Can You Afford to go to Graduate School?
What will it cost me?
Students who apply to public institutions for graduate and professional degrees are often stunned to find out how much more expensive post-baccalaureate education is than undergraduate education. As a rule of thumb, you will pay twice as much in tuition for a graduate or professional degree compared to the undergraduate tuition at the same institution.
Where do I begin?
A good place to start is completing the FAFSA online application. Most graduate schools use it to determine everything from loans to fellowships to teaching assistantships. Since each graduate program will have its own fund for granting assistance, call or visit the program website to determine what loans or fellowships may be available. The US News & World Report also has an excellent page for finding loans, scholarships and grants for graduate school.
Can I expect funding?
Typically, funding has a lot to do with whether you are considering a PhD or Master's Degree, whether you are thinking about a graduate program or a professional program. The difference between PhD and Master's program is that most PhD programs provide substantial funding, while very few Masters programs do. Obviously, there are exceptions to this, but they are rare.
When it comes to the difference between Graduate and Professional Programs Graduate programs prepared students for research and teaching careers in academic disciplines such as chemistry, biology, psychology, history, English, etc. Professional programs prepare students for careers in business and industry such as Public Administration, Business Administration, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, etc. While Graduate programs often provide funding, professional programs seldom do.
Scholarship Links
AACC Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program
http://www.aaccnet.org/foundation/graduate.asp
Academy for Educational Development Fellowships
http://aed.org/
Accounting Scholarships
http://www.aicpa.org/about/affiliates/aicpafoundation/pages/scholarshipsfellowships.aspx
American Association of University Women Fellowships
http://www.aauw.org/
American Geological Institute Minority Geoscience Scholarships
http://www.agiweb.org/mpp/application
American Indian Graduate Center Fellowships
http://www.aigc.com/
American Political Science Association
http://www.apsanet.org/content_3115.cfm
American Psychological Association (APA) Scholarships and Fellowships
http://www.apa.org/students/funding.html
The American Psychological Foundation
http://www.apa.org/mfp/
American Society for Microbiology Fellowships
http://www.asm.org/index.php/awards-grants/fellowships.html
American Sociological Association Graduate Funding
http://www.asanet.org/funding/index.cfm
Americorps
http://www.cns.gov/
Arkansas Scholarship Connection
http://www.arkansasscholarshipconnection.org/
Art, Film, Writing Scholarships/Competitions List
http://artdeadlineslist.com/
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
http://www.astronautscholarship.org/
Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships
http://www.aynrand.org/contests/
Biological Sciences Funding Support
http://www.grantsnet.org
Black Excel - 25 Scholarship Gateways
http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm
Brand Essay Competition
http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.html
Bristol-Myers Squibb Minority Fellowships in Academic Medicine
http://www.bms.com/responsibility/grantsandgiving/Corporate_Giving/Pages/fellowships_scholarships_awards.aspx
Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.haveityourwayfoundation.org/burger_king_scholars_program.html
California Student Aid Commission
http://www.csac.ca.gov/
California Student Aid Commission
http://www.csac.ca.gov/
College Answer: Guide to college admissions and financial aid
http://www.collegeanswer.com
The Gates Millennium Scholarships
http://www.gmsp.org/main.cfm
GEM Fellowship Program
http://gemfellowship.org/gem-fellowship
Graduate Fellows for Minorities and Women in the Physical Sciences
http://www.nsep.gov/initiatives/
National Security Education Program Graduate International Fellowships
http://www.aed.org/nsep
Nationally Recognized Scholarships/Fellowships/Internships
http://www.maes-natl.org/pagess/fundfellow.html
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Minorities and Women
http://www.fundsnetservices.com/searchresult/15/Women-Grants.html
Scholarships for Minorities
http://www.free-4u.com/minority.htm
Sciencenet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
Social Sciences Research Council Programs
http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/
California Student Aid Commission
http://www.csac.ca.gov/
Coca Cola Scholarships
http://www2.coca-cola.com/citizenship/education_scholarsfoundation.html
Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships
http://www.coca-colascholars.org/programs.html
College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html
College Fund/UNCF
http://www.uncf.org/
College Loans
http://www.thecollegeloan.org
Collegenet's Scholarship Database
http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
Department of Defense Fellowships
http://www.asee.org/ndseg/
Development Fund for Black Students in Science Scholarship
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dlhinson/dfb_sch.htm
Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarships
http://www.aasa.org/Discover.htm
Easley National Scholarship Program
http://www.naas.org/senior.htm
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships
http://www.hertzfndn.org
Fast Aid
http://www.fastaid.com
Fastweb Scholarship Search
http://www.fastweb.com/
Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways
http://www.fedmoney.org/
FinAid: the Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid (Scholarships)
http://www.finaid.org/
FinAid/Other Types of Aid/Minority Students
http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/minority.phtml
The Gates Millennium Scholarships
http://www.gmsp.org/main.cfm
Gateway to 10 Free Scholarship Seaches
http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Gateways to US Government Grants/Money
http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public?topicID=15&operation=topic
GE and Lulac Scholarship Funds
http://www.lnesc.org/
GEM Fellowship Program
http://www.nd.edu/%7Egem/
Government Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Internships
http://studentjobs.gov/e-scholar.htm
Graduate Fellows for Minorities and Women in the Physical Sciences
http://www.npsc.org/
Graduate Scholarships in Education
http://ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/infostu/finaid/scholar.htm
Graduate Scholarships in Engineering
http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~ieee/awards/GradAwards.html
Guaranteed Scholarships
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Site
http://www.truman.gov/
Historically Black College & University Scholarships
https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Scholarships_and_Aid/Diversity_Scholarships/hbcuScholarship.html
Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
Hope Scholarships & Lifetime Credits
http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/HOPE/index.html
Hudson River Graduate Fellows
http://www.hudsonriver.org/graduate_fellow.htm
Intel Science Talent Search
http://www.societyforscience.org/sts
International Students Scholarships & Aid Help
http://www.iefa.org/
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarships
http://www.jackierobinson.org/
Marine Corps Scholarships
http://www.marine-scholars.org/
Mcdonald's Education Scholarships (With UNCF)
http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/community/education/scholarships/
Mcdonald's Education Scholarships (With UNCF)
http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/community/education/scholarships/
McNair Scholars Program
http://mcnairscholars.com/
Methodist Scholarships
http://www.free-4u.com/methodist_scholarships.htm
Microsoft Scholarship Program
http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp
Minority Health Program
http://www.ahcpr.gov/fund/minortrg.htm
Minority Scholarships (Doctoral Students in Accounting)
http://www.aicpa.org/members/div/career/mini/fmds.htm
Multiple List of Minority Scholarships
http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/black.html
National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships (NABJ)
http://www.nabj.org/?page=SEEDScholarships
National Minority Fellowships
http://honors.tamu.edu/honors/scholarships/natminor.htm
National Scholarships All Levels
http://scholarships.fatomei.com/
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/
National Security Education Program Graduate International Fellowships
http://www.aed.org/nsep
National Women's Association
http://www.nwsa.org/students/opportunities.php
National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/
National Security Education Program Graduate International Fellowships
http://www.aed.org/nsep
National Women's Association
http://www.nwsa.org/scholarship.htm
Nationally Recognized Scholarships/Fellowships/Internships
http://www.maes-natl.org/pagess/fundfellow.html
Navy Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Dental Students
http://www.navy.com/healthcare/dentistry
Navy Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Healthcare/Medical Services Students (Public Health, Health Administration, Medical Entomology, Pharmacy, Optometry, Physiology)
http://www.navy.com/healthcare/medicalservices
Navy Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Nursing Students
http://www.navy.com/healthcare/nursing
Navy Scholarships and Financial Assistance for Medical Students
http://www.navy.com/healthcare/physicians
Presidential Freedom Scholarships
http://www.nationalservice.org/scholarships/
Project Excellence Scholarships
http://www.project-excellence.com
Research Program for Women & Minorities Underrepresented in the Sciences
http://www.research.att.com/academic/urp.html
Robert D. Watkins Minority Graduate Fellowship (microbiology)
http://www.asm.org/index.php/education/asm-robert-d-watkins-graduate-research-fellowship.html
Ron Brown Scholar Program
http://www.ronbrown.org/
The ROTC Scholarships
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/scholarships.html
Sallie Mae's Fund
http://www.thesalliemaefund.org/
Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/audience/students.shtml
Scholarship and Financial Aid Help
http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm
Scholarship Search - from Fresch!
http://www.freschinfo.com
ScholarshipHunter
http://www.scholarshiphunter.com
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Minorities and Women
http://www.fundsnetservices.com/finaid06.htm
Scholarships and Grants
http://www.elclick.com/lulfoundation/html/resources.html
Scholarships for Minorities
http://www.free-4u.com/minority.htm
Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.ehow.com/list_7230373_scholarships-study-paralegal-studies.html
Scholarships on the Net (1,500)
http://advocacy-net.com/scholarmks.htm
Sciencenet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
Siemens Westinghouse Competition
http://www.siemens-foundation.org/
Social Sciences Research Council Programs
http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/
Sports Scholarships and Internships
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/NCAA/Academics+and+Athletes/Scholarships+and+Internships/Scholarships+and+Internships+Home
State Farm Insurance Achievement Scholarships
http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/awards.htm
State Farm Insurance Hispanic Scholarships
http://www.statefarm.com/foundati/hispanic.htm
Student Inventors Scholarships
http://www.invent.org/collegiate/
Student Video Scholarships
http://www.christophers.org/Page.aspx?pid=273
Target Scholarships
http://target.com/common/page.jhtml?content=target_cg_scholarship
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
http://thurgoodmarshallfund.net/student/scholarshipprograms
Tylenol Scholarships
http://scholarship.tylenol.com/
Undergraduate Scholarships (National Institutes of Health Scholarships)
https://ugsp.nih.gov/
Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.unionplus.org/college-education-financing/union-plus-scholarship
United Negro College Fund Merck Science Initiative
http://www.uncf.org/merck/program.htm
United States Institute of Peace National Peace Essay Contest
http://www.usip.org/programs/initiatives/national-peace-essay-contest
US Fulbright and Grants for Research Abroad
http://www.iie.org/Students
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm