Graduate School Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarships, Grants And Fellowships For Grad School

A scholarship is gift aid for school costs, typically based on merit or field of study. A grant is also gift aid, usually tied to need or to a program like teaching. A fellowship often pays tuition plus a living stipend and may come with research or teaching duties. You don't repay any of them, and you can hold more than one at a time, though your school may adjust other aid.

Federal Aid For Graduate Students

Pell Grants are for undergraduates, with a narrow exception for some post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs, which is why outside scholarships matter more in grad school. The TEACH Grant pays up to $4,000 a year to students preparing to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and it turns into a loan if you don't complete the teaching service.

Borrowing changed on July 1, 2026. New graduate borrowers can no longer take out Grad PLUS loans, and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are capped at $20,500 a year for most graduate programs and $50,000 a year for professional programs like medicine and law. File the FAFSA to unlock federal loans and work-study, then compare private options for anything left over.

When To Apply For Graduate School Scholarships

Outside graduate scholarships tend to close between fall and early spring for the next school year, so search while you apply to programs rather than after you're admitted. Online and part-time students can apply for most awards here, as long as they meet each sponsor's enrollment rules.

Frequently Asked Questions