If you are heading to grad school, there are a wide range of master’s degree scholarships available. Scholarships for masters degrees may help you go to graduate school for free. They could offset other expenses such as the cost of researching for your thesis.
Financial aid for graduate school is different than it is for an undergrad degree. Federal financial aid is available to grad students in the form of work study and loans. Pell Grants are only for undergraduates. As such, finding a master’s degree scholarship may make the most financial sense.
Unlike federal loans, graduate school scholarships are money you receive but typically don’t have to pay back. As long as you abide by the terms and conditions.
Is it hard to get Masters Degree Scholarships?
Some masters degree scholarships may be more competitive than other awards. Master degree scholarships come with their own criteria for eligibility. Getting a scholarship that helps pay for your master’s degree may require:
Desire to study a specific topic (E.g. Oncology Nursing, Architecture, Project Management, etc.)
Intention to research in a chosen area (E.g. Archaeological Research)
Demonstrated qualities (E.g. Leadership or Public Service)
Some scholarships for master’s degrees are also open to undergrads. So, you’ll be up against both sets of students who are competing for the awards.
One example is the Davis-Putter Scholarship. Scholarships from the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund pay $15,000. The grants help students who are active in movements for social and economic justice.
You’ll also find master’s degree scholarships that may fund grad students who are women or minorities. The Holly A. Cornell Scholarship is one example. This $7,500 award is from the American Water Works Society. It goes to talented female and/or minority students. The recipient needs to be pursuing a degree and research in the field of water supply and treatment.
Another example is the Jonathon Lax Scholarship Fund for Gay Men. These tuition scholarships come in amounts of $5,000 or $10,000. They are set aside to help gay men who live in the five-county Philadelphia region obtain more education.
There are also scholarships for graduate students in specific fields of study. One example is the Frederic G. MELCHER Scholarship. Two candidates receive $7,500 each.
To apply, you need to be a student pursuing a Master’s in Library Science (MLS) degree. And plan to work in children’s librarianship.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation offers a similar type of scholarship. Their awards are $5,000. They go to grad students in communication science and disorders.
WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE TO PURSUING MASTERS Degree SCHOLARSHIPS?
As a graduate student, getting a master’s degree scholarship may come with many benefits. For one, the money might cover tuition, books, living expenses and research.
This may free you up to focus on completing your master’s degree. Without having to take out loans or get a job to pay for your classes.
You may also reap rewards of attaining a master’s degree when you graduate. Employment in master’s-level occupations is on the rise by almost 17 percent from 2016 to 2026. That’s the fastest of any education level.
This may explain why in the 2017 to 2018 period alone, 775,000 students earned a master’s degree. Yet many students weigh the cost of pursuing a master’s degree with the cost of attaining it.
For sure, the average costs of graduate tuition and required fees has been climbing. What does graduate school cost? The National Center for Education Statistics has been tracking this data.
On average, the tuition and fees associated with pursuing a master’s degree are:
Private institution: $20,368
Public institution: $8,763
Average overall: $14,537
It is no surprise that recently, 70.4% of graduate students received some type of financial aid. Almost half of these students (43.8 %) took out loans. Take away? if you are trying to go to graduate school for free, securing a scholarship or grant may be ideal.
LIST OF MASTER’S DEGREE SCHOLARSHIPS
Check out our list of scholarships for masters degrees. There are awards worth .
The APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship is a $4,000 award that supports minority students going for a master’s or doctorate degree in an accredited program.
Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington / State Association Scholarship grants two scholarships ear of $1,500 to qualifying descendants of certain states.
This scholarship is for eligible applicants must be planning to or currently enrolled in a graduate school program. Click to learn more and apply today!
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Through our presence in more than 1,000 high school and college campuses, communities, and workplaces, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother, Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make mental health as highly valued as physical health. We approach our work with a racial equity lens and are committed to the continued process of being and becoming a more anti-racist and inclusive organization. Through our many programs, we are changing social norms and behaviors related to mental health across the country.
To qualify students must:
Have a minimum of $5,000 in credit card debt.
Be enrolled or enrolling in higher education for fall, 2022.
Be seeking an undergraduate, masters or PhD degree.
The 2021 Sparks Law Dream Chasers Scholarship was created to help reward young students who are chasing their dreams. Click to learn more and apply today!
Danone North America, is awarding two graduate students a grant of $25,000 each. The successful candidates should excel in science and have an interest in studying the gut microbiome, probiotics and yogurt in human health and wellness (the “Field”). Applicants are encouraged to submit a proposal for a study that explores measures of human health and wellness. Danone strives not to rely on animal testing in its development and research activities, therefore, ONLY research proposals that utilize in vitro and ethical human clinical studies are welcome.
The grant is not designed for the investigation of disease treatment or clinical management and should focus on health and wellness, long-term health and longevity, growth and development, or performance. Such topics may include the role that probiotics or yogurt play on brain function, growth and development, digestive health, weight management or heart health; and factors, such as foods or nutrients, that influence the gut microbiome.
Please note that research cannot employ commercial probiotic strains. This includes strains that are isolated from a commercial product, provided by a commercial culture supplier (such as DuPont, Chr. Hansens or Lallemand) or are subject of or protected by patent. Publicly available, non-commercial strains are acceptable.
Danone is committed to the highest scientific and ethical standards in its innovation and scientific research activities to obtain scientific knowledge on the impact of food, nutrition and health and to ensure effective and safe medical and health solutions.
Danone strives not to rely on animal testing in its development and research activities, therefore, ONLY research proposals that utilize in vitro and ethical human clinical studies are welcome.
The personal injury attorneys at Felix Gonzalez Law Firm have dedicated their practice to protecting those who have been injured due to the negligence of others. We care about everyone’s safety, especially cyclists on the road. This year, we are offering a scholarship to promote safe cycling.
Cyclists are faced with many distractions and dangers on the road. It is important for citizens to take precautions while on the roads, not only for themselves but for others around them. For example, in San Antonio, the city is considering extra precautions to ensure safe conditions by expanding bike lanes.
For this scholarship, please explain how governmental measures, like bike lanes, can help prevent accidents in your community. Discuss old and new laws, education around the dangers of cycling in an unsafe space, and if you think more could be done to ensure the safety of cyclists.
Once all submissions have been received, the entries will be reviewed, and one student will be selected to receive a $1,000 award. The award will be given to the person who best describes the effect of safe cycling in their community and/or changes that are being implemented.
