With the cost of education on a constant rise, students often lookout for ways and means to fund their studies, research, or career school. Grants are one of the many options available to seek financial assistance and alleviate the cost of schooling.
Unlike Scholarships that are typically merit-oriented, Grants target specific areas of education and research, or specific target groups. They are not necessarily based on a student’s academic prowess or accomplishments, but on other factors that are generally not covered by a regular scholarship.
This article illustrates the various kinds of Grants for Graduate School available for a student to consider, the steps to take when applying for a Grant, certain basic guidelines and tips, and a whole lot more.
Important: Several websites will offer their services to receive a Grant. Not all of these websites are genuine or legal. It is therefore advisable to exercise caution when searching the internet for a suitable Grant. Learn and Understand more about Scholarship Scams before seeking any Grant “service”.
Grants are considered as ‘free money’ since they do not have to be paid back or returned. Most Grants are awarded in the form of ‘cash’ and, as a result, can be used for an array of educational needs and related expenses of a student. This can reduce the cost of education considerably and also present the flexibility to concentrate on or take up other areas of interest and pursuit.
Broadly speaking, Grants are either based on complex formulae or plain and simple factors such as ethnicity, community, socio-economic status, gender, academic performance, or a particular subject/field like teaching, music, nursing, or sports. For example, there are specific Grants awarded only to disabled students, some that address female students, some addressing only African American students, and so on.
Grants for Graduate School are also handed out by Universities or Colleges one is applying to, based on a wide range of criteria. Similarly, the military is another source of graduate school funding, as are corporates, private funders, and the Federal or State Governments.
All in all, Grant money is available from a host of sources and it is for this very reason that a student must explore, research, and understand what suits them and their needs the best, before applying for one.
There are hundreds of Grants for Graduate School available, some for a specific school year and others that are for the taking perpetually. Since Grants are, in broad terms, not quite academic-achievement oriented, they tend to be unlimited by scope and reach. For every student who has a specific need or comes from a particular background or belongs to a particular race, region, or even religion, there is perhaps a Grant available for all of these and more! Since it is quite impossible to list out all the Grants that are out there, we have categorized them for easy understanding and exploration:
Many students worry about how to apply for Grants for Graduate School. The process is neither cumbersome nor complex; it just requires patience, focus, and a keen sense of purpose. With these, one could quite easily apply for a Grant for Graduate School.
Note: Many Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Submitting an application early significantly improves the chances of being accepted for funding.
Truth be told, every Grant application is unique, but having said that, certain points or sections are commonly required to be part of an application. These sections are, but not limited to:
Grants for Graduate School vary depending on several factors, including the state of residency of a student and current academic pursuits. Given this fact, it is nearly impossible to list out all the Grants that are available across the length and breadth of the country. However, here are a few that are popular among students falling under certain categories:
Name | Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program |
Agency | National Science Foundation |
Brief Description | The IGE Program encourages the development of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. |
Closing Date | March 25, 2023 |
Award Ceiling | $300,000 |
Name | Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant |
Agency | Federal Student Aid |
Brief Description | The TEACH Grant Program provides Grants to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework to take up teaching as a career. |
Closing Date | October 31, 2023 |
Award Ceiling | $4,000 |
Name | June & Wylie Selden Memorial Endowment |
Agency | United Negro College Fund |
Brief Description | June & Wylie Selden Memorial Endowment is a need-based scholarship for students furthering their college education for the 2020-2021 school year. (ethnicity based) |
Closing Date | March 25, 2023 |
Award Ceiling | N.A |
Name | Student Research Grants |
Agency | Montana Academy of Sciences |
Brief Description | Student Research Grants awarded by the Montana Academy of Sciences are to encourage students with conducting scientific research in higher-education institutions in the state of Montana. |
Closing Date | Closed for 2020; TBA for 2023 |
Award Ceiling | $1,500 |
Name | The American Fellowship Program |
Agency | American Association of University Women (AAUW) |
Brief Description | AAUW supports women scholars who are currently involved in the full-time study to complete dissertations, conduct postdoctoral research, or prepare research for publication. |
Closing Date | November 1, 2023 |
Award Ceiling | $30,000 |
Name | ACS Grants |
Agency | American Chemical Society |
Brief Description | American Chemical Society offers a wide range of Grants to students, as well as for research and projects. |
Closing Date | Varies |
Award Ceiling | Varies |
Name | Fulbright |
Agency | U. S. Department of State |
Brief Description | Fulbright Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards are available to students pursuing open study, assistantships, and research. |
Closing Date | Varies |
Award Ceiling | Varies |
Applying for Grants for Graduate School may be a simple-enough affair, but there are ways and means to stay ahead of the game and improve the chances of being awarded one. Here is a list of tips and best practices to follow, that may very well add zest to the Grant application:
No, Graduate School students are not eligible for Pell Grants, only Undergraduate Students qualify for them.
Grants for Graduate School are many, each one with its unique flavor. It is quite easy for a student to get sucked into the quagmire of endless lists of Grants, which is why seeking help to easily locate one that fits the bill, is always welcome. Here are a few student resources to do just that:
In addition to the official U.S. Government websites, other resources are equally useful to students looking to fund their education. Here are a few:
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