Grants For Master's Degree Students

If you desire the opportunity to attend graduate school or achieve a master's, doctorate, graduate certificate, or other graduate degree at an institution of higher learning, you'll probably notice immediately that the cost of doing so can really make completing your education difficult. Luckily, there are multiple sources of grants and other funding opportunities for you to pursue that can help you pay for your education rather than putting it on hold any longer.

Those seeking graduate degrees are often already in the workforce, mid-career and raising families, simply having decided to return to a postsecondary school to obtain a master's or doctorate degree or to achieve a graduate certificate of some kind.

Many grant programs offer funding to minorities for schooling through a graduate program. The American Indian Graduate Center, Cornell University Graduate School Fellowships for Minorities, the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, and the Black Collegian Organization are just a few.

Through the federal government, there are several loans available for graduate studies, as well. In terms of funding, you can look for non-traditional sources, such as funding for online studies, as obtaining a master's degree online will make working your educational schedule around your life a little simpler than attendance at a traditional college or university. The University of Phoenix offers adult programs provides some grants, most notably Project Reach, which helps fund a Master's in Education for those who are willing to commit to teaching in needy areas.

Paying for school is not easy, but we are here to help. OEDb's student finance section will help you find the money you need to pay your tuition and other college expenses. We cover scholarships, college grants, and student loans. Scholarships and grants are both forms of "free money", meaning they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are typically awarded by businesses or individuals, with the money being earmarked specifically for tuition. They can be awarded based on a student's location or by religious affiliation, such as Catholicism or Islam. Grants are typically awarded by governments or non-profit organizations and the money often can be applied to several different expenses a student may incur, not solely tuition. They can be awarded based on location or ethnicity, for instance African American or Hispanic. Loans are not considered "free money", because unlike scholarships and grants, they do need to be paid back after graduation. Common federal loans include Perkins and Stafford. Loans are also available by location.