Best Graduate School Scholarships for Grad Students

For many college students, the thought of going to graduate school or getting a graduate degree is always on their minds. It’s a great way to continue their education and gain skills at a higher level.

However, for some grad students, the financial side of pursuing further education can be stressful. Graduate school and doctoral programs come with their own set of costs, like application fees, interview prep, and other enrollment expenses.

The good news? There are scholarships available for graduate students to help with these costs. After thoroughly researching numerous scholarship opportunities, we believe Bold.org offers the best options for grad students seeking financial support. Their scholarships stand out because they are real opportunities created by real donors who want to make a difference in students’ lives.

We’ve compiled a list of these scholarships for both graduate students and postgraduate learners. Whether you’re looking to ease tuition costs or need a little extra for books, keep reading to find the right scholarship to support your graduate education!

Apply for grad student scholarships today to help reduce the costs of furthering your education!

About Graduate School Scholarships

Paying for graduate school can add a lot of stress to an already busy life. Balancing school, work, and family is challenging enough without the added financial strain of grad school tuition on top of your undergrad expenses. Luckily, there are scholarships specifically designed to help with these costs.

Graduate school scholarships can help cover tuition fees and even assist with federal student loans, easing the financial burden and letting you focus more on your studies. These scholarships can come from a variety of sources, including universities, private organizations, government agencies, and professional associations. They can be merit-based, need-based, or awarded based on specific criteria such as field of study, demographic factors, or research interests.

Undergraduate students interested in graduate school programs like law school or med school should explore funding opportunities and application resources to achieve their academic goals. Apply today!

Types of Graduate School Scholarships Available

Graduate programs are pretty different from undergraduate programs, and there are different types of degrees you can earn depending on the school, department, or program you get accepted into. Earning scholarships is a great way to offset the cost of tuition and other expenses, but there are many types of scholarships that are exclusive to graduate students, which should help your chances. 

Fellowships and Grants 

Fellowships and grants are financial awards you’re more likely to find at the graduate level. Grants usually depend on your financial need and can come from federal, state, or private sources. Fellowships, on the other hand, are often awarded based on your potential and are meant to support your research or career goals.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching assistantships offer financial support by requiring students to take on teaching responsibilities or assist professors with their courses. In addition to a stipend, these positions often come with tuition coverage, making them a valuable option for funding your education. Teaching assistants may lead discussion sections, grade assignments, or provide support during lectures, gaining valuable experience in teaching and academia.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships provide financial aid in exchange for work that supports research, administrative tasks, or other functions within the academic department. These roles often include a stipend and may also offer tuition remission. Responsibilities can vary widely, from conducting research and managing data to assisting with departmental activities or student services. This type of assistantship allows you to gain hands-on experience relevant to your field while receiving financial assistance.

Federal Student Aid

Graduate students interested in federal student aid can explore various options to help fund their graduate degree programs. The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a valuable Federal Student Aid program designed for graduate students pursuing a career in education. It provides financial support to those committed to teaching in high-need fields and low-income schools. To qualify, you must meet specific eligibility criteria, including agreeing to teach in a designated shortage area for a specified period after graduation.

Academic Merit-Based

These scholarships are all about your academic achievements. They might consider your GPA, standardized test scores (like the MCAT or LSAT), or other academic accomplishments. Some schools offer these scholarships as part of their admissions process, while others might require separate applications. If you’re awarded a merit-based scholarship, you might need to maintain a certain GPA to keep receiving the funds each year.

Athletic

If you’re a standout athlete, you might be able to snag an athletic scholarship, although these are rarer for grad students. Coaches might scout you during your sport’s season and offer scholarships based on your performance. The NCAA has a postgraduate scholarship program, so it’s worth checking out if you’re involved in sports.

Identity-based

These scholarships are aimed at supporting students from specific backgrounds or communities. They might be geared toward those who are part of marginalized groups or who share characteristics with individuals honored by the scholarship. These awards are intended to help create more opportunities for diverse student populations.

Department or Concentration-based

These scholarships are financial awards only available to students a specific department has accepted in their graduate school. These scholarships can be as broad as any STEM department or transparent and only open to those studying in neurology departments. 

How to Find Graduate School Scholarships

Looking for scholarships can be complex and lengthy, especially if you don’t know where to look. But, many resources are available to help students look for scholarships. 

Start with Online Resources

The internet is an excellent starting point for finding scholarships. Numerous websites specialize in listing and filtering scholarships based on various criteria, like Bold.org. These platforms allow you to search for scholarships tailored to your field of study, location, or personal background. You can also save scholarships that aren’t currently applicable but might be relevant in future semesters.

Consult Your Academic Network

Your academic advisor, department staff, and fellow students can be invaluable resources for discovering scholarships. They often have insights into lesser-known scholarships sponsored by your school or specific to your field. Advisors are especially useful as they are dedicated to your success and can guide you or refer you to other resources if needed.

Explore Local Opportunities

Don’t overlook local businesses and organizations that may offer scholarships to students in their community. This is particularly useful if your college has a strong local presence. Community-based scholarships can be less competitive and more accessible.

Tips for Winning Graduate School Scholarships

Finding where to look for scholarships is just the first step; increasing your chances of winning requires strategic effort. While there are no guarantees, you can enhance your likelihood of success. When applying for scholarships that require essays, ensure your response thoroughly addresses all parts of the prompt.

Avoid irrelevant information and focus on delivering clear, engaging writing. An essay that is dull or difficult to read risks losing the sponsor’s interest. If your application involves discussing research, highlight the most compelling aspects of your results and their potential applications.

Consider applying for scholarships with smaller award amounts. While larger scholarships might seem appealing, they often attract a high volume of applicants, increasing competition. Smaller scholarships typically have fewer applicants, improving your chances. Accumulating several smaller awards can add up to a substantial amount over time, so don’t shy away from these opportunities.

Additionally, scholarships should be targeted with specific eligibility criteria. Scholarships tailored to niche fields or unique applicant profiles generally face less competition. For example, a scholarship exclusively for undergraduate art students specializing in realistic digital art will likely have fewer applicants compared to one open to all art students. By focusing on these more specialized scholarships, you can further improve your odds of success.

Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate School Scholarships

How Can I Improve My Chances of Winning Graduate School Scholarships?

You can do several things to improve your chances of winning college student scholarships.

• Go for scholarships with smaller dollar amounts
• Apply for scholarships that are looking for a specific type of applicant 
• Fully answer the prompt when an essay is required 
• Check the format requirements for written responses 
• Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements 
• Make yourself stand out in your response 
• Apply earlier than the deadline  
• Look for awards that give awards to multiple winners 

How Many Grad School Scholarships Can You Get?

There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can get as a graduate student, so you don’t have to limit yourself when applying. Graduate students enrolled in grad school can accept any number of graduate school scholarships to pursue their graduate degree.

Are Grad School Scholarships Taxable Income?

Generally, no, grad school scholarships are not considered taxable income. However, this is only true if you are enrolled at an eligible college, in a program, and are using the funds for school-related expenses. These expenses include but are not limited to tuition, textbooks, parking fees, and lab fees.

If it is found that you have used scholarship funds for expenses unrelated to your degree or college expenses, then these funds may be considered taxable income. Check the description and other fine print of the scholarships you apply for to see if there is a requirement for how the awarded funds are used.

What’s the Best Way to Apply for Grad School Scholarships?

Applying online is likely one of the easiest ways to apply for scholarships. You can find and filter the scholarships you apply for and keep track of these scholarships after you use them. Other students applying simultaneously can also share links to scholarships they think you would have a good chance of winning.

Another strategy that gives you the best chances when applying is to put more effort into a handful of scholarships that you feel confident about using rather than applying to a lot of scholarships that you only put minimal effort into. This is especially true for longer extended responses. If you feel like you have a story that could set you apart from other applicants, you may find it beneficial to spend more time on that in the application versus other shorter ones that aren’t specific to your experiences.

After you earn your undergraduate degree, or even during your undergrad studies, you can find and apply for scholarships to help pay for your graduate program. It’s never too early to begin applying for graduate scholarships.