Graduate school can be a real game-changer for many students—it allows you to extend your studies and deepens your understanding of topics you are deeply passionate about.
And depending on your field, an advanced diploma can also supercharge your career, opening doors that would otherwise remain closed.
However, for all of its amazing benefits, grad school can be very expensive. If you don’t want to start your new career with a small mountain of debt, it’s important to find ways to keep the costs down.
Fortunately, there are numerous graduate school scholarships that can help you get the most out of your education without having to break the bank. And learning all about them is the first step in making these classes more affordable and accessible than you ever imagined they could be.
So below, we’ll talk through and offer resources for how to find grad school scholarships, including dozens of scholarships for focused demographics.
Graduate school scholarships
After completing undergrad, many prospective students don’t realize there are plenty of scholarships for graduate school available. As a grad student, it’s still possible to complete the FAFSA and take out loans, and you will likely have greater borrowing power now than you did as an undergraduate student.
However, it’s highly advisable to seek out grants and scholarships instead so that you don’t accumulate unwanted debt (which will only grow that much worse if your studies take longer than you originally thought).
It’s important to work out how to pay for grad school well before you start sending out applications. You may not be able to entirely avoid taking out new loans, but you can mitigate how much debt you take on by applying to as many scholarships as possible. (And mitigating debt can drastically change your options heading forward.)
Depending on your free time and overall schedule, you may be able to further mitigate costs by enrolling in a federal work study program. Such programs are usually designed around a graduate student’s schedule and may provide both some extra money and the occasional bit of downtime to help you work on your thesis or dissertation.
Graduate school is a long road, and learning how to pay for everything makes it that much longer. However, you can take that first step by discovering how to find the aid you need, including full-ride scholarships for graduate school. (So let’s dive into those.)
How to find scholarships for graduate school
There are a few different kinds of grad school scholarships, and we’d encourage you to apply to them all.
For example, there are national scholarships that almost all graduate school students can apply to, and there are some that are designed more for women and minority groups. This guide will cover some of the most important national scholarships, and you can apply for any that you qualify for with the click of a button.
There are also institutional scholarships that are offered by the specific institution(s) you are considering attending. Each school has its own bevy of scholarships, and they likely won’t be advertised as much as the national ones.
Pro Tip: The best way for you to find out what graduate school scholarships are available is to contact the university’s financial aid or scholarship office for additional info.
Finally, there are almost certainly local scholarships available through various organizations, including local churches and groups such as the Key Club and the Kiwanis Club. It’s important to seek out the qualification criteria for these scholarships as soon as possible because they may have more stringent requirements than many national scholarships. Of course, there will be less competition for these local scholarships, meaning that you might have a better shot at winning one.
One quick note: for aid purposes, “scholarships” and “fellowships” are pretty similar for grad students. The principal difference is that scholarships are more designed to pay for the cost of things like tuition and fellowships are designed to help fund your research.
Remember, there is no actual limit to how many scholarships and fellowships you can apply to. Therefore, you should use this guide to apply to as many as you qualify for so that you can get the greatest amount of financial assistance.
Below, we’ll talk through scholarship opportunities for some specific demographic groups, and then offer a broader list of grad school scholarships.
If you want to explore other potential scholarships for grad school beyond those listed here, you can explore websites, like Fastweb, Appily and Unigo. And GoGrad lists more narrowly focused scholarships for grad students.
Some tips for narrowing your search and strengthening your chances
An overall reminder to read requirements carefully—it can be easy to overlook whether a scholarship is only for undergrad.
Tips to narrow your grad scholarship search:
Make a list of nouns that describe you—things like Latina, engineering major, Nebraska resident, child of a teacher, adopted. Once you’ve got 5-10, choose one you think will yield the best results and search for scholarships for that descriptor. This makes the search process a bit more systematic.
Put them in a handy organizer like this one.
When you find 3-5 scholarships you could apply for, stop and apply for one that’s the best fit/the one you think you’re most likely to win.
Repeat until you’ve applied for 5x the amount of money you hope to win.
Tips to strengthen your chances of winning:
Understand the mission of the awarding organization—showing how you align, especially through any essays required, is a great idea.
Communicate your story, and how your grad education will empower you to continue building it.
Be sure to apply to smaller/more focused/local/state scholarships—huge scholarships are great, but don’t overlook how much you stand to gain from being part of a potentially much smaller applicant pool.
Graduate school scholarships for women
While there are plenty of awards available to all candidates who meet certain criteria, there are also many specific graduate school scholarships for women.
Below, you will find a list of some of the best graduate school scholarships for women. By applying to as many as you may qualify for, it’s possible to maximize your financial aid and make college that much more affordable.
AAUW American Fellowships
Are you a woman pursuing a doctoral degree? If so, you may qualify for an AAUW American Fellowship, an award that is based on academic merit. Award amounts vary from $8,000 to $50,000. Completing a terminal degree is expensive, and this can make it much easier to cover your numerous expenses.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is very specialized, available to women pursuing doctoral degrees in either aerospace engineering or space sciences. The award is $10,000 and can provide some much-needed financial relief for women following in Earhart’s historic footsteps.
AWMF Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship
The AWMF Ford Emerging Voices Scholarship is available to graduate or undergraduate women who are pursuing a media-related degree. It’s a $5,000 award that is granted based on video or audio submissions about the importance of women in media. That makes it potentially easier to qualify for women who are ready to let the world hear their voice.
AWSCPA Scholarships
Women who are pursuing a master’s degree in accounting are specialists when it comes to saving money. If that sounds like you, then consider applying for an AWSCPA Scholarship. It provides $5,000 to those who combine strong academics with strong leadership skills.
Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship
Graduate school is already expensive enough, and medical school is even more expensive than that. Fortunately, the Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship is available for women in medical school with a strong GPA. This surgically-precise award is for $5,000.
Parisa Tabriz PrinSWSIS Scholarship
More and more women are entering into the fields of cybersecurity and information security. If you are one of them, you should apply for the Parisa Tabriz PrinSWSIS Scholarship. It provides awards of varying amounts, helping more women make a success for themselves in the world of STEM.
P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education
The P.E.O. Program provides a number of scholarships and, in the case of this Continuing Education award, a one-time grant. It awards up to $4,000 to women in graduate school who are either already members of P.E.O. or who get recommended by their local P.E.O. chapter.
P.E.O. Scholar Awards
Speaking of P.E.O., this Sisterhood also offers merit-based Scholar Awards up to $25,000. Such a sizable award can help applicants avoid having to take out costly loans to pay for graduate school. As long as your grades are good, this one is definitely worth applying to.
Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship
The Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship is designed specifically for women who are members of the LGBTQIA+. One of the primary criteria for this award is demonstrated financial need. Because of that, the amount awarded may vary from applicant to applicant.
Women in Business Scholarship
The original “girl bosses”—women in business leadership positions. And the Women in Business Scholarship is available to women who are members of Zonta International who are attending any business school around the world. If you’re not a member, don’t worry: you can also apply if you are nominated by your local Zonta chapter.
Graduate school scholarships for minorities
Just like the special awards for women, there are a number of special graduate school scholarships for minorities. Below, you’ll find a collection of the very best ones. Don’t hesitate to apply to as many as you might qualify for, maximizing the amount of aid available as you complete your education.
AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship
Many of the best graduate school scholarships for minorities are very specialized. For example, the AAA Minority Dissertation Fellowship was created for racial and ethnic minority students who are completing their dissertation in anthropology. The award amount is $10,000.
ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship
Lawyers may make good money, but law school is very expensive. Fortunately, members of minority groups can apply for the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship. This award is $15,000 and is designed to help incoming law students pay for their education.
Albers-Alexander LGBTQ Law Scholarship
Another legal scholarship is available for LGBTQIA+ students with demonstrated financial need. The Albers-Alexander LGBTQ Law Scholarship awards up to $10,000 based on your financial situation. The scholarship is available to first, second, and third-year law students enrolled in various partner universities.
Prospanica Foundation Scholarships
Prospanica Foundation Scholarships are available to Hispanic or Latino MBAs and students of other business-oriented majors. The award amounts for these scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000. And as any future MBA can tell you, the best way to pay for the cost of education is with money you don’t have to pay back.
NBCC Minority Fellowships
Are you a member of a minority group who is in grad school to become a mental health counselor? If so, you are encouraged to apply for the NBCC Minority Fellowships each year. The awards range from $10,000-$15,000 and are available to both master’s and doctoral students.
Korean American Scholarship Foundation
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation offers awards for Korean-American students and those who are descendants of Korean War veterans. The KASF has four different regional locations and awards between $500 to $5,000 to qualifying students. Beyond the above qualifying criteria, these awards are available to graduate students regardless of major.
George A. Strait Minority Scholarship and Fellowship
The George A. Strait Minority Scholarship and Fellowship is something of a “switch-hitter” when it comes to graduate school awards. With it, minority students can receive a variety of amounts to help pay for either law school or library sciences. Both degrees involve plenty of intense study, and these awards can help pay for your books and other costs of graduate education.
Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs
Some of the most robust awards available for minority graduate students are available from Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs. They award $24,000 per year to qualifying students pursuing either PhDs or Doctor of Science degrees. While this award is available to all grad students, minority students receive preference.
List of graduate school scholarships
So far, we’ve focused primarily on graduate school scholarships for women and for minorities. If you don’t fit either criteria, though, don’t worry. Below, you’ll find a cross-section of lucrative scholarships available to all other graduate students, and again, you can apply to as many as you may qualify for.
Be Bold Scholarship
If writing long essays for scholarship applications makes you nervous, here’s some good news: the Be Bold Scholarship is designed specifically as a “no essay” award. All you have to do is create the “boldest” profile on the Be Bold website. Best of all, the amount of the award is a cool $25,000!
Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship
At $38,000, the Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship is one of the biggest and most prestigious awards a graduate student can receive. However, it’s only available to graduate students majoring in engineering, math, or applied biological and physical sciences who are attending a Hertz Foundation-approved school. Applicants must also make a “moral commitment” to lend their skills to the United States in times of national emergency.
National Space Club and Foundation Keynote Scholars Program
The National Space Club and Foundation Keynote Scholars Program offers one of the most specific graduate school awards, one designed for STEM students with a flair for public speaking. Winners will be expected to give the keynote address at the annual Goddard Memorial Dinner. In exchange, they will receive a $20,000 scholarship whose funds can be applied to your tuition.
Niche $50,000 "No Essay" Scholarship
Most graduate school scholarships require things like a sterling academic record and a persuasive application essay. However, the Niche $50,000 "No Essay" Scholarship functions a bit like a lottery. All you have to do is enter and you can win $50,000, all without having to sit down and write anything beyond the most basic info.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
Here’s something a little bit different: the Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest challenges students (including grad students) to create the best possible greeting card, complete with original writing and artwork. For a creative student, this is one of the most unique awards you can apply to. And the award is $10,000…not bad payment for creating a single card!
SMART Scholarship Program
The Department of Defense sponsors the SMART Scholarship Program. It is designed for STEM students and can cover the entire cost of your tuition. Because of this, competition to become a SMART Scholar is understandably intense, but all STEM students are encouraged to apply.
The Boren Awards
The Boren Awards offer scholarships to undergraduate students and fellowships to graduate students who intend to study abroad. Such international studies can get expensive, but this award provides up to $30,000 to help you cover the cost. Along with the financing, you get to tell everyone in your world travels that you’re a Boren Fellow, and it’s hard to put a price tag on that!
Get Ready To Apply For Your Graduate School Scholarships
As you can see from just this list, there are plenty of scholarships you can apply for as a graduate student. While there are some fun “no essay” options out there, the vast majority of them require you to write essays and application letters. That means there’s no time like the present to improve your skills as a writer.
That’s where we come in. We provide guides for how to write a scholarship essay (heads up that while that’s an undergraduate resource, the same guidance applies here) and provide solid examples to help you craft the most persuasive prose.
Remember, the pen isn’t just mightier than the sword… in this case, it’s mightier than student debt, and every application brings you one step closer to graduating debt-free.
Special thanks to Chris Snellgrove for writing this blog.
Chris Snellgrove is an English Professor at Northwest Florida State College who
specializes in literature, rhetoric, and business writing. As a freelance writer, Chris specializes in sales, marketing, pop culture, and video games. He has a B.A. in English from Troy University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Auburn University. When he’s not writing or talking to others about writing, Chris loves reading books, playing video games, watching horror movies, and disappearing into a comic book. He currently lives in Northwest Florida and would probably rather be at the beach right now.
Top values: Diversity / Equality / Social Justice
