Graduate scholarships help students pay for college as they pursue graduate-level academic or professional degrees. Graduate students have a variety of options to reduce the cost of their degree, including fellowships, teaching assistantships, and even stipends. However, these resources can be difficult to obtain in the already-competitive environment of graduate academics and a graduate education can still be overwhelmingly expensive even with assistance. Scholarship programs focused on graduate students can be a big help.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements for graduate scholarships can vary based on the source and type of scholarship. Many graduate scholarships focus on academic merit, financial need, institution alumni status, subject, industry, heritage, and more. They are offered by corporations, government agencies, universities, and professional and nonprofit organizations. The application requirements will be determined by the scholarship granting organization and may include the following:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program
- Are affiliated with a cultural or ethnic community related to the scholarship
- Meet specific undergraduate GPA or other academic requirements
- Are pursuing a field of study related to the scholarship, such as Counseling or Engineering
- Considering employment with the scholarship’s provider
- Are an alumnus of the relevant college or university
- Be a legal U.S. resident
- Participate in community service or volunteer activities
The above list outlines just a few of the eligibility requirements you may encounter when searching for graduate scholarships. You can expect requirements to vary considerably at the graduate level and meeting the requirements does not guarantee you will be granted the scholarship. Below is a sampling of graduate scholarships to demonstrate the different types of scholarships available:
Types of Graduate Scholarships
- CIA Graduate Scholarship Program: This scholarship awards up to $18,000 in tuition per calendar year and requires one 60 to 90-day work experience with the CIA in Washington D.C. prior to completing your graduate degree.
- The Desk And Derrick Club Of Dallas Scholarship: This Dallas, Texas-based organization awards funds in varying amounts to undergraduate and graduate students planning to study or pursue employment in the energy industry.
- The LAGRANT Foundation Scholarship: The LAGRANT Foundation awards graduate scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to students planning to increase ethnic diversity in the fields of public relations, marketing, and advertising.
- AKA EAF Scholarships: Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. awards graduate scholarships based on academic merit and financial need to full-time students who demonstrate a commitment to community service and involvement.
- ASH Foundation Graduate Student Scholarships: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation awards $5000 scholarship to full-time graduate students pursuing degrees in communications sciences and disorders programs based on academic merit.