How To Get Scholarships For Grad School

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master's in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Updated: November 23rd, 2021

One of the biggest misconceptions about student debt is that it is mostly impacting college students. The reality is that the graduate school student debt is growing at an even more rapid pace. Luckily there are a number of great graduate student scholarships available!

So whether you are a masters student or a doctoral student you can receive funding to help pay for college (and also eliminate your student debt burden).

Jump ahead to:

Top scholarships for graduate students in 2021
Paying for graduate school
Frequently asked questions
Tips for paying for graduate school
Summary of scholarships for graduate students
Upcoming scholarships

Keep on reading to learn more about paying for graduate school with financial aid and scholarships!

Top scholarships for graduate students in 2021

Scholarships360 $1,000 No-Essay Scholarship

Eligibility: Easy scholarship open to any student who creates a Scholarships360 account!
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: September 30, 2022

$1,000 November Scholarship

Eligibility:Open to all high school and college students
Amount:$1,000
Deadline: November 20, 2021

$2,000 College Repayment Grant

Eligibility: Open to college graduates who are paying back student loan debt. Parents who took out student loans for their children who have graduated are also eligible!
Amount:$2,000
Deadline: November 30, 2021

$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship

Eligibility:High school, college, community and graduate students
Amount:$2,000
Deadline: November 30, 2021

Markforged Distinguished Women Engineers Grant

Eligibility: Open to all college and graduate students who share a project they are/have worked on that demonstrates their ability as an engineer
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: November 19, 2021

Daily Upside Business News Scholarship

Eligibility: Graduate students majoring in Business Administration/Management
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November 30, 2021

Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship

Eligibility: These scholarships are open to female undergraduate and master's students studying artificial intelligence/machine learning, data science, computer science or mobile/web development at North American universities, including Canada and Mexico
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: December 4, 2021

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

Eligibility: Applicants must be qualified for admission to full-time graduate study and working toward graduate degrees in an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. Students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada are not eligible
Amount: $12,500
Deadline: December 15, 2o21

Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, community college students, or graduate students who write an essay about cyberbullying
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: December 31, 2021

Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship

Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 16 and 26 who submit a video entry about their life's passion
Amount: $5,000 to $25,000 per year
Deadline: January 11, 2022

John Lennon Scholarships

Eligibility: Current student or alumnus/alumna at a U.S. college or university between the ages of 17 and 24 who submit an original song in any genre
Amount: $20,000 (three will be awarded!)
Deadline: February 4, 2022

Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship

Eligibility: First-year Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or women MBA students pursuing a 2021 Summer Associate position at Goldman Sachs
Amount: Fellowship recipients receive a $35,000 award in addition to the Summer Associate salary. Upon successful completion of the summer internship and acceptance of a full-time offer, Fellowship recipients will be awarded an additional $40,000, plus any full-time Associate signing bonus, as applicable.
Deadline: March 28, 2022

Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship

Eligibility: High school seniors accepted to college, undergraduate and graduate students in the USA interested in photography
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May 1, 2022

National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses

Eligibility: Open to aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: May 16, 2022

Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

Eligibility: High seniors, college students, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in health, wellness, or fitness
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: August 1, 2022

Program-specific graduate school scholarships

If you are pursuing a specific graduate program, you can check out these program-specific scholarship guides:

Accounting Scholarships
Computer Science Scholarships
Law School Scholarships
MBA Scholarships
Medical School Scholarships
Nursing Scholarships

Graduate school funding sources

Students will generally pay for graduate school using a few different funding sources. The most common sources are private scholarships, need-based financial aid and grants, and university-specific scholarships.

Private graduate school scholarships

There some great private organizations that offer scholarships for students pursuing their masters or doctoral degrees! These scholarships support graduate students of all stripes including medical school students, law school students, business school students, masters students, and doctoral students!

Jump ahead: Top scholarships for graduate students

Need-based financial aid for grad school

Need-based financial aid is another important way to pay for graduate school. For graduate school, need-based aid can include both grants (that don't need to be repaid) and student loans (that do need to be repaid).

For need-based graduate school financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. This allows students to be considered for both need-based grants and federal student loans. Some colleges may also require additional forms, so always check with your specific graduate program for more details about their financial aid process.

Many colleges may also require students to submit the CSS Profile, which is a financial aid application that is hosted by the College Board. The CSS Profile is how students can access institutional financial aid from the universities.

University-specific merit scholarships

Many graduate schools will also offer university-specific scholarship opportunities. You should check with the graduate programs that you are applying for for more information about scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible for.

Some graduate students may qualify for fellowships or assistantships that allow them to gain valuable experience and also receive funding to pay for grad school.

Frequently asked questions about graduate school scholarships

Is graduate school worth it?

Because of the cost, students who are considering graduate school need to give it serious thought before making the commitment. Primarily, students should ask themselves: "is graduate school necessary or worth it for me?"

Assessing return on investment (ROI) is an extremely important part of the grad school search and selection process. In some cases, it is better for students to go to the more expensive grad school if the payoff is higher. Employment statistics and average starting salaries are important metrics to look at when comparing different masters and doctoral programs. But make sure not to take out more in student loans than you can repay.

As far as the necessity of graduate school, you should figure out whether your aspirations require it. If you want to become a doctor, lawyer, or professor, then yes, graduate school will be required. If your aspirations are unclear or you are interested in a field that does not absolutely require a master's degree or doctoral degree, then you may want to hold off on grad school. For many students, work experience will be more valuable than a graduate degree.

How do I get a full ride to grad school?

There are several different routes to get a full ride to grad school. Some students will work a job for a few years after they get their bachelor's degree. Their job may offer them tuition reimbursement for grad school, which could end up being a full ride. Since employers generally prefer promoting from within rather than hiring from outside, this can be a mutually beneficial option.

Another way to get a full ride to grad school is through graduate assistantships. These typically do not offer a full ride, but some students with especially impressive accomplishments may receive one. You can also look for merit scholarships either at a private level or an institutional level. Make sure to check out the opportunities that your potential university may offer for full rides.

Does FAFSA pay for grad school?

You will fill out the FAFSA to apply for financial aid in grad school. Your school will use this information to determine your need-based aid. However, the FAFSA will not qualify you for the same federal aid opportunities that it did in undergraduate. Grad students cannot receive Pell Grants, for instance. However, they can take out federal loans.

Can I get scholarships for a master's program?

You can definitely get scholarships for a master's program! There are many different ways to go about finding opportunities. You can start by perusing our lists of scholarships by major. Many specialized private scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Another option is to look for scholarships from your institution. You can find out about these on your institution's website and by reaching out to their financial aid office. They may offer scholarships specifically for students who take on graduate assistantships.

When can I start applying for graduate school scholarships?

It's never too early to apply for graduate school scholarships! If you are planning on going straight from undergrad to a graduate program, you should start applying at the beginning of your senior year. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so in order to maximize your potential opportunities, it's best to start early and keep an eye on new opportunities as they arise.

You can use our scholarship search tool to keep your finger on the pulse of new scholarship opportunities. We will custom-match you with vetted scholarship opportunities which will automatically update as new deadlines approach.

Do graduate students get Pell Grants?

Graduate students do not get Pell Grants. However, they should still out the FAFSA to apply for institutional need-based aid. They are also still eligible for federal student loans. To compensate for the lack of Pell Grants, it's a good idea to pursue other financial aid opportunities such as graduate assistantships and fellowships.

Related:Grad school financial aid options

Tips for paying for graduate school

Paying for graduate school has a few key differences from paying for undergraduate. Here are some tips to help you take advantage of every form of financial aid out there:

Look for scholarships and fellowships at your school

Check out your school's website and reach out to the financial aid office to learn about scholarships and fellowships. They may refer you to institutional opportunities, or, since they are experts in the field, they may know about specific opportunities that suit your interests or demographics. You can't go wrong by reaching out to the financial aid office for advice.

Also see:How to win local scholarships

Apply for scholarships early and often

Remember, it's never too early or late to apply for scholarships. Each opportunity has a different deadline, so you should be looking for opportunities regularly. Our scholarship finder is a great way to keep up with the latest opportunities. We will match you with vetted scholarships that automatically update as deadlines pass and new scholarships open.

Proofread your application essays!

Essays are one of the best ways to stand out from the crowd in a scholarship application! Check out our guides to writing about yourself, writing a 250 word essay, and writing a 500 word essay. We also have a guide to writing a winning scholarship essay. Even if you are a confident writer, it's a good idea to check out these guides. Scholarship essays are written with a different intent than the essays you write in school.

Check with your employer about tuition reimbursement

An increasing number of employers now offer tuition reimbursement. With tuition reimbursement, your employer will help pay for your continued education. Since employers generally prefer hiring from within instead of hiring new employees, this works out for both employer and employee.

Some employers only offer opportunities to pursue education to advance your career at their company. But others, such as Starbucks, Chipotle, or Amazon, allow you to pursue different fields of education that you can use to get hired elsewhere.

Consider inexpensive online options

Online educational programs are becoming increasingly popular, especially after the pandemic. You can find a lot of reputable online graduate programs through Coursera. Schools offer a wide breadth of programs through Coursera, including iMBAs. There are also many scholarships available specifically for online students.

Consider certificate programs as an alternative

For some students, graduate school might not be a financial option at the moment. But there are still ways to advance your career through further education. College alternatives, such as certificate programs and coding bootcamps, can raise your earning potential with significantly less time and financial commitment.

Explore these other scholarship categories

Top law school scholarships
Top med school scholarships
Top MBA scholarships
Top scholarships for online students
Top STEM scholarships
Top scholarships for women

Summary of scholarships for graduate students

Scholarships360 $1,000 No-Essay Scholarship
$1,000 November Scholarship
$2,000 College Repayment Grant
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship
Markforged Distinguished Women Engineers Grant
Daily Upside Business News Scholarship
Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
John Lennon Scholarships
Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship
Greater Than Gatsby Annual Scholarship
National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

Upcoming grad school scholarships

Coming soon!