Scholarships for graduate school can help students pay for college and supplement their income as they pursue a graduate-level academic or professional degree. Even with a variety of options to help reduce the cost of their degree, including fellowships, teaching assistantships, and stipends, graduate students face stiff competition to obtain these awards and often continue struggling to pay living expenses once they receive financial assistance. Graduate scholarships are designed to meet the unique needs of this student group as they strive to obtain their degree in the years ahead.

Amid many sacrifices, the financial commitment required to complete graduate school can have a profound effect on students, both before and after graduation. Many graduate students are faced with the financial burden of paying for school while also working a full-time job and caring for their family, and still the debt grows — totaling nearly $60,000 for the average graduate student. They may have to pass on a lucrative job opportunity with benefits or rearrange personal priorities to complete their degree, which begs the question, "Is it worth it?" For advanced professionals across a variety of in-demand fields, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

Whether pursuing an occupation in medicine, science, or engineering that requires an advanced degree for licensure or certification, or studying in another subject for which a graduate degree is voluntary, graduates can expect to eventually see the benefits of their decision in the long term. Workers with a master's degree out-earn those with only a bachelor's degree by an average of $12,000 a year. Additionally, though it may take some time and is contingent upon factors such as work experience, students with advanced qualifications also enjoy lower unemployment rates and may experience greater job growth in their field of choice after graduation.

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Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements for graduate scholarships typically vary according to the source and type of scholarship. Scholarships may be awarded based on the academic merit, financial need, or cultural heritage of the student, or in a particular subject or industry. Awards may be offered by corporations, government agencies, universities, and professional and nonprofit organizations. Though requirements vary, students may see one or more of the following qualifiers on scholarships for graduate school applications:

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or current enrollment in a bachelor's program
  • Meet specific minimum GPA or other academic requirements
  • Study within a field related to the scholarship (such as business or counseling)
  • Legal U.S. citizen/resident
  • Considering employment with the scholarship's provider (if provided by a corporation or organization)
  • Alumnus of the relevant college or university
  • Participation in community service or volunteer activities related to the scholarship
  • Affiliation with a cultural or ethnic community related to the scholarship

The above list is merely an example of the kinds of eligibility requirements you may encounter when searching for graduate scholarships. Be sure to read through the guidelines carefully; meeting the requirements does not guarantee you will be granted the scholarship. Below are just a few of the various types of graduate scholarships available to qualified applicants:

General Graduate Scholarships

AKA EAF Scholarships

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: August 15

Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. awards graduate scholarships based on academic merit and financial need to full-time graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and involvement.

APF Graduate Student Scholarships

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  • Amount: $1,000-$5,000
  • Deadline: June 30

The American Psychological Foundation and the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology offer more than 21 scholarships for grad school for student research in psychology.

IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Summer Research Grant

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  • Amount: $1,000-$4,000
  • Deadline: March 31

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers offers this grant to graduate students seeking financial support for summer research; students must be members of the IEEE at the time of application.

Western Regional Graduate Program

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  • Amount: savings of more than $14,600
  • Deadline: Varies

This is a tuition-reciprocity program offered through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education that enables graduate students to attend out-of-state WICHE institutions while paying in-state resident tuition rates.


Graduate School Scholarships for Women

Emerging Voices Scholarship

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  • Amount: $2,000
  • Deadline: Varies

The Alliance for Women in Media and the Ford Motor Company Fund sponsor this scholarship for women in media; applicants are required to submit an essay for scholarship eligibility and, if accepted, they may be asked to write four blog posts for AWM and accept their award in person at the Gracies Luncheon in New York City.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Career Development Grants

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: Varies

AAUW's career-development grants are offered to women in graduate study who are preparing to re-enter the workforce or change careers; preference is given to women of color, women pursuing their first advanced degree, or those seeking advanced credentials in nontraditional fields.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Summer/Short-Term Research Publication Grants

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  • Amount: $6,000
  • Deadline: November 15

AAUW's American Fellowship short-term research funding is the oldest scholarship for graduate school for women in the U.S. Applicants must be pursuing graduate or postdoctoral study or research for a dissertation or publication full-time for eight consecutive weeks.

C200 Scholar Award

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  • Amount: Up to $10,000
  • Deadline: Varies

The C200 Foundation offers its Scholar Award — a scholarship for graduate school — to an exemplary female MBA student enrolled at a school that supports the C200 Reachout program each year; the award is based on both individual merit and financial need.

International Peace Scholarship

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  • Amount: Up to $12,500
  • Deadline: December 15

Offered by the Philanthropic Educational Organization, the International Peace Scholarship Fund supports the academic expenses of women in graduate study in the U.S. and Canada.


Graduate Scholarships for African American Students

National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Graduate Scholarships

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  • Amount: Up to $10,000
  • Deadline: Varies

The NBMBAA offers its scholarship for graduate school to a student enrolled in a full- or part-time master's program at the time of application; candidates must be active members of the National Black MBA Association in addition to meeting other academic award criteria.

Ralph Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Scholarship

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  • Amount: $15,000 stipend plus tuition remission
  • Deadline: Varies

This merit award, offered to graduate students at Rutgers Law, does not require a separate application; students are eligible automatically upon enrolling in the university's law program. Named for an African-American Statesman and Rutgers alum, the award is aimed at helping black students who are at a cultural disadvantage within the college environment.

Toigo MBA Fellowship

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: April 7

Funded by the Robert Toigo Foundation, the Toigo MBA Fellowship is awarded to minority students, including African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native-Americans who are enrolled in a full-time MBA, JD/MBA, master's in real estate, or master's in finance program.

The LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship

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  • Amount: $3,750
  • Deadline: February 28

The LAGRANT Foundation awards scholarships in the amount of $3,750 to minority and/or underrepresented students earning a master's degree in advertising, marketing, or public relations.

AAUW Selected Professional Focus Professions Group Fellowships

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  • Amount: $5,000-$18,000
  • Deadline: January 10

Open to women in historically underrepresented minorities including African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native-Americans, the Focus Professions Group Fellowships offered by the AAUW are awarded to female students in their second, third, and third/fourth year of study in business administration, law, and medicine, respectively.


Graduate Scholarships for Hispanic Students

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Scholarships

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  • Amount: $1,000-$5,000
  • Deadline: Varies

CHCI offers several scholarships for grad school to Hispanic, Latino, and Latina students enrolled in graduate study in specific areas, such as healthcare, communications, and human resource management, among other fields.

Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship Program

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  • Amount: $1,500
  • Deadline: March 31

The Chicana/Latina Foundation Scholarship is offered each year to 35 women of Chicana/Latina heritage who are enrolled in an accredited program at a participating Northern California graduate or professional school.

The LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship

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  • Amount: $3,750
  • Deadline: February 28

The LAGRANT Foundation awards scholarships in the amount of $3,750 to minority and/or underrepresented students earning a master's degree in advertising, marketing, or public relations.

AAUW Selected Professional Focus Professions Group Fellowships

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  • Amount: $5,000-$18,000
  • Deadline: January 10

Open to women in historically underrepresented minorities including African-Americans, Hispanics and Native-Americans, the Focus Professions Group Fellowships offered by the AAUW are awarded to female students in their second, third and third/fourth year of study in business administration, law, and medicine, respectively.

Toigo MBA Fellowship

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: April 7

Funded by the Robert Toigo Foundation, the Toigo MBA Fellowship is awarded to minority students, including African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native-Americans who are enrolled in a full-time MBA, JD/MBA, master's in real estate, or master's in finance program.


Graduate Scholarships for Native American Students

John Rainer Memorial Fellowship

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  • Amount: $500-$5,000
  • Deadline: Varies

Among numerous supplemental scholarships offered by the American Indian Graduate Center, the John Rainer Memorial Fellowship was created to fund graduate study in all academic areas for Native American students. Like all supplemental fellowships available through AIGC, eligibility does not require a separate application and may be automatically awarded to qualifying students in addition to more prominent scholarships.

American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) Fellowships

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  • Amount: $500-$5,000
  • Deadline: Varies

AIGC offers numerous scholarships, loans, and fellowships to Native American graduate students in select fields, including accounting, veterinary medicine assisting, and more, typically ranging from $500-$5,000.

The LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship

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  • Amount: $3,750
  • Deadline: February 28

The LAGRANT Foundation awards scholarships for graduate school in the amount of $3,750 to minority and/or underrepresented students earning a master's degree in advertising, marketing, or public relations.

AAUW Selected Professional Focus Professions Group Fellowships

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  • Amount: $5,000-$18,000
  • Deadline: January 10

Open to women in historically underrepresented minorities, including African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native-Americans, the Focus Professions Group Fellowships offered by the AAUW are awarded to female students in their second, third, and third/fourth year of study in business administration, law, and medicine, respectively.

Toigo MBA Fellowship

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: April 7

Funded by the Robert Toigo Foundation, the Toigo MBA Fellowship is awarded to minority students, including African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native-Americans who are enrolled in a full-time MBA, JD/MBA, master's in real estate, or master's in finance program.


Graduate Scholarships for LGBTQ Students

The Walter J. Allen and Shaun B. Keister Scholarship

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  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline: Varies

This scholarship offered by Iowa State University is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who identify as LGBT and are involved with the LGBT student community.

Traub-Dicker Rainbow Scholarship

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  • Amount: $1,500-$3,000
  • Deadline: Varies

Sponsored by the Stonewall Community Foundation, this is one of a few graduate school scholarships for women. It is awarded to both graduating high school seniors and matriculated graduate students who are women in the LGBTQ community.

The Levin-Goffe Scholarship Fund

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: Varies

This scholarship provided by the Stonewall Community Fund is available to students who have completed at least one year of college study and who also identify as an immigrant and member of the LGBTQ community.

The Kenneth W. Payne Student Prize

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  • Amount: Varies
  • Deadline: Varies

Offered through the Association for Queer Anthropology, the Payne Student Prize is awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student who is performing academic research in LGBTQ issues, sexual identity, or gender studies.

Papel Family Trust Scholarship

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  • Amount: $2,500
  • Deadline: Varies

Offered through the Voice of My People Foundation, the Papel Family Trust Scholarship is awarded to two undergraduate or graduate students each year who identify as LGBTQ or whose parents identify as LGBTQ.


Graduate Scholarships for Servicemembers

Tillman Military Scholarship Program

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  • Amount: $10,000
  • Deadline: March 1

Among the most substantial and well-known military scholarships, the Tillman award is available to college students at all levels who are also active servicemembers or veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) Scholarship

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  • Amount: $3,000
  • Deadline: March 3

The Army Nurse Corps Association funds the ANCA scholarship for both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in a nursing or related health care program who are veterans or active servicemembers in the U.S. Army. Spouses, parents, and children of Army veterans and servicemembers are also eligible to apply.

eLearners.com Military Scholarship

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  • Amount: $1,000
  • Deadline: February 28

This eLearners.com scholarship is available to students who are military veterans or active duty servicemembers, as well as their spouses; awardees are chosen by selection through an essay contest and by submitting an accompanying application form.

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

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  • Amount: Up to $20,000
  • Deadline: October 28

The Veterans United Foundation offers this scholarship to both graduate and undergraduate students who are the surviving spouse or child of a U.S. military servicemember and are pursuing a college degree.

Army Women's Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program

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  • Amount: Up to $2,500
  • Deadline: January 15

The Army Women's Foundation offers a legacy scholarship program for female military students, including both active servicemembers and veterans, based on academic merit, potential, and community service.