was created to support graduate students in primary-care health professions. The scholarship pays for up to four years of post-baccalaureate schooling. All recipients must commit to two years or more of healthcare service. The amount is one year of support in exchange for a two-year service commitment. - Nursing School Scholarship, NursingTrack.com
The $1,000 Nursing School Scholarship Is open to students pursuing a graduate degree in nursing. Students apply online and write a 600-800 word essay describing the most important challenges in nursing. Selection factors include GPA and relevant experience. - Harry S. Truman Scholarship
The Truman Scholarship pays for three years of graduate study, including tuition and room and board. Applicants must plan to enter a career in public service for up to 7 years following graduation. This highly competitive scholarship accepts 600 applications for 45 awards. - American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation)
The ASH Foundation scholarship award is open to graduate students pursuing a program in communication sciences and disorders. As many as 15 scholarships of $5,000 are offered annually. - APF Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship
The American Psychological Foundation established the Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship to support graduate research projects to destigmatize mental illness. The graduate scholarship awards recipients $1,000. - National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
Scholarship sponsor Bold.org says the median debt for graduating nurses tops $55,000. The scholarship provides $1,000 toward the cost of a graduate degree. Applicants must demonstrate nursing impact and empathy. - (ISC)2Graduate Cybersecurity Scholarship
The (ISC)2 Graduate Scholarship Program from the Center for Cyber Safety and Education funds 20 annual scholarships ranging from $1,000 – $5,000. Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in information assurance or cybersecurity. - Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
Zonta International sponsors 32 annual scholarships of $2,000 awarded to women in graduate programs in accounting, finance, business management, human resources management, entrepreneurship, marketing, or international business. - Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives, awards $5,000 to applicants enrolled in their financial year of a graduate program in healthcare management (MHA, MPH, MBA in Healthcare Administration). - WayUp $1,000 Aspiring Accountant Scholarship
The Aspiring Accountant Scholarship was designed to help graduate college students decrease student debt. Scholarship sponsor Bold.org reports that these graduate school scholarships are based on an Essay and supporting materials attesting to “Accounting, Ambition, Impact, and Vision”. - Yanmar/SAE Scholarship
Diesel-engine manufacturer Yanmar awards $2,000 to graduate students studying or conducting research into the conservation of energy. Applicants are evaluated on their past academic and professional performance.
Top 10 Graduate School Scholarships – Details
- Fulbright Scholar Program
This is the pinnacle of scholarship programs for graduate students and is highly competitive. Open to professionals, scholars, and artists, Fulbright grants Distinguished Scholar awards to post-baccalaureate programs in more than 140 countries. Funds provide travel costs, tuition, language programs, and Fulbright offers 8,000 grants annually. - Marshall Scholarships
The Marshall Scholarship is granted to qualified graduate-level students who want to attend any British University in any subject, including science, the humanities, and technology. Up to 50 American students receive scholarships each year. - Harry S. Truman Scholarship
The Truman Scholarship pays for three years of graduate study, including tuition and room and board. Applicants must plan to enter a career in public service for up to 7 years following graduation. This highly competitive scholarship accepts 600 applications for 45 awards. - Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships
The WW Teaching Fellowship is offered to Pennsylvania educators in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Recipients receive $32,000 at the beginning of their Masters in Education degree program. - Paul and Daisy Soros Graduate Fellowships for New Americans
For more than 20 years, Soros has offered up to $90,000 in financial support to each of the 30 fellows selected annually. Applicants must be both high school and college graduates from United States schools. The fellowships are open to immigrants and children of immigrants. - National Health Service Corps
The NHS Scholarship was created to support graduate students in primary-care health professions. The scholarship pays for up to four years of post-baccalaureate schooling. All recipients must commit to two years or more of healthcare service. - National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
The NSF awards a total of $46,000 in stipends and tuition coverage for up to three years. Applicants must be pursuing research in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM) fields. - The Rhodes Scholarships
Since 1903, The Rhodes Foundation has offered the single-largest graduate scholarship program in the world. The scholarships pay for tuition, room, and board for up to three years in the participating University of Oxford schools in Britain. - Government Finance Officers Association, Daniel B. Goldberg Scholarship
This GFOA scholarship is for graduate students seeking a finance career in state and local government. One $20,000 scholarship is awarded each year to qualified applicants. The GFOA offers four other scholarships on its website. - The Churchill Scholarship
The scholarship pays for travel, tuition, healthcare, and board for students selected to conduct graduate studies in engineering, math, and science at The University of Cambridge. Applicants are nominated by the more than 120 institutions that participate in the program.
FAQs about Graduate School Scholarships
| Q: Are there tips for how to apply for scholarships for graduate school? |
| A: Apply early and apply to as many scholarships for which you’re qualified. Seek all scholarships, including those from public and private organizations. There is no law restricting you to one scholarship! |
| Q: Can anyone get scholarships for grad school? |
| A: There are plenty of niches to explore, including those serving your chosen profession. Everyone can apply based on their major and career aspirations. But getting one depends on your academic strength, experience, financial need, and other factors. |
| Q: Are there scholarships for graduate students beyond their master’s degree? |
| A: Yes! There are graduate school scholarships for students seeking a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) or Ph.D. Some scholarships support all of these degrees. |
| Q: Are there scholarships for studying abroad? |
| A: Some of the most-prestigious scholarships award qualified students one-year residencies, travel costs, tuition, and room and board. Your university may have study-abroad arrangements with partner schools overseas. |
| Q: Do scholarships require service after graduation? |
| A: Check before you apply. Typically scholarships from federal agencies require a one- or two-year commitment to work within their organization. Service requirements may be particularly true in education, technology, and finance. |
| Q: Do universities have their own scholarships? |
| A: Yes, and you should investigate school resources. There are often university scholarships granted by the entire university as well as those offered by the graduate school or the grad program itself. |
Additional Resources for Graduate School Scholarships
- FastWeb
Founded in May 1995, FastWeb was the first scholarship search organization on the Internet. It has more than 1.5 million college scholarships in its database.
- Unigo
Unigo is a major resource for searching for online graduate school scholarships. Scholarships are categorized by subject.
- Scholarships.com
Scholarships.com offers free searches, having served up 3.7 million scholarship listings.
- Online Masters Colleges is also a great resource. We offer:
In addition, Online Masters Colleges provides expert advice on how to avoid Scholarship Scams.